Partial Revocation of Executive Order 13961

This executive order partially revokes Executive Order 13961 from December 2020, eliminating five of its eight sections and renumbering the remainder. It replaces references to an 'Executive Committee' with a 'Restricted Principals Committee' established under a new National Security Memorandum also issued January 19, 2025, effectively restructuring federal continuity-of-government governance.

Federal Register Open PDF 90 FR 8109

Impact dates

Jan 19, 2025
EO takes effect upon signing

Key directives

Revoke sections 1, 3, 4, 5, and 7 of EO 13961
Renumber sections 2, 6, and 8 as sections 1, 2, and 3
Amend renumbered section 1 by striking 'To achieve this policy, in conjunction' and inserting 'In conjunction'
Amend renumbered section 2(b) by replacing 'the Executive Committee established in section 3 of this order' with 'the Restricted Principals Committee described in section 3 of the National Security Memorandum of January 19, 2025 (National Continuity Policy)'

Timeline

Immediate

Revocation of sections 1, 3, 4, 5, and 7 of EO 13961 takes effect
Renumbering of remaining sections 2, 6, 8 to 1, 2, 3
Replacement of 'Executive Committee' with 'Restricted Principals Committee' in renumbered section 2(b)

Near term (90d)

Agencies must adjust continuity planning to new Restricted Principals Committee structure
Implementation consistent with new National Security Memorandum on National Continuity Policy

Long term

Potential restructuring of federal mission resilience governance
Shift in continuity-of-government institutional framework from Trump-era structure

Risks & tensions

Substantial restructuring of continuity governance with minimal public explanation
Vague: full scope of National Security Memorandum referenced is not provided in this text
Removal of five sections eliminates prior policy infrastructure without detailing replacements
Quiet institutional shift with potential significant implications for emergency succession planning