Economy, finance and labor

Executive Order 14077: Establishing an Emergency Board To Investigate Disputes Between Certain Railroads Represented by the National Carriers' Conference Committee of the National Railway Labor Conference and Their Employees Represented by Certain Labor Organizations

President: Joseph R. Biden Jr.

Created Presidential Emergency Board 250 to investigate a nationwide freight-rail labor dispute and recommend settlement terms during a statutory cooling-off period.

Status: Completed/expired.

Is Executive Order 14077 still in effect? No. Completed; emergency board dissolved after its report.

What does Executive Order 14077 do?

Emergency Board 250 had 30 days to investigate and report; the carriers and unions were subject to the statutory status-quo period.

Administration position: The order’s findings and policy rationale were the Biden administration’s positions. This guide distinguishes them from implementation records and judicial rulings.
SignedJuly 15, 2022
Lead officialsPresidential Emergency Board 250 and National Mediation Board
Express timingReport within 30 days; statutory status-quo periods followed

Before and after

Before the order

Rail carriers and unions had exhausted mediation steps under the Railway Labor Act and were approaching self-help that risked a national shutdown.

After the order

The board issued recommendations in August 2022. Negotiations continued; Congress enacted a settlement in December 2022 to prevent a strike. The temporary board completed its mandate and no material litigation changed the order.

Who had to do what

Agency / officeActionTiming / position
Emergency BoardInvestigate and report on the dispute30 days
Carriers and unionsMaintain the status quoStatutory cooling-off period
National Mediation BoardProvide administrative supportDuring board work

What happened next

EO 14077 signed.

EO 14077 established PEB 250.

The board delivered its report.