Executive Order 13550-Establishment of Pakistan and Afghanistan Support Office
Issued 2010-08-18 by Barack Obama
Plain-English Overview
AI-generated summary explaining what this action does, who it affects, and why it matters
In August 2010, President Obama created a temporary office within the State Department called the Pakistan and Afghanistan Support Office, or PASO. This office's job was to help other government departments and agencies strengthen the governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan, help those governments resist extremist groups, and maintain an effective U.S. diplomatic presence in both countries. The office took over the work previously done by the Afghanistan Support Office and was based in Washington, D.C., as well as in Pakistan and Afghanistan itself.
The office worked on helping Pakistan establish stronger civilian government control and constitutional stability, while in Afghanistan it focused on creating a more capable and accountable government that could eventually handle its own internal security without heavy international support. It also aimed to stimulate economic development in both countries to provide legal opportunities for their people.
This was established as a temporary organization under existing federal law allowing such offices, with a director appointed by the Secretary of State. The order specified that the office would operate only as long as federal law permits for temporary organizations, and that it could only function within available budget appropriations approved by Congress.
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Constitutional Analysis
How this action fits (or doesn't) within Article II authority and existing law
Executive Order 13550 ("Executive Order 13550-Establishment of Pakistan and Afghanistan Support Office") restructures or establishes federal entities. The President has authority to manage the executive branch under Article II, including creating task forces, councils, and working groups within the White House. However, creating independent agencies with binding regulatory authority, or fundamentally restructuring congressionally created departments, typically requires legislative authorization.
The Reorganization Act historically provided a framework for executive reorganization subject to congressional review. Current reorganization authority is more limited. The constitutionality depends on whether this order creates White House advisory bodies (acceptable) or attempts to restructure agencies in ways that conflict with their enabling statutes (questionable).
Official Summary
Administration of Barack H. Obama, 2010 Executive Order 13550—Establishment of Pakistan and Afghanistan Support Office August 18, 2010 By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 202 of the Revised Statutes (22 U.S.C. 2656) and section 3161 of title 5, United States Code, it is hereby ordered as follows: Section 1. Establishment. There is established within the Department of State, in accordance with section 3161 of title 5, United States Code, a temporary organization to be known as the Pakistan and Afghanistan Support Office (PASO). Sec. 2. Purpose of the Temporary Organization. The purpose of the PASO shall be to perform the specific project of supporting executive departments and agencies in strengthening the governments in Afghanistan and Pakistan, enhancing the capacity of those governments to resist extremists, and maintaining an effective U.S. diplomatic presence in both countries. Sec. 3. Functions of the Temporary Organization. In carrying out the purpose set forth in section 2, the PASO shall: <P align="