Order of Succession of Officers To Act as Secretary of Defense
Establishes Order of Succession for Department of Defense Leadership
What it does
Department of Defense officials must follow the listed order to act as Secretary of Defense when the Secretary is unavailable.
Real-world impact
- Creates a clear temporary leadership order for the Defense Department.
- Bars officials serving only in acting roles from becoming Acting Secretary.
- Revokes the prior 1991 succession order and replaces previous rules.
Topics
Summary
This order establishes the specific line of succession for who may act as the Secretary of Defense if that office becomes vacant or the Secretary cannot perform duties. It lists the Department of Defense positions, in order, that will serve as Acting Secretary for death, permanent disability, resignation, temporary absence, or temporary disability, and excludes officials who hold only acting positions.
The order makes succession temporary, allows the Secretary to set precedence for tied appointment dates, and revokes the prior 1991 succession order.
Questions, answered
Ask questions about this executive order and its implications. Try:
- “What agencies are affected by this order?”
- “How does this order change existing policy?”
- “What are the practical implications of this order?”