Executive Order 13528: Establishment of the Council of Governors
President: Barack Obama
Created a bipartisan council of state and territorial governors to advise federal officials on National Guard homeland defense and civil-support matters.
Status: In effect.
Is Executive Order 13528 still in effect? Yes. Active bipartisan Council of Governors supporting National Guard defense and emergency coordination.
What does Executive Order 13528 do?
EO 13528 implemented a statutory requirement for a Council of Governors. Ten governors consult with the Defense and Homeland Security secretaries and other officials on National Guard use, synchronizing state and federal military activities, mutual aid, civil support and budget issues.
Before and after
Before the order
Congress had required a forum for systematic governor consultation on Guard and homeland-defense questions.
After the order
A bipartisan council met with federal leaders and issued recommendations on readiness and emergency coordination.
Who had to do what
| Agency / office | Action | Timing / position |
|---|---|---|
| Governors | Advise and exchange views | Continuing |
| Defense Secretary | Serve as federal co-chair and consult | Continuing |
| DHS and other officials | Participate on relevant civil-support matters | Continuing |
What happened next
EO 13528 established the council.
Legal and source detail
How it works legally
Title 32 and other statutes determine Guard status and command. The Federal Advisory Committee Act does not apply to the council by statute.
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.
- U.S. Code — Council of Governors (opens in a new tab) Official record
- Defense Department — Council of Governors (opens in a new tab) Official record
How we checked this
Last checked against the sources above on September 15, 2026. How we research →