Government operations and workforce

Executive Order 13487: Establishment of a Temporary Organization to Facilitate United States Government Support for Afghanistan

President: George W. Bush

Created a temporary State Department Afghanistan Support Office; a 2010 order transferred its functions, personnel, assets, liabilities and records to a broader successor office.

Status: In effect. Is Executive Order 13487 still in effect? Yes. Executive Order 13487 remains in effect. See Federal Register record.

What does Executive Order 13487 do?

EO 13487 created the Afghanistan Support Office within the State Department under 5 U.S.C. §3161. Its stated project was to support civilian capacity, self-sufficiency and an effective diplomatic presence in Afghanistan. EO 13550 later created the Pakistan and Afghanistan Support Office, directed it to assume the Afghanistan office's functions and ordered the transfer of the earlier office's personnel, assets, liabilities and records.

Later evidence reviewed September 27, 2026: EO 13550 expressly transferred the Afghanistan Support Office's functions, personnel, assets, liabilities and records to PASO.

Administration position: The policy purposes in EO 13487 were presidential findings. The later transfer is established by EO 13550; neither order by itself proves that every program objective was achieved.
SignedJanuary 16, 2009
PublishedJanuary 22, 2009
Successor orderEO 13550, August 18, 2010
Later effectFunctions and records transferred to PASO

Before and after

Before the order

Afghanistan assistance was administered through existing State Department and interagency structures.

After the order

The order created a temporary office jointly based in Washington and Afghanistan.

EO 13550 replaced that arrangement with a Pakistan and Afghanistan Support Office and expressly transferred the earlier office's work and resources.

Who had to do what

Agency / officeActionTiming / position
Secretary of StateSelect the director and assign related functionsDuring the temporary office
Afghanistan Support OfficeSupport civilian-capacity and diplomatic workUntil transfer or termination
Pakistan and Afghanistan Support OfficeAssume ASO functions and receive its personnel, assets, liabilities and recordsAugust 18, 2010

What happened next

EO 13487 signed.

Published in the Federal Register.

EO 13550 created PASO and transferred the ASO's functions and resources.

The signed orders and transfer relationship were rechecked.