ExecutiveOrdersEO
EO 13647Executive OrderObama · D Quiet signal

Executive Order 13647

Establishing the White House Council on Native American Affairs

This executive order creates the White House Council on Native American Affairs, chaired by the Secretary of the Interior, to coordinate federal policy across 30+ agencies to support tribal self-governance and improve quality of life for Native Americans. It establishes a formal structure for interagency coordination on economic development, healthcare, education, justice, and environmental protection while mandating three annual meetings.

Federal Register Open PDF 78 FR 39539

Impact dates

  1. Annual White House Tribal Nations Conference

  2. Council shall meet three times a year

Key directives

  • Establish White House Council on Native American Affairs
  • Secretary of Interior to serve as Chair
  • Council to include heads of 31 specified departments/agencies/offices plus additional designees
  • Department of Interior to provide funding and administrative support within existing appropriations
  • Council to coordinate policy development through Domestic Policy Council
  • Council to coordinate tribal outreach through White House Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs
  • Council shall meet three times per year
  • Council to make policy recommendations to President through Director of Domestic Policy Council
  • Council to coordinate federal engagement with tribal governments and stakeholders
  • Council to coordinate implementation of tribal consultation requirements under EO 13175 and 2009 memorandum
  • Council to assist in organizing annual White House Tribal Nations Conference

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • White House Council on Native American Affairs established
  • Secretary of Interior designated as Chair
  • 30+ agency heads become members
  • Department of Interior authorized to provide funding and administrative support

Near term (90d)

  • Council begins coordinating through Domestic Policy Council
  • Council initiates outreach through White House Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs
  • First organizational meetings likely to occur

Long term

  • Ongoing tri-annual Council meetings
  • Annual White House Tribal Nations Conference coordination
  • Sustained interagency policy coordination on tribal issues
  • Implementation of policy recommendations across federal government

Risks & tensions

  • Funding constrained to 'extent permitted by law and within existing appropriations' — no new money guaranteed
  • Council has recommendatory, not binding authority; implementation depends on voluntary agency cooperation
  • Definitions of 'federally recognized tribe' and membership rely on external statute and tribal self-definition, creating potential ambiguity in eligibility
  • Explicit disclaimer that order creates no enforceable rights limits accountability mechanisms
  • Coordination through Domestic Policy Council may create bureaucratic friction with OMB budget authority preserved under Section 5(b)(ii)
Executive Order 13647: Establishing the White House Council on Native American Affairs · Executive Orders