Energy, environment and natural resources

Executive Order 13344: Amending Executive Order 13261 on the Order of Succession in the Environmental Protection Agency

President: George W. Bush

Reordered three assistant administrator offices in the existing EPA acting-administrator succession order.

Status: Revoked. Is Executive Order 13344 still in effect? No. Executive Order 13344 was revoked. See Executive Order 13614: Providing an Order of Succession Within the Environmental Protection Agency, Federal Register record.

What does Executive Order 13344 do?

EO 13344 replaced section 2(a)–(c) with Solid Waste, Toxic Substances, and Air and Radiation assistant administrators, in that sequence. EO 13614 on May 21, 2012 expressly revoked both EO 13261 and EO 13344 and supplied a new EPA succession order. The 2004 sequence is therefore historical, not the current list.

SignedJune 7, 2004
Earlier frameworkEO 13261 set the order of succession for the EPA Administrator under the federal vacancies framework.
Responsible bodyEPA officials designated in EO 13261
Later primary evidenceMay 21, 2012: EO 13614 on May 21, 2012 expressly revoked both EO 13261 and EO 13344 and supplied a new EPA succession order. The 2004 sequence is therefore historical, not the current list.

Before and after

Before the order

EO 13261 set the order of succession for the EPA Administrator under the federal vacancies framework.

After the order

EO 13344 replaced section 2(a)–(c) with Solid Waste, Toxic Substances, and Air and Radiation assistant administrators, in that sequence.

EO 13614 on May 21, 2012 expressly revoked both EO 13261 and EO 13344 and supplied a new EPA succession order. The 2004 sequence is therefore historical, not the current list.

What did the signed order change?

EO 13261 set the order of succession for the EPA Administrator under the federal vacancies framework. EO 13344 replaced section 2(a)–(c) with Solid Waste, Toxic Substances, and Air and Radiation assistant administrators, in that sequence.

What happened later?

GovInfo — EO 13614 revoking the 2004 amendment documents this later development: EO 13614 on May 21, 2012 expressly revoked both EO 13261 and EO 13344 and supplied a new EPA succession order. The 2004 sequence is therefore historical, not the current list.

What does that evidence establish?

EO 13344 amended only subsections 2(a)–(c) of EO 13261, citing the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998. EO 13614 expressly revoked both in 2012. This guide should not present the three 2004 offices as today’s succession hierarchy. A succession designation does not itself prove any official acted as Administrator during a vacancy. The signed order controls its original terms.

Who had to do what

Agency / officeActionTiming / position
EPA officials designated in EO 13261Applied the amended historical acting-administrator sequenceUnder the signed order and governing law

What happened next

EO 13344 signed.

EO 13614 on May 21, 2012 expressly revoked both EO 13261 and EO 13344 and supplied a new EPA succession order. The 2004 sequence is therefore historical, not the current list.