Efficient Federal Operations

This executive order directs federal agencies to meet existing energy and environmental statutory requirements with a focus on cost-cutting, efficiency, and waste reduction. It revokes the Obama-era EO 13693, streamlines sustainability reporting, and establishes new governance structures including agency Chief Sustainability Officers and a Federal Chief Sustainability Officer within CEQ.

Federal Register Open PDF 83 FR 23771

Impact dates

Oct 14, 2018
CEQ Chairman revises guidance and issues implementation instructions
Sep 14, 2018
Secretary of Energy reports on Federal fleet optimization opportunities
Aug 15, 2018
Secretaries of Agriculture, Energy, GSA Administrator, EPA Administrator review guidance and develop plan to modify/replace/rescind
Jul 1, 2018
Agencies designate Chief Sustainability Officer
Jun 16, 2018
Agency must notify CEQ Chairman of national security exemption

Key directives

Agencies shall meet statutory energy/environmental requirements with emphasis on cost reduction and efficiency
Designate agency Chief Sustainability Officer within 45 days (senior civilian at Executive Schedule IV or above)
Review and revise government-wide guidance within 90 days
Review Federal vehicle fleet requirements and report within 120 days
CEQ shall revise guidance and issue implementation instructions within 150 days
OMB shall prepare periodic scorecards evaluating agency performance
Revocation of Executive Order 13693
Establish Federal Chief Sustainability Officer within CEQ, funded by EPA

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

EO 13693 revoked
agencies must designate Chief Sustainability Officers within 45 days

Near term (90d)

agency guidance review and plan due (90 days)
Federal fleet review report due (120 days)
CEQ guidance revision due (150 days)

Long term

ongoing agency compliance with energy/water/waste goals
periodic OMB scorecards on agency performance
building energy use reductions and renewable energy compliance

Risks & tensions

Shift from Obama-era sustainability goals (EO 13693) to cost-cutting frame may reduce environmental ambition
Broad exemption authorities (national security, intelligence, law enforcement, military tactical vehicles) could significantly limit scope
No new statutory requirements created—relies on existing law, making enforcement dependent on political prioritization
OMB scorecards and CEQ guidance revisions create oversight mechanism but lack specified consequences for non-compliance
Funding dependency on EPA through OEQ Management Fund may create budget tension