Executive Order 13569-Amendments to Executive Orders 12824, 12835, 12859, and 13532, Reestablishment Pursuant to Executive Order 13498, and Revocation of Executive Order 13507
Issued 2011-04-05 by Barack Obama
Plain-English Overview
AI-generated summary explaining what this action does, who it affects, and why it matters
This executive order makes several administrative updates to how the White House is organized. It expands eligibility for the Transportation Distinguished Service Medal to include any member of the Armed Forces, not just Coast Guard members. It updates the membership of two White House councils—the National Economic Council and the Domestic Policy Council—by replacing references to an "Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change" with the "Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality." The order also fixes a technical citation error in a previous order about Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
Additionally, the order reestablishes the President's Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships for another two years and eliminates the White House Office of Health Reform, which was created in 2009. These changes affect how certain White House advisory bodies and councils are structured and who serves on them, though the order explicitly states it does not create any new legal rights or obligations for anyone.
The constitutional basis for managing executive branch organization is the President's authority under Article II of the Constitution, though there is ongoing debate about the extent to which presidents can restructure government offices without congressional approval.
AI-generated summary for educational purposes
Constitutional Analysis
How this action fits (or doesn't) within Article II authority and existing law
Executive Order 13569 ("Executive Order 13569-Amendments to Executive Orders 12824, 12835, 12859, and 13532, Reestablishment Pursuant to Executive Order 13498, and Revocation of Executive Order 13507") 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 Obama, 2011 Executive Order 13569—Amendments to Executive Orders 12824, 12835, 12859, and 13532, Reestablishment Pursuant to Executive Order 13498, and Revocation of Executive Order 13507 April 5, 2011 By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows: Section 1. Executive Order 12824, of December 7, 1992 ("Establishing the Transportation Distinguished Service Medal"), as amended, is hereby further amended by striking "a member of the Coast Guard" in section 1 and inserting in lieu thereof "any member of the Armed Forces of the United States". Sec. 2. Executive Order 12835 of January 25, 1993 ("Establishment of the National Economic Council"), as amended, is hereby further amended by striking "(o) Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change;" in section 2 and inserting in lieu thereof "(o) Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality;". Sec. 3. Executive Order 12859 of August 16, 1993 ("Establishment of the Domestic Policy Council&quo