Government operations and workforce

Executive Order 13515: Increasing Participation of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Federal Programs

President: Barack Obama

Created a White House initiative and advisory commission to improve Asian American and Pacific Islander access to federal programs.

Status: Superseded. Is Executive Order 13515 still in effect? No. Executive Order 13515 was superseded. See Executive Order 13872: Economic Empowerment of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

What does Executive Order 13515 do?

EO 13515 directed agencies to identify barriers, prepare plans and improve data and outreach for Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. It established a White House initiative and advisory commission. EO 13872 superseded it in 2019; EO 14031 then superseded both earlier structures, and the 2025 administration revoked the later order.

Later evidence reviewed September 23, 2026: EO 14031 superseded the 2009 and 2019 structures. Federal Register — EO 14031. This later record documents the stated step; it does not by itself establish every downstream agency action or legal outcome.

Administration position: The initiative coordinated access and advice; it did not itself guarantee funding or eligibility to any person or organization.
SignedOctober 14, 2009
Agency plansRequired after initial review
Lead departmentsEducation and Commerce

Before and after

Before the order

Earlier AAPI initiatives operated under EOs 13125 and 13339.

After the order

Agencies developed access plans and a presidential commission advised on community needs.

Who had to do what

Agency / officeActionTiming / position
InitiativeCoordinate agency work and outreachSuperseded
AgenciesAssess barriers and implement plansLater policy changed
Advisory commissionRecommend improvementsSuperseded

What happened next

EO 13515 established the initiative.

EO 13652 amended membership.

EO 13872 superseded it.

EO 14031 superseded the 2009 and 2019 structures.