Executive Order 12893: Principles for Federal Infrastructure Investments
President: Bill Clinton
Required benefit-cost, life-cycle, maintenance, demand-management and performance analysis for federal infrastructure spending; later program law controls individual investments.
Status: In effect. Is Executive Order 12893 still in effect? Yes. Executive Order 12893 remains in effect. See Federal Register record.
What does Executive Order 12893 do?
EO 12893 directs agencies responsible for transportation, water, energy and environmental infrastructure to use systematic benefit-cost analysis, consider uncertainty and alternatives, maintain existing assets, manage demand, encourage efficient pricing and assess program performance. Agencies were to develop implementation plans and report progress through OMB. The reviewed official disposition materials do not identify an express revocation, although later statutes, OMB guidance and program-specific rules govern current decisions.
Before and after
Before the order
Agencies used program-specific appraisal methods without this common set of presidential infrastructure principles.
After the order
Covered agencies were directed to compare alternatives, life-cycle effects, maintenance and demand management and to evaluate program results.
Who had to do what
| Agency / office | Action | Timing / position |
|---|---|---|
| Infrastructure agencies | Develop and implement plans using the stated principles | During program planning |
| Agencies | Compare benefits, costs, uncertainty and alternatives | For covered investment decisions |
| OMB | Coordinate implementation and reporting | Through budget and management review |
What happened next
EO 12893 established the investment principles.
No express revocation was identified in the reviewed official sources.
Legal and source detail
How it works legally
The order is an executive management direction and disclaims private enforceable rights. It does not override authorizing statutes, environmental review, appropriations or program eligibility rules. Current analysis should use applicable program law and OMB guidance.
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.
- OMB — Circular A-94 benefit-cost guidance (opens in a new tab) Official record
How we checked this
Last checked against the sources above on September 14, 2026. How we research →