Providing an Order of Succession Within the Department of Justice

2017-01-19Executive Order 13762
Signed by: Barack Obama
Share:

Headline: Order Establishes Department of Justice Succession for Attorney General

What it does: Officials must follow the named list of U.S. Attorneys as the order of succession to act as Attorney General when top officials are unavailable.

Real World Impact:
  • Designates three specific U.S. Attorneys to serve as acting Attorney General, in order.
  • Prevents individuals already serving in an acting capacity from serving under this succession.
  • Revokes the prior Department of Justice succession order (Executive Order 13557).
Topics: government staffing, Department of Justice, continuity of leadership, legal succession

Summary

This order names who should serve as acting Attorney General if the Attorney General and top deputies cannot perform their duties. It lists three U.S. Attorneys, in a specific order, to act as Attorney General when needed.

The order also bars anyone already serving in an acting role from being chosen under this list and requires that any chosen person meet eligibility rules under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act. It cancels a prior succession order.

Ask about this order

Ask questions about this executive order and its implications.

What agencies are affected by this order?

How does this order change existing policy?

What are the practical implications of this order?

Related Executive Orders