Executive Order 13698: Hostage Recovery Activities
President: Barack Obama
Reorganized federal hostage recovery through a fusion cell, a White House response group and a special presidential envoy.
Status: In effect.
Is Executive Order 13698 still in effect? Yes. Active organizational foundation; the Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell and Special Presidential Envoy continue under later statutory and executive authorities.
What does Executive Order 13698 do?
EO 13698 implemented a review of how the government handles Americans held hostage abroad. It established the Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell at the FBI, a senior Hostage Response Group at the National Security Council, and the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, while directing more consistent family engagement. Congress later reinforced parts of the system in the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act, and the fusion cell continues to operate.
Before and after
Before the order
Hostage cases were handled across agencies with fragmented coordination and inconsistent family communication.
After the order
A standing interagency cell and defined senior leadership coordinated recovery options and engagement.
Who had to do what
| Agency / office | Action | Timing / position |
|---|---|---|
| FBI-led fusion cell | Coordinate case operations and family engagement | Continuing |
| Special Presidential Envoy | Lead diplomatic engagement | Continuing |
| National Security Council | Coordinate senior policy decisions | Continuing under current structure |
What happened next
EO 13698 established the new system.
Legal and source detail
How it works legally
Presidential national-security authority, agency statutes and the Levinson Act govern the system. Criminal, sanctions and appropriations law continue to constrain specific options.
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.
- FBI — Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell (opens in a new tab) Official record
How we checked this
Last checked against the sources above on September 15, 2026. How we research →