Government operations and workforce

Executive Order 13286: Amendment of Executive Orders, and Other Actions, in Connection With the Transfer of Certain Functions to the Secretary of Homeland Security

President: George W. Bush

Transferred and updated presidential functions across executive orders to reflect the Secretary of Homeland Security’s new statutory responsibilities.

Status: In effect. Is Executive Order 13286 still in effect? Yes. Executive Order 13286 remains in effect. See Federal Register record.

What does Executive Order 13286 do?

The order assigned these duties: Secretary of Homeland Security, DHS components and agencies whose functions were transferred — Transferred and updated presidential functions across executive orders to reflect the Secretary of Homeland Security’s new statutory responsibilities.

Checked the statutory-reference and function transfers required by the Homeland Security reorganization. The guide distinguishes transferred responsibilities from substantive new authority.

Administration position: The order’s policy rationale is described in its text and administration records. Implementation and legal observations below are based on the cited official sources.
SignedFebruary 28, 2003
IssuerPresident George W. Bush
Lead agencies or officialsSecretary of Homeland Security, DHS components and agencies whose functions were transferred
Express timingEffective on publication and the DHS transfer; continuing delegations

Before and after

Before the order

Functions in earlier orders were assigned to departments and officials whose responsibilities moved to DHS under the Homeland Security Act.

After the order

DHS and successor delegations used the revised assignments; later orders amended, revoked or replaced individual provisions as statutes and administrations changed.

Who had to do what

Agency / officeActionTiming / position
Secretary of Homeland Security, DHS components and agencies whose functions were transferredTransferred and updated presidential functions across executive orders to reflect the Secretary of Homeland Security’s new statutory responsibilities.Effective on publication and the DHS transfer; continuing delegations

What happened next

EO 13286 signed.

2003 onward — DHS implemented the transferred assignments. Subsequent executive orders, including EOs 13316, 13442 and 13528, made additional DHS changes.