Providing an Order of Succession Within the Department of Agriculture

This executive order establishes a new line of succession for the Secretary of Agriculture, listing 17 positions in order of who would assume the role if both the Secretary and Deputy Secretary are unable to serve. It revokes the previous Obama-era succession order from 2012 and adds several new positions including State Executive Directors from Kansas, Missouri, and Iowa.

Federal Register Open PDF 90 FR 2577

Impact dates

Jan 3, 2025
EO takes effect; EO 13612 revoked

Key directives

Establish ordered succession list of 17 USDA positions for Secretary role
Exclude acting officials from succession by virtue of acting service
Require eligibility under Federal Vacancies Reform Act for all successors
Preserve presidential discretion to depart from this order
Revoke Executive Order 13612 of May 21, 2012

Timeline

Immediate

Revocation of EO 13612 (2012 succession order)
New succession order takes effect

Near term (90d)

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Long term

Establishes permanent succession framework for USDA leadership continuity

Risks & tensions

Unusual inclusion of three specific state FSA directors (KS, MO, IA) may reflect political considerations or regional agricultural priorities
Alphabetical tiebreaker for same-day service creates arbitrary precedence
Presidential discretion clause in Section 2(c) preserves flexibility but may reduce predictability of succession