Executive Order 13812-Revocation of Executive Order Creating Labor-Management Forums
Issued 2017-09-29 by Donald J. Trump
Plain-English Overview
AI-generated summary explaining what this action does, who it affects, and why it matters
Executive Order 13812 eliminates the National Council on Federal Labor-Management Relations and related labor-management forums that existed throughout federal agencies. These forums were originally created in 2009 to promote collaboration between government managers and employee unions. President Trump's order revokes the previous executive order that established these bodies, stating they consumed managerial time and taxpayer resources without producing sufficient benefits to justify their continuation.
This action affects federal agencies across the executive branch, which must now rescind any rules, regulations, or policies that were implementing the forum system. However, the order specifically states that existing collective bargaining agreements between federal agencies and employee unions remain in effect and are not changed by this action.
The order represents a management decision about how federal agencies operate internally. While the President has authority under Article II to manage the executive branch and create or eliminate advisory bodies within the White House, questions about constitutional authority can arise when such actions potentially conflict with congressionally created structures. The order directs implementation consistent with applicable law and available funding.
AI-generated summary for educational purposes
Constitutional Analysis
How this action fits (or doesn't) within Article II authority and existing law
Executive Order 13812 ("Executive Order 13812-Revocation of Executive Order Creating Labor-Management Forums") 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 Donald J. Trump, 2017 Executive Order 13812—Revocation of Executive Order Creating Labor-Management Forums September 29, 2017 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 . Policy. The United States Government should spend tax dollars responsibly, efficiently, and in the public interest. The National Council on Federal Labor-Management Relations (Council) and related agency-level labor-management forums have consumed considerable managerial time and taxpayer resources, but they have not fulfilled their goal of promoting collaboration in the Federal workforce. Public expenditures on the Council and related forums have produced few benefits to the public, and they should, therefore, be discontinued. Sec. 2 . Revocations . (a) Executive Order 13522 of December 9, 2009 (Creating Labor-Management Forums to Improve Delivery of Government Services), as extended by Executive Order 13708 of September 30, 2015 (Continuance or Reestablishment of Certain Federal Advisory Committees), which established the Council and implemented labor-management forums throughout the executive branch, is hereby revoked. (b) The Director of the Office