ExecutiveOrdersEO
MemoMemorandumBiden · D

Presidential Memorandum

Designation of Officials of the United States Agency for Global Media To Act as Chief Executive Officer

This memorandum establishes an order of succession for the Chief Executive Officer of the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), specifying that the Director of Voice of America, General Counsel, Chief Financial Officer, and Chief Management Officer shall act as CEO in that order during vacancies or incapacity, subject to Federal Vacancies Reform Act limitations and presidential discretion to depart from the list.

Federal Register Open PDF 90 FR 2599

Impact dates

  1. Publication in Federal Register

Key directives

  • Establish CEO succession order: Director VOA, General Counsel, CFO, CMO
  • Exclude acting officials from succession
  • Require Vacancies Reform Act eligibility
  • Preserve presidential discretion to designate acting CEO outside this order
  • Direct publication in Federal Register

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • Order of succession takes effect upon signing for any future CEO vacancy

Near term (90d)

—

Long term

  • Establishes permanent succession framework for USAGM CEO position

Risks & tensions

  • Succession list notably excludes Deputy CEO or other USAGM component heads (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, Middle East Broadcasting Networks, Office of Cuba Broadcasting)
  • Presidential discretion clause in Section 2(c) may undermine fixed succession order in practice
  • Acting capacity exclusion in Section 2(a) could create gaps if multiple positions are simultaneously vacant
Presidential Memorandum: Designation of Officials of the United States Agency for Global Media To Act as Chief Executive Officer · Executive Orders