Government operations and workforce · Advisory committees

Executive Order 12977: Interagency Security Committee

President: Bill Clinton

Created a permanent interagency body to set and oversee security standards for nonmilitary federal facilities after the Oklahoma City bombing.

Status: In effect as amended by EO 13286.

Is Executive Order 12977 still in effect? Yes, as amended by EO 13286.

What does Executive Order 12977 do?

EO 12977 established the Interagency Security Committee to coordinate protection of buildings used for nonmilitary federal activity. It charged the committee with government-wide policies, security standards, compliance strategy, intelligence sharing, technology assessment and cooperation among agencies. EO 13286 transferred the chair from GSA to the Department of Homeland Security and made related organizational changes. The ISC continues to publish standards and monitor federal-facility security.

Administration position: The committee standardizes federal-facility risk management. It does not replace each agency’s responsibility for its own buildings or guarantee elimination of every security risk.
SignedOctober 19, 1995
Original chairGSA Administrator
Current chairSecretary of Homeland Security or designee

Before and after

Before the order

Federal civilian-facility security lacked a permanent government-wide standards body.

After the order

Agencies shared a common forum for facility risk standards, compliance and protective practices.

Who had to do what

Agency / officeActionTiming / position
Interagency Security CommitteeSet policies and evaluate standardsContinuing
Federal agenciesApply appropriate security measuresContinuing
DHSChair and support the committeeUnder EO 13286

What happened next

The Oklahoma City bombing exposed federal-building security risks.

EO 12977 created the ISC.

EO 13286 transferred leadership to Homeland Security.

The ISC continued its standards and compliance work.