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EO 13498Executive OrderObama · D

Executive Order 13498

Amendments to Executive Order 13199 and Establishment of the President's Advisory Council for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships

This executive order renames and restructures the White House faith-based initiative, establishing the President's Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. It adds constitutional safeguards regarding religion clauses, emphasizes accountability and measurable results for federally funded services, and creates a 25-member advisory council with a 2-year sunset provision.

Federal Register Open PDF 74 FR 6533

Impact dates

  1. Council terminates unless extended by President

Key directives

  • Rename White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives to White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships
  • Add constitutional compliance requirement for federally funded services (equal protection, free exercise, establishment clause)
  • Add training promotion requirement for social service providers in faith-based and neighborhood organizations
  • Add program evaluation and research promotion requirement
  • Establish 25-member President's Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships
  • Council members serve 1-year terms, eligible for reappointment
  • HHS to provide administrative support and funds subject to appropriations
  • Executive Director may seek Attorney General opinions on constitutional/statutory questions

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • White House Office renamed to Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships
  • New constitutional compliance language takes effect
  • Council established within Executive Office of the President

Near term (90d)

  • President to appoint up to 25 Council members
  • Executive Director dual role assigned
  • HHS to arrange administrative support and funding

Long term

  • Council operations and recommendations to President
  • Evaluation of program effectiveness and policy improvements
  • Potential Council termination on 2011-02-05 unless extended

Risks & tensions

  • Constitutional tension: balancing faith-based service delivery with Establishment Clause limits; text acknowledges this explicitly
  • Vague accountability mechanism: 'rigorous evaluation' and 'measurable results' stated but no specific metrics or enforcement structure defined
  • Appropriations dependency: Council funding and HHS support contingent on available appropriations, creating execution risk
  • Advisory role only: Council has no decision-making authority; recommendations flow through Executive Director to President, limiting direct policy impact
  • Potential for partisan perception given controversial history of faith-based initiative programs
Executive Order 13498: Amendments to Executive Order 13199 and Establishment of the President's Advisory Council for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships · Executive Orders