Providing an Order of Succession Within the Environmental Protection Agency

This executive order establishes a detailed line of succession for who would serve as acting Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency if both the Administrator and Deputy Administrator are unable to serve. It revokes the prior Trump administration succession order from 2017 and lists 17 EPA officials in order of succession, from General Counsel down to a Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator.

Federal Register Open PDF 86 FR 3733

Impact dates

Jan 13, 2017
Revoke Executive Order 13763 of January 13, 2017

Key directives

Establish ordered succession list of 17 EPA officials for acting Administrator role
Disqualify individuals serving in acting capacity in listed offices from succession
Require eligibility under Federal Vacancies Reform Act for succession
Preserve presidential discretion to depart from this order in designating acting Administrator
Revoke Executive Order 13763 of January 13, 2017

Timeline

Immediate

Revocation of EO 13763 takes effect
New succession order is active upon signing

Near term (90d)

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Long term

Remains in effect until revoked or superseded by future administration

Risks & tensions

Late-stage timing (January 8, 2021, two weeks before inauguration) suggests potential concern about leadership continuity during transition
No explicit transition-specific provisions, but revocation of 2017 Trump EO and replacement with new order may reflect outgoing administration's preference for specific succession hierarchy
Presidential discretion clause (Sec. 2(c)) limits binding effect of the ordered succession