ExecutiveOrdersEO
EO 13794Executive OrderTrump 45 · R

Executive Order 13794

Establishment of the American Technology Council

This executive order creates the American Technology Council (ATC), a high-level interagency body chaired by the President to coordinate federal IT modernization and digital service delivery. The ATC includes cabinet secretaries, senior White House advisors, and technology officials, but excludes national security systems from its scope. The council automatically terminates on January 20, 2021.

Federal Register Open PDF 82 FR 20811

Impact dates

  1. Director of ATC to be designated by President

  2. Automatic termination of order and ATC

  3. ATC established; order effective

Key directives

  • Establish American Technology Council with specified membership
  • President serves as Chairman; Vice President and Director as alternates
  • ATC to coordinate federal IT vision, strategy, and service delivery direction
  • ATC to advise President on IT policy decisions
  • ATC to ensure effective implementation of IT modernization policy
  • ATC functions explicitly exclude national security systems per 44 U.S.C. 3552(b)(6)
  • Director to be designated by President from Executive Office of the President
  • Director of National Intelligence encouraged to provide classified cybersecurity information to ATC
  • All agencies encouraged to cooperate with and assist ATC
  • Order and ATC terminate January 20, 2021

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • ATC established upon signing
  • President designated as Chairman
  • Membership roster fixed

Near term (90d)

  • Director of ATC to be designated by President
  • Ad hoc committees and task forces may be formed
  • Senior interagency forum and deputies committee to be established

Long term

  • ATC operations until automatic termination
  • Coordination of federal IT vision and strategy ongoing
  • Potential policy recommendations to President

Risks & tensions

  • No explicit deadlines for deliverables or reporting create implementation uncertainty
  • Encouragement language ('encouraged to cooperate') rather than mandatory direction may limit agency compliance
  • Exclusion of national security systems creates boundary ambiguity for dual-use systems
  • Sunset clause on January 20, 2021 suggests political timing tied to presidential term, raising questions about institutional continuity
  • Overlapping membership with existing bodies (OMB, USDS, OSTP) risks coordination friction without clear hierarchy
  • No dedicated funding mechanism specified; 'subject to availability of appropriations' constraint
Executive Order 13794: Establishment of the American Technology Council · Executive Orders