ExecutiveOrdersEO
EO 13210Executive OrderG.W. Bush · R

Executive Order 13210

President's Commission To Strengthen Social Security

This executive order establishes a bipartisan 16-member commission to recommend Social Security reforms, including voluntary personal retirement accounts, while protecting current retirees' benefits. The commission must submit an interim report and a final report by fall 2001, after which it terminates within 30 days.

Federal Register Open PDF 66 FR 22895

Impact dates

  1. Final report submission during fall 2001

  2. Commission termination 30 days after final report

Key directives

  • Establish 16-member bipartisan commission with no more than 8 from same party
  • Appoint two co-chairs from different political parties
  • Submit interim report describing challenges and evaluation criteria
  • Submit final report during fall 2001 with recommendations including personal retirement accounts
  • Terminate commission 30 days after final report submission
  • SSA to provide administrative support and funding
  • Executive branch agencies to provide office space, analytical support, and staff as directed

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • Commission established
  • President to appoint 16 members and 2 co-chairs from different parties
  • Social Security Administration to provide administrative support and funding

Near term (90d)

  • Interim report due (timing unspecified, but before fall 2001 final report)
  • Public hearings to be held at co-chairs' call
  • Congressional briefings and input procedures to be determined

Long term

  • Final report due during fall 2001
  • Commission terminates 30 days after final report submission
  • Potential Social Security restructuring if recommendations adopted

Risks & tensions

  • Fall 2001 deadline is vague—no specific date or day count given, creating uncertainty for planning
  • Principle (f) mandating personal retirement accounts may constrain bipartisan consensus given partisan divides on privatization
  • Principle (b) on dedicating surplus to Social Security only conflicts with historical congressional practice of using surplus for other spending
  • No enforcement mechanism if President or Congress rejects recommendations
  • Post-9/11 political environment may divert attention from Social Security reform
Executive Order 13210: President's Commission To Strengthen Social Security · Executive Orders