Executive Order 13180: Air Traffic Performance-Based Organization
President: Bill Clinton
Directed FAA to create a performance-based organization for air-traffic services led by a chief operating officer.
Status: In effect. Is Executive Order 13180 still in effect? Yes. Executive Order 13180 remains in effect. See Federal Register record.
What does Executive Order 13180 do?
EO 13180 required the Federal Aviation Administration to establish an Air Traffic Organization focused on safe, efficient and measurable delivery of air-traffic services. It assigned operational leadership to a chief operating officer with performance agreements and business-style accountability. FAA launched the ATO in 2004, and the organization continues to operate the national airspace system under a statutory COO framework updated by Congress.
Claim-level review October 2, 2026: FAA history confirms that EO 13180, as amended, formally created the Air Traffic Organization. Current ATO operations also rest on later statutes and FAA organization; the guide does not imply that every original performance target remains unchanged.
Before and after
Before the order
FAA air-traffic operations, acquisition and research functions were spread across multiple organizational lines.
After the order
The ATO consolidated service delivery under measurable goals and a chief operating officer.
Who had to do what
| Agency / office | Action | Timing / position |
|---|---|---|
| FAA Administrator | Establish the ATO and delegate operational authority | Implemented |
| Chief Operating Officer | Manage services under annual performance goals | Continuing |
| Transportation Secretary | Oversee performance and accountability | Continuing |
What happened next
EO 13180 directed creation of the organization.
Signed text, official disposition and the cited later implementation records for EO 13180 rechecked.
Legal and source detail
How it works legally
Congress separately codified the FAA Administrator and COO authorities in 49 U.S.C. 106. Safety, procurement, labor and appropriations law continue to govern the organization.
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.
- GovInfo — EO 13180 (opens in a new tab) Order text
- U.S. Code — 49 U.S.C. 106 (opens in a new tab) Official record
- FAA — ATO safety management (opens in a new tab) Official record
- National Archives — 2000 disposition table (opens in a new tab) Official record
- FAA — Air Traffic Organization history (opens in a new tab) Official record
How we checked this
Last checked against the sources above on October 2, 2026. How we research →