ExecutiveOrdersEO
MemoMemorandumG.W. Bush · R

Presidential Memorandum

Designation of Officers of the Council on Environmental Quality to Act as Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality

This memorandum establishes an order of succession for the Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), specifying that the Chief of Staff, General Counsel, and Associate Directors (in order of appointment) shall act as Chairman if the position becomes vacant or the incumbent is unable to serve. It includes exceptions for acting officials and preserves presidential discretion to depart from this order.

Federal Register Open PDF 73 FR 54487

Impact dates

  1. Publication in Federal Register

Key directives

  • Establish order of succession for CEQ Chairman: Chief of Staff, then General Counsel, then Associate Directors by appointment date
  • Exclude acting officials from succession
  • Require eligibility under Federal Vacancies Reform Act
  • Preserve presidential discretion to depart from order
  • Publish memorandum in Federal Register

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • Order of succession takes effect upon publication

Near term (90d)

—

Long term

  • Continuity of CEQ leadership during vacancies

Risks & tensions

  • Internal management document with explicit disclaimer against judicial enforcement (Sec. 3)
  • Presidential discretion clause (Sec. 2(c)) may undermine certainty of succession
Presidential Memorandum: Designation of Officers of the Council on Environmental Quality to Act as Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality · Executive Orders