Executive Order 13195: Trails for America in the 21st Century
President: Bill Clinton
Directed agencies to improve trail networks, public access, partnerships and links between communities and open space.
Status: In effect. Is Executive Order 13195 still in effect? Yes. Executive Order 13195 remains in effect. See Federal Register record.
What does Executive Order 13195 do?
EO 13195 directed federal land and transportation agencies to protect, connect and expand trails; support locally led partnerships; improve information; and reduce unnecessary barriers to trail projects. It did not designate individual routes or appropriate money. Current recreational-trails, active-transportation and federal-land programs provide the main implementation mechanisms under later statutes and agency plans.
Claim-level review October 2, 2026: The order directs coordination and support for trail networks but does not itself create individual trails or supply project funds. Current routes and grants depend on separate statutes, appropriations and agency decisions.
Before and after
Before the order
Multiple agencies administered trail programs without this government-wide connection and accessibility policy.
After the order
Agencies were directed to coordinate networks, technical help, mapping and community partnerships.
Who had to do what
| Agency / office | Action | Timing / position |
|---|---|---|
| Transportation Secretary | Coordinate federal trail policy and assistance | Functions continue through later programs |
| Federal land agencies | Improve and connect trails under existing authority | Continuing |
| Agencies and communities | Build partnerships and share information | Continuing |
What happened next
EO 13195 established the trails policy.
EO 13286 updated departmental references.
Signed text, official disposition and the cited later implementation records for EO 13195 rechecked.
Legal and source detail
How it works legally
Project approval depends on transportation and land-management statutes, appropriations, environmental review, accessibility law and property rights. The order creates no individual entitlement to a trail.
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 13195 (opens in a new tab) Order text
- GovInfo — EO 13286 (opens in a new tab) Order text
- FHWA — Recreational Trails Program (opens in a new tab) Official record
How we checked this
Last checked against the sources above on October 2, 2026. How we research →