Government operations and workforce · Advisory committees

Executive Order 12859: Establishment of the Domestic Policy Council

President: Bill Clinton

Established the Domestic Policy Council to coordinate policy development, presidential advice and implementation across executive agencies; later orders amended its membership.

Status: In effect as amended.

Is Executive Order 12859 still in effect? Yes. Continuing framework; membership amended by later orders.

What does Executive Order 12859 do?

EO 12859 established the Domestic Policy Council to coordinate domestic policy development, advice and implementation across the executive branch. Later orders amended its membership. The White House currently describes the council as coordinating domestic policy, and its July 2026 staff report lists a director. Those records support the council’s continuing operation, while individual policy outcomes require separate evidence.

Administration position: The order treated central coordination as necessary for a coherent domestic program. That is an organizational policy judgment, not a measure of program results.
SignedAugust 16, 1993
ChairPresident
Lead staff officialAssistant to the President for Domestic Policy

Before and after

Before the order

Domestic-policy work was distributed among departments, agencies and White House offices without this formal council structure.

After the order

A presidential council became the stated coordinating forum for executive-branch domestic policy.

Who had to do what

Agency / officeActionTiming / position
Domestic Policy CouncilCoordinate domestic policymaking and adviceAs convened
Assistant for Domestic PolicyManage council processes and implementation workOngoing under the framework
Executive departments and agenciesCoordinate domestic policy through the councilWhether or not represented on it

What happened next

EO 12859 established the council.

EO 13284 added the Homeland Security Secretary.

EO 13568 further amended council membership.