Executive Order 13707: Using Behavioral Science Insights To Better Serve the American People
President: Barack Obama
Directed agencies to test and apply behavioral science in program design, communications and public services.
Status: Revoked — by EO 13791 on March 29, 2017.
Is Executive Order 13707 still in effect? No. EO 13791 revoked it in 2017.
What does Executive Order 13707 do?
EO 13707 formalized the Social and Behavioral Sciences Team and asked agencies to identify opportunities for evidence-based improvements such as clearer forms, reminders and easier program access. The team ran randomized evaluations and reported results. EO 13791 revoked the order in March 2017, ending the White House framework, although agencies may still use evaluation and behavioral evidence under other authorities.
Before and after
Before the order
Behavioral-science pilots existed but lacked a government-wide presidential directive.
After the order
Agencies ran coordinated trials until the framework was revoked.
Who had to do what
| Agency / office | Action | Timing / position |
|---|---|---|
| Federal agencies | Identify and test behavioral interventions | Ended under this order |
| OSTP | Coordinate the team and report results | Ended |
| Agencies | Use evidence under separate current authority | Possible independently |
What happened next
EO 13707 formalized the initiative.
EO 13791 revoked EO 13707.
Legal and source detail
How it works legally
Program statutes, the Privacy Act, Paperwork Reduction Act and human-subject protections constrained experiments. EO 13791 expressly revoked the order.
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.
- National Archives — SBST 2016 report (opens in a new tab) Official record
How we checked this
Last checked against the sources above on September 15, 2026. How we research →