Executive Order 13527: Establishing Federal Capability for the Timely Provision of Medical Countermeasures Following a Biological Attack
President: Barack Obama
Directed agencies to plan rapid dispensing of medical countermeasures to affected populations after a biological attack.
Status: In effect. Is Executive Order 13527 still in effect? Yes. Executive Order 13527 remains an unrevoked biological-attack preparedness directive. Its signed text establishes a continuing federal medical-countermeasure response capability without a termination date, and the current Federal Register disposition table lists no revocation. The initial planning deadlines have passed; that does not establish that the preparedness framework expired. Sources: Current Federal Register executive order disposition table: 2009; Executive Order 13527: signed Federal Register text; HHS ASPR TRACIE: Executive Order 13527.
What does Executive Order 13527 do?
EO 13527 required a federal capability to supplement state and local delivery of medicines after a biological attack, with postal workers as a possible rapid delivery resource, security planning, exercises and legal review. HHS and Homeland Security led planning within existing emergency and medical authorities.
Before and after
Before the order
The Strategic National Stockpile existed without this dedicated last-mile federal delivery framework.
After the order
Agencies planned, tested and coordinated rapid countermeasure distribution with state and local systems.
Who had to do what
| Agency / office | Action | Timing / position |
|---|---|---|
| HHS | Lead medical and stockpile planning | Continuing through later structures |
| Homeland Security | Coordinate security and emergency support | Continuing |
| Postal Service and law enforcement | Plan voluntary delivery and protection roles | Contingency-based |
What happened next
EO 13527 signed.
Legal and source detail
How it works legally
Public Health Service Act, Stafford Act, PREP Act and state health laws govern particular emergencies. The order creates no individual entitlement or compulsory-treatment power.
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.
- HHS — Strategic National Stockpile (opens in a new tab) Official record
- HHS — medical countermeasures (opens in a new tab) Official record
- U.S. Code — public health emergencies (opens in a new tab) Official record
How we checked this
Last checked against the sources above on September 15, 2026. How we research →