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EO 13531Executive OrderObama · D

Executive Order 13531

National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform

Economy & LaborEconomy & LaborDemocracy & GovernanceDemocracy & GovernanceFederal WorkforceFederal Workforce

In simple terms

This executive order established the bipartisan National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, an 18-member advisory body tasked with proposing recommendations to balance the federal budget (excluding interest payments) by 2015 and improve long-term fiscal sustainability. The Commission was required to vote on a final report by December 1, 2010, with approval requiring at least 14 of 18 members, after which it would terminate within 30 days.

Federal Register Open PDF 75 FR 7927

Record & deadlines

  1. Signed

    Signed by the President

  2. FR published

    Published in the Federal Register · 75 FR 7927

    Federal Register PDF

  3. Commission must vote on approval of final report

  4. Commission terminates 30 days after submitting final report

Key directives

  • Establish 18-member bipartisan Commission within Executive Office of the President
  • President appoints 6 members (no more than 4 from same party)
  • Senate Majority Leader selects 3 current Senators
  • House Speaker selects 3 current House Members
  • Senate Minority Leader selects 3 current Senators
  • House Minority Leader selects 3 current House Members
  • President designates two Co-Chairs from his appointees, not from same party
  • Commission to propose recommendations to balance budget excluding interest by 2015
  • Commission to address growth of entitlement spending and revenue-expenditure gap
  • Vote on final report no later than December 1, 2010
  • Final report requires approval of at least 14 of 18 members
  • Commission terminates 30 days after submitting final report

What to expect

Immediate

  • Commission established within Executive Office of the President
  • member selection process begins

Near term (90d)

  • member appointments and selections by congressional leaders and President
  • Co-Chairs designated by President
  • staff and Executive Director hired

Long term

  • Commission operations and policy development through late 2010
  • final report vote by December 1, 2010
  • Commission termination 30 days after final report submission
  • potential fiscal policy recommendations affecting 2015 budget target and entitlements

Risks & tensions

  • 14-of-18 supermajority threshold for report approval creates high bar for consensus; Commission may fail to issue report if polarization prevents agreement
  • 2015 balance target explicitly excludes interest payments, narrowing scope and potentially obscuring full fiscal picture
  • 'Considerable uncertainty' language in Section 4 acknowledges economic forecasting limitations, weakening accountability for target achievement
  • Advisory-only nature with no enforcement mechanism; recommendations require separate congressional/executive action to implement
  • Entitlement reform proposals historically politically fraught; bipartisan agreement unlikely without significant compromise
  • Commission termination 30 days after report limits follow-through capacity
Executive Order 13531: National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform · Executive Orders