Amendment to Executive Order 12656

This executive order amends Executive Order 12656 by adding a new section that assigns the Secretary of Defense responsibility—subject to presidential direction and joint procedures with the Secretary of State—for deploying military forces to protect and evacuate U.S. citizens, nationals, and designated others from threatened areas overseas. It essentially codifies the Defense Department's lead role in funding and executing noncombatant evacuation operations (NEOs).

Federal Register Open PDF 63 FR 7277

Impact dates

Date TBD
Procedures to be developed jointly by Secretary of Defense and Secretary of State

Key directives

Add new section 501(16) to Executive Order 12656
Secretary of Defense and Secretary of State to jointly develop procedures for NEOs
Secretary of Defense responsible for deployment/use of military forces for protection and evacuation of U.S. citizens/nationals/designated persons from threatened areas overseas

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

Amendment to EO 12656 takes effect upon signing

Near term (90d)

Secretary of Defense and Secretary of State must jointly develop procedures for NEO implementation

Long term

Established framework for future noncombatant evacuation operations; potential precedent for interagency funding disputes

Risks & tensions

No explicit deadline for joint procedure development—uncertainty on timeline
Potential interagency tension over funding allocation between Defense and State; text says 'reflect the appropriate allocation of funding responsibilities' but does not specify funding split
Vague phrase 'designated other persons or categories of persons' leaves scope of evacuation authority undefined