Health and social policy

Executive Order 12992: President's Council on Counter-Narcotics

President: Bill Clinton

Created a Cabinet-level council to coordinate national drug-control policy and resolve interagency differences.

Status: Revoked. Is Executive Order 12992 still in effect? No. Executive Order 12992 was revoked. See Federal Register record.

What does Executive Order 12992 do?

EO 12992 created a President-chaired council to coordinate federal drug-control strategy, budgets and interagency disputes. EO 13023 renamed it the President’s Drug Policy Council and expanded its membership later in 1996. An archived White House briefing records a council meeting with President Clinton on December 12, 1996 and discussion of strategy and proposed funding. That meeting documents the council’s use after the amendment; it does not by itself establish the effectiveness of any drug policy. EO 13284 later updated membership titles.

Administration position: The council coordinated cabinet policy; it did not replace agencies’ statutory authorities or itself criminalise conduct.
SignedMarch 15, 1996
ChairPresident
RenamedPresident’s Drug Policy Council in 1996

Before and after

Before the order

ONDCP coordinated drug policy without this president-chaired cabinet council.

After the order

Senior departments had a formal forum for strategy, budgets and cross-agency disputes.

Who had to do what

Agency / officeActionTiming / position
CouncilCoordinate national drug-control policyUnder the amended charter
ONDCP DirectorSupport meetings and implementationContinuing statutory role
Federal agenciesProvide assistance and informationAs requested and lawful

What happened next

EO 12992 created the council.

EO 13023 renamed and expanded it.

The White House reported a council meeting on strategy and funding.

EO 13284 updated membership titles.