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EO 12656Executive OrderReagan · R Quiet signal

Executive Order 12656

Assignment of emergency preparedness responsibilities

This executive order assigns comprehensive emergency preparedness responsibilities across all federal departments and agencies for national security emergencies, including nuclear attack, natural disasters, and technological emergencies. It establishes the National Security Council as the principal policy forum, designates FEMA's Director as NSC advisor, and details specific lead and support roles for each Cabinet department in areas such as continuity of government, resource management, agriculture, energy, health services, and defense production.

53 FR 47491
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Impact dates

  1. Appoint Emergency Coordinator and develop multi-year preparedness plan

  2. Development of emergency actions systems and transition procedures

  3. Periodic reports to NSC on implementation (ongoing)

Key directives

  • Each federal department head must appoint a senior Emergency Coordinator responsible for multi-year preparedness plans including objectives, programs, and budgetary requirements
  • Agencies must design measures for rapid transition from routine to emergency operations
  • Agencies must identify areas where additional legal authorities may be needed and take steps to acquire them
  • National Security Council shall arrange for Executive branch liaison with Congress and Federal judiciary on emergency preparedness
  • Director of FEMA shall provide periodic reports to NSC on implementation of preparedness policy
  • There shall be a national security emergency exercise program supported by all appropriate federal departments and agencies
  • Plans must consider consequences for essential services if federal funds flow is disrupted
  • Each agency must ensure capability to provide Federal Register publication information to Archivist during emergencies

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • Establishment of NSC as principal forum for emergency preparedness policy
  • FEMA Director designated as NSC advisor
  • Each agency required to appoint Emergency Coordinator
  • Agencies directed to develop multi-year preparedness plans

Near term (90d)

  • Development of emergency action systems and transition procedures
  • Identification of essential facilities and resources
  • Assessment of vulnerabilities
  • Coordination with State and local governments

Long term

  • Ongoing national security emergency exercise program
  • Multi-year preparedness plans with budgetary requirements
  • Continuity of government succession planning
  • Stockpiling of strategic and critical materials
  • International civil emergency preparedness cooperation

Risks & tensions

  • Explicitly states this Order does NOT constitute authority to implement plans; execution requires separate legal authorization, creating potential gap between planning and action
  • Massive interagency coordination burden with potential for jurisdictional conflicts, especially in shared functions
  • Vague 'as appropriate' qualifiers throughout may lead to uneven implementation
  • Continuity of government provisions raise unresolved constitutional questions about succession and delegated authority
  • Military assistance to civilian law enforcement (Sec. 501(12)) and civil disturbance response (Sec. 1101(8)) touch on Posse Comitatus tensions
  • Resource allocation between civilian and military claimants (multiple sections) creates inherent prioritization conflicts
  • Nuclear weapons continuity and special nuclear materials recapture provisions involve sensitive interagency tensions between DOE, DOD, and Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Executive Order 12656: Assignment of emergency preparedness responsibilities · Executive Orders