Government operations and workforce

Executive Order 13801: Expanding Apprenticeships in America

President: Donald J. Trump

Directed agencies to expand apprenticeship opportunities and consider industry-recognized alternatives to existing training models.

Status: Revoked.

Is Executive Order 13801 still in effect? No. EO 14016 revoked it on February 17, 2021. Labor separately rescinded the Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Program regulations effective November 25, 2022; revoking the order did not itself erase those regulations. EO 14016; GAO’s rule review.

What does Executive Order 13801 do?

EO 13801 asked the Labor Secretary to promote apprenticeships, establish a task force and review regulations that could limit workforce training. The Department of Labor later created an Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Program framework; President Biden revoked EO 13801 through EO 14016 in 2021.

The central proposal still required rulemaking: Labor’s March 11, 2020 final rule let approved Standards Recognition Entities recognize Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Programs (IRAPs). This additional route did not replace Registered Apprenticeship, and construction activities were excluded. 2020 final rule, summary and scope.

Administration position: Any policy rationale or projected benefit in the order is the administration’s position. This index record does not treat those claims as independently established facts.
SignedJune 15, 2017
IssuerPresident Donald J. Trump
TermFirst presidential term

Before and after

Before the order

Federal apprenticeship programs and industry training operated under existing Labor Department rules.

After the order

The Labor Department developed an industry-recognized apprenticeship framework. EO 14016 revoked EO 13801 in February 2021; later agency rules followed their own process.

Who had to do what

Original directions, not verified completion claims
Agency or officialDirectionTiming
Labor SecretaryConsider recognition rules; fund expansion; chair/support task force; establish commendations.Commendations within two years; other tasks have no fixed deadline.
Education SecretaryConsult on rules; promote access and college integration; vice-chair task force.No fixed deadline.
Commerce SecretaryConsult on rules; promote employer participation; vice-chair task force.No fixed deadline.
Defense SecretaryPromote access for groups specified in section 6, coordinating with Labor, Education and Justice.No fixed deadline.
Attorney GeneralJoin the section 6 access effort.No fixed deadline.
Task forceReport apprenticeship strategies to the President.No report due date; terminate 30 days after submission.
Agency headsSubmit workforce-program inventories and evaluation/reform information.With budget submissions to OMB.
OMB DirectorGuide agency submissions; consider them in budget formulation.FY 2019 budget process.

Signed order, sections 4–10. Labor’s funding direction depended on available appropriations; it was not a new appropriation.

What happened next

EO 13801 was signed. Official source.

The task force submitted its final report; Labor later documented that step in its rulemaking history. Official source.

Labor published the proposed IRAP rule. Official source.

Labor published the IRAP final rule, which took effect May 11, 2020. Official source.

EO 14016 revoked EO 13801 and directed agencies to consider rescinding implementing measures under applicable law. Official source.

Labor’s separate rescission of the IRAP regulations became effective. Official source.

EO 14278 launched a separate Registered Apprenticeship expansion initiative; its signed text did not reinstate EO 13801. Official source.