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EO 13506Executive OrderObama · D

Executive Order 13506

Establishing a White House Council on Women And Girls

This executive order creates a White House Council on Women and Girls to coordinate federal policy across agencies on issues affecting women and girls, including pay equity, healthcare access, educational opportunity, and workforce participation. The Council is advisory, composed of Cabinet secretaries and senior officials, and must submit an interagency plan within 150 days.

Federal Register Open PDF 74 FR 11271

Impact dates

  1. Federal interagency plan with recommendations due to President

Key directives

  • Establish White House Council on Women and Girls within Executive Office of the President
  • Commerce Department to provide funding and administrative support from existing appropriations
  • Chair to convene regular meetings, determine agenda, direct work, and designate Executive Director
  • Council to provide coordinated federal response to issues impacting women and girls
  • Council functions are advisory only
  • Develop and submit Federal interagency plan to President within 150 days
  • Each member agency to assess status and scope of efforts for women/girls advancement
  • Each agency to report on offices/programs for targeted women/girls initiatives
  • Council to review and update plan periodically

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • Council established within Executive Office of the President
  • Department of Commerce designated to provide funding and administrative support
  • Chair designated (Senior Advisor and Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Liaison)

Near term (90d)

  • Federal interagency plan due within 150 days of signing (by August 8, 2009)
  • Assessments due from each member department/agency on status of women/girls initiatives

Long term

  • Periodic review and update of interagency plan
  • Ongoing coordination of federal policies affecting women and girls
  • Potential legislative and policy proposal development

Risks & tensions

  • Advisory-only status limits binding authority; implementation depends on voluntary agency cooperation
  • Funding constrained to 'existing appropriations' and 'extent permitted by law' may limit operational capacity
  • Vague 'periodic' review schedule lacks enforcement mechanism
  • Broad membership (26+ officials) may create coordination challenges or dilute accountability
  • Each agency 'bears its own expense' may discourage participation
Executive Order 13506: Establishing a White House Council on Women And Girls · Executive Orders