Government operations and workforce

Executive Order 13317: Volunteers for Prosperity

President: George W. Bush

Directed several agencies to organize skilled overseas volunteer opportunities tied to U.S. prosperity initiatives.

Status: In effect. Is Executive Order 13317 still in effect? Yes. Executive Order 13317 remains in effect. See Federal Register record.

What does Executive Order 13317 do?

USAID, State, Commerce and HHS were directed to create offices or units within 30 days; USAID was to coordinate and report after 180 days and annually. EO 13418 amended the objectives in section 1(a) in December 2006 to include combating malaria and the President’s Malaria Initiative. The later text changes the program’s stated scope, not evidence of a measured public-health outcome.

Administration position: The order presents skilled overseas volunteer service as support for listed U.S. global health and prosperity initiatives.
SignedSeptember 25, 2003
Prior frameworkThe named agencies had separate foreign assistance initiatives but no offices directed by this particular Volunteers for Prosperity order.
Responsible officialUSAID, State, Commerce and HHS
Later primary evidenceDecember 14, 2006: EO 13418 amended the objectives in section 1(a) in December 2006 to include combating malaria and the President’s Malaria Initiative. The later text changes the program’s stated scope, not evidence of a measured public-health outcome.

Before and after

Before the order

The named agencies had separate foreign assistance initiatives but no offices directed by this particular Volunteers for Prosperity order.

After the order

USAID, State, Commerce and HHS were directed to create offices or units within 30 days; USAID was to coordinate and report after 180 days and annually.

EO 13418 amended the objectives in section 1(a) in December 2006 to include combating malaria and the President’s Malaria Initiative. The later text changes the program’s stated scope, not evidence of a measured public-health outcome.

What changed?

The named agencies had separate foreign assistance initiatives but no offices directed by this particular Volunteers for Prosperity order. USAID, State, Commerce and HHS were directed to create offices or units within 30 days; USAID was to coordinate and report after 180 days and annually.

What does later evidence show?

GovInfo — EO 13418 adding malaria documents the later development: EO 13418 amended the objectives in section 1(a) in December 2006 to include combating malaria and the President’s Malaria Initiative. The later text changes the program’s stated scope, not evidence of a measured public-health outcome. A volunteer initiative is not proof of a particular placement or health impact.

What are the limits?

Agency actions were subject to available appropriations, law and agency missions. The order encouraged considering skilled volunteers in overseas grant applications but did not entitle any organization to a grant or make it a Peace Corps program. Read the signed order for its operative language.

Who had to do what

Agency / officeActionTiming / position
USAID, State, Commerce and HHSEstablished volunteer units and coordinationAs limited by the signed order

What happened next

EO 13317 signed.

EO 13418 amended the objectives in section 1(a) in December 2006 to include combating malaria and the President’s Malaria Initiative. The later text changes the program’s stated scope, not evidence of a measured public-health outcome.

Signed text and later primary evidence reviewed.