Providing an Order of Succession Within the Department of Homeland Security

This executive order establishes a new line of succession for acting Secretary of Homeland Security, replacing the Obama-era order. It specifies four DHS officials who would assume the role if the Secretary, Deputy Secretary, Under Secretary for Management, and any Secretary-designated officers are unavailable.

Federal Register Open PDF 90 FR 2579

Impact dates

Dec 9, 2016
Revoke EO 13753 (December 9, 2016)

Key directives

Establish order of succession: TSA Administrator, then Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis, then FLETC Director, then FEMA Region 3 Administrator
Prohibit acting officials from ascending to Secretary via this order
Require eligibility under Federal Vacancies Reform Act
Preserve presidential discretion to depart from this order
Revoke EO 13753 (December 9, 2016)
Strike Section 88 of EO 13286 and renumber subsequent sections

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

EO 13753 revoked
New succession order takes effect
Section 88 of EO 13286 struck

Near term (90d)

—

Long term

Standing succession framework for DHS continuity of operations

Risks & tensions

FEMA Region 3 Administrator is unusually specific and regional for a national succession role; may reflect particular confidence or organizational preference
Exclusion of acting officials (Sec. 2a) could create gap if multiple positions are simultaneously vacant in acting capacity
Presidential discretion clause (Sec. 2d) preserves flexibility but limits binding effect of the order itself