Providing an Order of Succession Within the Department of Veterans Affairs
Headline: Establishes Succession Order for Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary
What it does: Department officials must follow the listed order of officials to act as Secretary when both the Secretary and Deputy Secretary cannot perform the duties.
- Clarifies who will lead the Veterans Affairs department if top leaders are unavailable.
- Bars people in only acting roles from becoming acting Secretary by default.
- Revokes prior succession orders and memoranda for the department leadership.
Summary
This order sets a clear list of who will act as Secretary of Veterans Affairs if both the Secretary and Deputy Secretary die, resign, or cannot carry out their duties. It names specific positions in order, starting with the Under Secretary for Health and including other officials and regional directors.
The order bars people serving only in an acting role from becoming acting Secretary, requires legal eligibility under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act, allows the President to choose someone different when law permits, and revokes earlier succession orders and memoranda.
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