Overview
Title
Providing an Order of Succession Within the Department of the Treasury
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If the top leaders at the Treasury Department can't do their jobs, this new rule sets a list of who should step in. But the President can choose differently if needed.
Summary AI
The Executive Order 14137 establishes a new order of succession for the Department of the Treasury if both the Secretary and Deputy Secretary are unable to perform their duties. The succession list starts with any Under Secretary and proceeds through several key officials, including the General Counsel and Chief of Staff, among others. The order specifies that individuals in acting positions cannot serve as Secretary, and the President has the discretion to deviate from this order. This Executive Order also revokes a previous order from August 2016 related to Treasury succession.
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AnalysisAI
Summary of the Executive Order
Executive Order 14137 lays out a new order of succession within the Department of the Treasury. In the event that both the Secretary and the Deputy Secretary are unable to fulfill their roles due to death, resignation, or incapacity, a hierarchy of officials is designated to assume these duties. This hierarchy begins with any Under Secretary and follows with the General Counsel, Deputy Under Secretaries, Chief of Staff, among others. Importantly, individuals serving in an acting capacity are precluded from stepping into the Secretary role. Additionally, the President can exercise discretion to alter this order. The Executive Order also nullifies a previous order from August 2016 concerning the Treasury's succession plan.
Significant Issues and Concerns
The Executive Order raises a few notable issues. First, there is the potential for complexity and confusion given the technical language, especially for those unfamiliar with legal or governmental terms. Such complexity can be daunting for lay readers. Additionally, the exceptions clause allows the President considerable latitude to bypass the outlined order of succession. This level of discretion might be seen as overly broad, leading to uncertainties about its possible implications.
Moreover, the revocation of the previous Executive Order from 2016 is announced without explaining the rationale or implications of such a change. This lack of context could result in a lack of clarity for readers regarding why the succession hierarchy needed to be updated or how it will differ from the prior order.
Public Impact
For the general public, this order may not have immediate or visible effects. It is an administrative directive aimed at ensuring continuity in leadership within the Department of the Treasury. Nonetheless, the clarity and precision of the succession order are vital, especially during times of crisis when seamless transitions are necessary to maintain public confidence in the government's functionality.
Impact on Stakeholders
Key stakeholders, specifically Treasury officials and employees, are directly impacted by this order. It provides a clear roadmap for leadership succession, which is crucial for internal operations and planning. Transparency in the succession process can foster organizational stability and morale among department staff.
Conversely, the potential for presidential discretion introduces an element of unpredictability that could lead to concerns about subjective decision-making or preferential treatment of certain individuals not listed in the succession order. Additionally, this aspect could lead to strategic positioning among officials as they seek clarity on their roles during transitions.
In conclusion, while Executive Order 14137 is primarily procedural, it holds significant implications for governance during times of uncertainty within the Department of the Treasury. Its execution and the President's discretion in deviation from the order remain points of interest and possible scrutiny for stakeholders within and outside the government.
Issues
• The document does not contain any detailed financial implications or potential spending figures, so it is not possible to assess wasteful spending directly from this text.
• There is no indication of favoritism towards any particular organizations or individuals within this order as it strictly enumerates a list of positions within the Department of the Treasury.
• The language used in some sections is technical, referring to specific legal acts and positions, which might be complex for those not familiar with legal or government terminology, though this is typical for such documents.
• Section 2 introduces an exception clause that is somewhat open-ended, allowing the President to depart from the order of succession, which could be considered as granting a significant degree of discretion.
• The revocation of Executive Order 13735 is stated without providing context or reasons for the change, which might leave readers unclear about the implications of this revocation.