Government operations and workforce · Agency succession orders

Executive Order 14135: Providing an Order of Succession Within the Department of Homeland Security

President: Joseph R. Biden Jr.

Set a succession list for acting leadership of Department of Homeland Security when the principal and designated deputy were unavailable, subject to federal vacancies law.

Status: Revoked.

Is Executive Order 14135 still in effect? No. Revoked January 20, 2025.

What does Executive Order 14135 do?

EO 14135 set a conditional acting-leadership sequence for the Homeland Security, beginning with Transportation Security Administration administrator, then the intelligence-and-analysis under secretary. The Federal Vacancies Reform Act still limited eligibility. EO 14148 revoked this sequence on January 20, 2025.

Later primary evidence reviewed September 24, 2026: EO 14148 expressly revoked this order. Official source. The cited steps do not establish every downstream effect.

SignedJanuary 3, 2025
Lead officialsDepartment of Homeland Security officials and White House personnel officials
Express timingEffective on signing

Before and after

Before the order

EO 13753 supplied the earlier executive succession arrangement for the Homeland Security.

After the order

The order named eligible acting officials for the Homeland Security if its covered leadership offices became vacant or unavailable.

EO 14148 revoked EO 14135 on January 20, 2025; the cited orders do not establish that anyone served under this sequence.

Who had to do what

Agency / officeActionTiming / position
Department of Homeland SecurityFollow the listed succession order when its conditions aroseWhile effective
PresidentRetain statutory designation authorityOngoing

What happened next

EO 14135 signed.

Succession order signed.

EO 14148 revoked the order.