Economy, finance and labor

Executive Order 13517: Amendments to Executive Orders 13183 and 13494

President: Barack Obama

Expanded the President’s Puerto Rico task force and clarified which contractor labor-relations costs remain reimbursable.

Status: In effect. Is Executive Order 13517 still in effect? Yes. Executive Order 13517 remains an unrevoked amendment to the Puerto Rico task-force and procurement-cost orders. The Federal Register disposition table records its amendments to Executive Orders 13183 and 13494, and FAR 31.205-21(b) continues the prohibition on reimbursing contractor persuader costs. The original report deadline is historical; it does not revoke the amendments. Sources: Current Federal Register executive order disposition table: 2009; Executive Order 13517: signed Federal Register text; Current FAR 31.205-21: Labor relations costs.

What does Executive Order 13517 do?

EO 13517 gave the Puerto Rico task force broader responsibility for federal programs and economic development and required a report within one year. It also clarified EO 13494: ordinary labor-management relations costs may be allowable, but persuader costs concerning organizing or bargaining are not.

Administration position: The order advised on Puerto Rico and federal cost accounting; it neither changed Puerto Rico’s political status nor prohibited lawful employer speech.
SignedOctober 30, 2009
Orders amendedEO 13183 and EO 13494
Task-force reportWithin one year

Before and after

Before the order

The task force focused more narrowly on political-status proposals and the contractor-cost wording required clarification.

After the order

Its remit included programs and economic conditions, while FAR treatment distinguished normal labor relations from persuader activity.

Who had to do what

Agency / officeActionTiming / position
Puerto Rico task forceReport and advise on status and programsFunctions evolved
Contracting agenciesApply clarified cost allowabilityContinuing
ContractorsSeparate persuader expenses from allowable relations costsContinuing

What happened next

EO 13517 signed.

FAR implementation of EO 13494 took effect.