Health and social policy

Executive Order 12891: Advisory Committee on Human Radiation Experiments

President: Bill Clinton

Created an independent advisory review of federally sponsored human radiation experiments and public remedies; the committee reported in 1995 and the order was revoked after completion.

Status: Revoked. Is Executive Order 12891 still in effect? No. Executive Order 12891 was revoked. See Federal Register record.

What does Executive Order 12891 do?

EO 12891 established the Advisory Committee on Human Radiation Experiments and an interagency working group. The committee was directed to investigate government-sponsored experiments, assess ethical and scientific standards, identify appropriate remedies, and examine whether contemporary research protections were adequate. Agencies had to locate and provide records subject to law, and the committee was to report within 18 months. It published its final report in 1995. EO 13062 later listed the work as complete and revoked the order.

Administration position: The order said disclosure and independent review were needed to address serious ethical questions. The committee’s findings and recommendations, rather than the establishing order alone, provide the evidentiary record.
SignedJanuary 15, 1994
Administrative departmentEnergy
Report target18 months

Before and after

Before the order

Agencies were reviewing records, but no single independent presidential committee had the order’s cross-government remit.

After the order

The committee held public meetings, reviewed records and issued a final report with findings and recommendations.

Who had to do what

Agency / officeActionTiming / position
Advisory CommitteeInvestigate experiments, standards, remedies and current protectionsReport within 18 months
Interagency working groupCoordinate agencies and support the reviewDuring the inquiry
Federal agenciesSearch for and provide relevant recordsSubject to law and privacy protections

What happened next

EO 12891 established the committee.

EO 13062 revoked the order after the work was complete.