Presidential Actions

Designation of Officials of the Council on Environmental Quality To Act as Chairman

SignedJanuary 3, 2025
Memorandum·Joe Biden·Environmental Policy
Why This Matters

This memorandum establishes a new order of succession for the Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality in case the current Chairman is unable to perform their duties.

This ensures continuity in leadership within the Council on Environmental Quality during transitions.
The officials within the Council on Environmental Quality are most affected, as they are designated to step in as acting Chairman.
Summary

1. Establishes a clear order of succession for the Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality. 2. Specifies eligibility criteria for acting officials and exceptions to the order. 3. Revokes a previous memorandum regarding succession within the Council.

Who is affected?

The officials within the Council on Environmental Quality are most affected, as they are designated to step in as acting Chairman.

What does it revoke?

Presidential Memorandum of September 6, 2019 (Providing an Order of Succession Within the Council on Environmental Quality)

Read on Federal Registerfederalregister.gov
Read Full Text
Memorandum of January 3, 2025

Designation of Officials of the Council on Environmental Quality To Act as Chairman

Memorandum for the Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998, as amended, 5 U.S.C. 3345 et seq. (the “Act”), it is hereby ordered that:

Section 1 . Order of Succession. Subject to the provisions of section 2 of this memorandum, and to the limitations set forth in the Act, the following officials of the Council on Environmental Quality, in the order listed, shall act as and perform the functions and duties of the office of the Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality (Chairman) during any period in which the Chairman has died, resigned, or otherwise become unable to perform the functions and duties of the office of Chairman:

(a) Chief of Staff;

(b) General Counsel;

(c) Deputy General Counsels, in the chronological order in which they were appointed as a Deputy General Counsel and, if Deputy General Counsels were appointed on the same day, in alphabetical order by last name;

(d) Senior Directors, in the chronological order in which they were appointed as a Senior Director and, if Senior Directors were appointed on the same day, in alphabetical order by last name; and

(e) Associate Director for the National Environmental Policy Act.

Sec. 2 . Exceptions. (a) No individual who is serving in an office listed in section 1 of this memorandum in an acting capacity shall, by virtue of so serving, act as Chairman pursuant to this memorandum.

(b) No individual who is serving in an office listed in section 1 of this memorandum shall act as Chairman unless that individual is otherwise eligible to so serve under the Act.

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of this memorandum, the President retains discretion, to the extent permitted by law, to depart from this memorandum in designating an acting Chairman.

Sec. 3 . Revocation. The Presidential Memorandum of September 6, 2019 (Providing an Order of Succession Within the Council on Environmental Quality), is hereby revoked.

Sec. 4 . General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this memorandum shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or

(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

(b) This memorandum shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

(c) This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

(d) You are authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.

[FR Doc. 2025-00663

Filed 1-10-25; 8:45 am]

Billing code 3395-F4-P

Designation of Officials of the Council on Environmental Quality To Act as Chairman - PILLARS