Executive Order 13537: Interagency Group on Insular Areas
President: Barack Obama
Strengthened the Interagency Group on Insular Areas and required annual consultation with governors of four US territories.
Status: In effect.
Is Executive Order 13537 still in effect? Yes. Active Interior-based interagency group with continuing territorial consultation and program coordination.
What does Executive Order 13537 do?
EO 13537 placed the group at Interior, made the Interior Secretary and White House intergovernmental-affairs director co-chairs and required consultation with Guam, American Samoa, the US Virgin Islands and the Northern Mariana Islands. It coordinates federal programs and recommendations but does not alter territorial status.
Before and after
Before the order
An earlier interagency group existed with less explicit White House participation and consultation duties.
After the order
Territorial leaders gained a recurring senior-level forum for federal program and policy issues.
Who had to do what
| Agency / office | Action | Timing / position |
|---|---|---|
| Co-chairs | Convene and direct the group | Continuing |
| Federal agencies | Coordinate programs and provide information | Continuing |
| Territorial governors | Present priorities and advice | Continuing |
What happened next
EO 13537 strengthened the group.
Legal and source detail
How it works legally
Territorial statutes, compacts, appropriations and agency law remain controlling. Consultation does not create enforceable rights.
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.
- Interior — authorities and public laws (opens in a new tab) Official record
- U.S. Code — territorial provisions (opens in a new tab) Official record
How we checked this
Last checked against the sources above on September 15, 2026. How we research →