Designation of Additional Officers for the Department of Homeland Security Order of Succession

This executive order designates additional FEMA regional directors as successors to the Secretary of Homeland Security, extending the existing line of succession established in EO 13286. The order specifies that FEMA Regional Directors for Regions V, VI, VII, VIII, and X would assume Secretary duties if higher-ranking officials are unable to serve.

Federal Register Open PDF 69 FR 70173

Key directives

Designate FEMA Region V Director as successor to Secretary
Designate FEMA Region VI Director as successor to Secretary
Designate FEMA Region VII Director as successor to Secretary
Designate FEMA Region VIII Director as successor to Secretary
Designate FEMA Region X Director as successor to Secretary
Exclude acting officials from succession by virtue of acting service
Preserve presidential discretion to depart from this order

Timeline

Immediate

Order takes effect upon signing; succession line now includes five additional FEMA regional directors

Near term (90d)

—

Long term

Continuity of DHS leadership during emergencies or vacancies

Risks & tensions

Regional FEMA directors may lack department-wide perspective for Secretary role
Geographic concentration of succession candidates raises questions about national representation
Presidential discretion clause (Sec. 2(b)) creates uncertainty about when this order would actually be followed