Government operations and workforce · Advisory committees

Executive Order 13500: Further Amendments to Executive Order 12859, Establishment of the Domestic Policy Council

President: Barack Obama

Updated membership of the Domestic Policy Council, the White House body that coordinates domestic policy.

Status: In effect. Is Executive Order 13500 still in effect? Yes. Executive Order 13500 is an unrevoked amendment to the Domestic Policy Council order, Executive Order 12859. The council framework continued with a further membership amendment in Executive Order 13569 on April 5, 2011; that later order did not revoke Executive Order 13500. Sources: Current Federal Register executive order disposition table: 2009; Executive Order 13500: signed Federal Register text; Executive Order 13569, April 5, 2011.

What does Executive Order 13500 do?

EO 13500 amended EO 12859 to align Domestic Policy Council membership with the Obama administration. The council develops and coordinates domestic-policy advice across departments; the order did not create a public program or spending authority.

Later evidence reviewed September 23, 2026: Successive presidents retained the council with changing portfolios. White House — Domestic Policy Council. The council continued as an institution; the order did not lock in a permanent membership or policy program.

Administration position: The amendment changed internal coordination, not the legal authority of cabinet departments.
SignedFebruary 5, 2009
Parent orderEO 12859
FunctionDomestic-policy coordination

Before and after

Before the order

The DPC order listed offices and officials from earlier administrations.

After the order

A revised group of senior officials participated in presidential domestic-policy coordination.

Who had to do what

Agency / officeActionTiming / position
DPC DirectorConvene and coordinate policy workContinuing institution
Council membersDevelop and reconcile recommendationsContinuing
AgenciesSupply expertise and implement decisions under existing lawAs directed

What happened next

EO 13500 revised DPC membership.

Executive Order 13569 replaced the energy-and-climate adviser’s Domestic Policy Council membership entry with the Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality; it did not revoke Executive Order 13500. Official source.