Memorandum on Providing an Order of Succession Within the Social Security Administration
Issued 2016-12-23 by Barack Obama
Plain-English Overview
AI-generated summary explaining what this action does, who it affects, and why it matters
This memorandum establishes a clear chain of command at the Social Security Administration for situations where both the top leader (the Commissioner) and the second-in-command (the Deputy Commissioner) are unavailable due to death, resignation, or inability to perform their duties. The memorandum lists specific officials who would temporarily step in to run the agency in a designated order, starting with the Deputy Commissioner for Budget, Finance, Quality, and Management, followed by the Deputy Commissioner for Systems, then several Regional Commissioners from Atlanta, Dallas, San Francisco, and Chicago.
The action affects the internal management structure of the Social Security Administration, which serves millions of Americans who receive retirement, disability, and survivor benefits. By establishing this succession plan in advance, the memorandum ensures the agency can continue operating without interruption during unexpected leadership vacancies. The President issued this directive under authority granted by the Constitution and the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998, which governs how temporary leadership appointments work in federal agencies.
This memorandum replaced a previous succession order from 2014, updating the list of officials who could serve as acting Commissioner. It includes standard provisions noting that the President retains flexibility to choose someone different if needed and that the order doesn't create any new legal rights for individuals or organizations.
AI-generated summary for educational purposes
Constitutional Analysis
How this action fits (or doesn't) within Article II authority and existing law
This presidential memorandum ("Memorandum on Providing an Order of Succession Within the Social Security Administration") provides direction to executive branch agencies. Presidential memoranda function similarly to executive orders but are typically more narrow in scope, addressing specific agencies or implementation details. The President's authority to direct executive branch operations is grounded in Article II of the Constitution.
Memoranda are a routine administrative tool. They guide agencies on priorities, interpretation of statutes, and implementation procedures. As long as they operate within the bounds of existing law and respect congressional mandates, they are a standard exercise of presidential power that every modern administration has used.
Official Summary
Administration of Barack Obama, 2016 Memorandum on Providing an Order of Succession Within the Social Security Administration December 23, 2016 Memorandum for the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration Subject: Providing an Order of Succession Within the Social Security Administration By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998, 5 U.S.C. 3345 et seq . (the "Act"), it is hereby ordered that: Section 1 . Order of Succession . Subject to the provisions of section 2 of this memorandum, and to the limitations set forth in the Act, the following officials of the Social Security Administration, in the order listed, shall act as and perform the functions and duties of the office of the Commissioner of Social Security (Commissioner), during any period in which both the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of Social Security have died, resigned, or become otherwise unable to perform the functions and duties of the office of Commissioner: (a) Deputy Commissioner for Operations; (b) Deputy Commissioner for Budget, Finance, Quality, and Management; (c) Deputy Commissioner for Sys