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EO 13576Executive OrderObama · D Quiet signal

Executive Order 13576

Delivering an Efficient, Effective, and Accountable Government

This executive order establishes a Government Accountability and Transparency Board to expand anti-fraud tools and spending transparency across federal agencies, building on Recovery Act practices. It reinforces the Accountable Government Initiative by assigning performance reform responsibilities to agency Chief Operating Officers and Chief Financial Officers, with quarterly metric updates on performance.gov and monthly reporting on $2.1 billion in administrative cost savings targets.

Federal Register Open PDF 76 FR 35297

Impact dates

  1. Government Accountability and Transparency Board submits report to President on implementation guidelines for spending data integration, data reliability, and fraud detection technology deployment

  2. Agencies update performance metrics quarterly on performance.gov

  3. OMB guidance to agencies for FY2013 budget process on program overlap and duplication identification

  4. Federal CFO Council monthly reports to PMC on cost savings efforts

  5. Board Chair monthly updates to Vice President on progress

Key directives

  • Vice President shall convene periodic meetings for Cabinet/OMB reporting on Initiative improvements
  • Federal CPO shall lead OMB/PMC in identifying cross-agency practices and facilitating reforms
  • Agencies shall update performance metrics quarterly on performance.gov
  • Each agency COO designated as Senior Accountable Official for performance reform per GPRA Modernization Act
  • COOs accountable for frequent data-driven reviews of agency progress toward goals
  • CFOs responsible for achieving agency share of $2.1 billion in administrative cost savings
  • Federal CFO Council shall provide monthly report on savings efforts to PMC
  • Establish Government Accountability and Transparency Board with 11 presidentially designated members
  • Board shall work with RATB to apply Recovery Act approaches across government spending
  • Board shall submit report to President within 6 months on implementation guidelines for spending data systems and fraud detection
  • Board Chair shall provide monthly updates to Vice President on progress

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • Establishment of Government Accountability and Transparency Board
  • Vice President convenes periodic Cabinet meetings on Initiative progress
  • Federal CFO Council begins monthly reporting on cost savings to PMC

Near term (90d)

  • Board begins work with RATB to apply Recovery Act approaches across government
  • CFOs pursue administrative cost savings from FY2012 Budget
  • Agency COOs begin data-driven reviews of performance improvement areas
  • OMB provides guidance for FY2013 budget process on program overlap identification

Long term

  • Board report on implementation guidelines due (6 months)
  • Integration of federal spending data systems per Board recommendations
  • Broadened deployment of fraud detection technologies across government spending
  • Potential program consolidations and reductions in FY2013 budget proposal

Risks & tensions

  • No enforcement mechanism specified if agencies fail to meet $2.1 billion savings targets; 'as quickly as possible' is vague
  • Board composition relies on presidential designation without fixed timeline for appointments
  • 'Subject to availability of appropriations' in Section 4(b) may limit implementation if Congress withholds funding
  • Potential tension between COO reform mandates and existing agency authority under Section 4(a)(i)
  • Monthly reporting requirements may create administrative burden without guaranteed action
Executive Order 13576: Delivering an Efficient, Effective, and Accountable Government · Executive Orders