Government operations and workforce

Executive Order 13073: Year 2000 Conversion

President: Bill Clinton

Directed federal agencies to prepare for the year 2000 date change and created a presidential coordination council.

Status: In effect. Is Executive Order 13073 still in effect? Yes. Executive Order 13073 remains in effect. See Executive Order 13127: Amendment to Executive Order 13073, Year 2000 Conversion, Federal Register record.

What does Executive Order 13073 do?

EO 13073 required agencies to check critical computer systems for year 2000 failures, plan continuity, report progress and coordinate with other governments and the private sector. EO 13127 later amended the council arrangements. GAO documented the council’s sector working groups and federal readiness work, while also identifying areas that needed stronger independent verification. The order addressed a time-bound technology risk.

Administration position: The order coordinated risk reduction; it did not guarantee that every public or private system would function or transfer control of private infrastructure to the federal government.
SignedFebruary 4, 1998
AmendedEO 13127 on June 14, 1999
Lead bodyPresident’s Council on Year 2000 Conversion
Later evidenceGAO federal readiness review

Before and after

Before the order

Agencies faced the date-conversion risk with separate programs and reporting systems.

After the order

The order created common executive coordination and reporting; GAO later documented council work and remaining oversight needs.

Who had to do what

Agency / officeActionTiming / position
Federal agenciesAssess systems, fix risks and plan continuityBefore the year 2000 transition
President’s Council on Year 2000 ConversionCoordinate and report federal and sector preparednessDuring the conversion program

What happened next

EO 13073 signed.

EO 13127 amended the council framework.

Order, amendment and GAO review checked.