Defense and national security

Executive Order 13758: Amending Executive Order 11016 To Update Eligibility Criteria for Award of the Purple Heart

President: Barack Obama

Expanded Purple Heart eligibility for qualifying attacks by foreign terrorist organizations after September 11, 2001.

Status: In effect.

Is Executive Order 13758 still in effect? Yes. Active amendment to Purple Heart eligibility, implemented through military awards regulations.

What does Executive Order 13758 do?

EO 13758 amended EO 11016 to align the Purple Heart with a statutory expansion enacted in the 2015 defense authorization law. It covers qualifying wounds or deaths from attacks by foreign terrorist organizations where the Defense Secretary determines the organization and attack meet statutory criteria, including certain attacks outside combat zones. Military departments apply the rule through awards regulations and individual record review.

Administration position: Eligibility is not automatic for every violent incident; the responsible organization, attack and injury must meet Defense Department and statutory criteria.
SignedJanuary 12, 2017
Base orderEO 11016
Relevant attacksAfter September 11, 2001

Before and after

Before the order

Some victims of foreign-terrorist attacks outside declared combat circumstances could fall outside prior criteria.

After the order

The medal could recognize additional qualifying service-member victims.

Who had to do what

Agency / officeActionTiming / position
Defense SecretaryDetermine qualifying organizations and attacksCase-specific
Military departmentsReview records and issue awardsContinuing
Service members or familiesSubmit evidence or correction requestsAs needed

What happened next

EO 11016 established modern Purple Heart rules.

EO 13758 conformed the executive criteria.