Government operations and workforce

Executive Order 13513: Federal Leadership On Reducing Text Messaging While Driving

President: Barack Obama

Banned federal employees from texting while driving on official business and directed agencies to encourage similar contractor and grant-recipient policies.

Status: In effect.

Is Executive Order 13513 still in effect? Yes. Active; federal employment grant and procurement rules still implement its texting-while-driving policy.

What does Executive Order 13513 do?

EO 13513 prohibits federal employees from text messaging while driving government vehicles, using government-supplied equipment while driving, or driving privately on official business. Agencies had to issue rules and training, while procurement and assistance policy encourages covered contractors and recipients to adopt comparable bans.

Administration position: The order governs federal work and federally connected activity; it is not a nationwide criminal traffic law for every driver.
SignedOctober 1, 2009
Employee compliance deadline90 days
Lead supportTransportation and GSA

Before and after

Before the order

Agencies lacked a single government-wide distracted-driving rule.

After the order

Federal personnel policies, contract clauses and award terms incorporated texting restrictions.

Who had to do what

Agency / officeActionTiming / position
AgenciesProhibit covered employee texting and provide trainingContinuing
Federal employeesDo not text while driving in covered circumstancesContinuing
Contractors and recipientsAdopt and enforce safety policies when encouraged or requiredContinuing

What happened next

EO 13513 signed.