Executive Order 13232: Further Amendment to Executive Order 10789, as Amended, To Authorize the Department of Health and Human Services To Exercise Certain Contracting Authority in Connection With National Defense Functions
President: George W. Bush
Added the Health and Human Services Secretary to the agency heads authorized under EO 10789 to use Public Law 85-804 extraordinary contracting powers for national-defense functions.
Status: In effect.
Is Executive Order 13232 still in effect? Yes. Active amendment; underlying extraordinary contracting authority remains in force.
What does Executive Order 13232 do?
The order assigned these duties: HHS Secretary — Exercise Public Law 85-804 authority for national-defense contracts; HHS Secretary — Delegate authority within EO 10789 and implementing rules.
Verified the HHS delegation is an addition to EO 10789’s Public Law 85-804 contracting framework. Checked the current FAR reference and retained the statute’s findings, approval and monetary limits.
Before and after
Before the order
EO 10789 authorized several agencies, but HHS was not among the listed department heads.
After the order
The amendment placed HHS within the EO 10789 framework for extraordinary contractual actions and indemnification. The current FAR continues to implement Public Law 85-804 and EO 10789, although later changes adjusted listed agencies and approval rules.
Who had to do what
| Agency / office | Action | Timing / position |
|---|---|---|
| HHS Secretary | Exercise Public Law 85-804 authority for national-defense contracts | As qualifying circumstances arise |
| HHS Secretary | Delegate authority within EO 10789 and implementing rules | As appropriate |
| Contracting officials | Document findings, approvals and limitations | For each action |
What happened next
EO 13232 signed.
EO 13232 added HHS to paragraph 21 of EO 10789.
The current FAR continued to implement EO 10789 and Public Law 85-804.
Legal and source detail
How it works legally
Public Law 85-804, EO 10789 and FAR subpart 50.1 impose findings, approval, reporting and monetary limitations. The authority does not permit officials to disregard every law or create a contractor entitlement.
Sources by type
If a source is unavailable, first check the cited publisher or another official repository. The cited publisher remains the authority.
Primary and official sources
Orders, laws, court records and official implementation material.
- GovInfo — authenticated compilation (opens in a new tab) Official record
- Current FAR 50.000 — scope (opens in a new tab) Official record
- Current FAR subpart 50.1 (opens in a new tab) Official record
- 50 U.S.C. chapter 29 (opens in a new tab) Official record
How we checked this
Last checked against the sources above on October 2, 2026. How we research →