Defense and national security

Executive Order 13963: Providing an Order of Succession Within the Department of Defense

President: Donald J. Trump

Set the order in which eligible Defense Department officials may act as Secretary when that office is vacant or its holder cannot serve.

Status: In effect. Is Executive Order 13963 still in effect? Yes. The Defense Department’s current directives index lists DoD Directive 3020.04, implementing the order of succession under Executive Order 13963 and the Federal Vacancies Reform Act, with Change 1 dated April 18, 2024. EO 13963 revoked the earlier succession order, EO 13533. The directive establishes the succession framework, not that it was used in a particular vacancy. See Defense Department directives index; Federal Register EO 13963 disposition.

What does Executive Order 13963 do?

EO 13963 specified succession for senior Defense Department offices during vacancies, absences or disabilities.

Later primary evidence reviewed September 24, 2026: A Defense Department directive republished the Secretary's succession order pursuant to this executive order and the Federal Vacancies Reform Act; it does not prove the succession list was used in a particular vacancy. Official source. The cited steps do not establish every downstream effect.

SignedDecember 10, 2020
IssuerPresident Donald J. Trump
TermFirst presidential term

Before and after

Before the order

Defense Department succession followed earlier departmental and presidential instructions.

After the order

A Defense Department directive republished the Secretary's succession order pursuant to this executive order and the Federal Vacancies Reform Act; it does not prove the succession list was used in a particular vacancy.

Who had to do what

Agency / officeActionTiming / position
PresidentSigned and issued the orderDecember 10, 2020
Named agencies and officialsCarry out directions specified in the orderAccording to the primary text

What happened next

Executive Order 13963 signed.

Later primary evidence reviewed: A Defense Department directive republished the Secretary's succession order pursuant to this executive order and the Federal Vacancies Reform Act; it does not prove the succession list was used in a particular vacancy.