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EO 12343Executive OrderReagan · R

Executive Order 12343

Designation of certain officers to act as Secretary of State

This executive order establishes the line of succession for acting Secretary of State when both the Secretary and Deputy Secretary are unavailable due to absence, disability, or vacancy. It specifies that Senate-confirmed State Department officers shall act in an order prescribed by the Secretary, or by descending rank if no such order exists.

47 FR 4225
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Key directives

  • Establish acting Secretary succession from Senate-confirmed State Department officers
  • Secretary of State may prescribe order of succession
  • Default to descending rank under Executive Schedule (5 U.S.C. §§ 5314-5315) and oath-taking order if no succession order exists
  • President retains authority to designate any officer as acting Secretary regardless of above provisions
  • Revoke Executive Order 10839

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • Executive Order 10839 revoked
  • Succession rules take effect

Near term (90d)

  • Secretary of State may prescribe succession order

Long term

  • Standing contingency for continuity of State Department leadership

Risks & tensions

  • Vague on how 'absence, disability, or vacancy' is determined—no procedural mechanism specified
  • Reliance on Secretary-prescribed order creates potential for political or arbitrary succession planning
  • Default to Executive Schedule rank may not reflect functional expertise for crisis State Department leadership
Executive Order 12343: Designation of certain officers to act as Secretary of State · Executive Orders