Revocation of Executive Order 13770
Signed: January 19, 2021
Published: January 25, 2021
Document Number: 2021-01713
đSummary
This executive order cancels Executive Order 13770 (issued in 2017), which had set ethics commitments for certain executive branch appointees. It affects current and former executive branch employees who were covered by those ethics commitments. Starting at noon on January 20, 2021, those individuals are no longer bound by the specific commitments created by Executive Order 13770. It also states that the revocation does not change agenciesâ legal authority or the Office of Management and Budgetâs role, and it does not create any new enforceable rights for anyone.
đźBusiness Impact
This order mainly affects businesses that rely on federal policymaking accessâgovernment contractors, regulated industries (healthcare, finance, energy, telecom), and lobbying/consulting firmsâbecause it removes the additional ethics and post-employment restrictions that applied specifically to Executive Branch appointees under EO 13770. Companies may see more opportunities to hire former political appointees and to engage them sooner in business development, advocacy, or advisory roles, but they still must comply with existing federal ethics and ârevolving doorâ laws (e.g., 18 U.S.C. § 207), procurement integrity rules, and any agency-specific restrictions. Immediate actions: review your hiring and government-relations policies to distinguish EO-based limits from statutory limits, update onboarding/offboarding checklists for former federal officials, and have counsel vet any planned engagements with recent appointees to avoid conflicts-of-interest or procurement violations even though EO 13770 commitments no longer apply.
Full Text
Executive Order 13983 of January 19, 2021
Revocation of Executive Order 13770
By the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and laws of the United States of America, including section 301 of title 3, United States Code, and sections 3301 and 7301 of title 5, United States Code, it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1 . Revocation.Executive Order 13770 of January 28, 2017, “Ethics Commitments by Executive Branch Appointees,” is hereby revoked, effective at noon January 20, 2021. Employees and former employees subject to the commitments in Executive Order 13770 will not be subject to those commitments after noon January 20, 2021.
Sec. 2 . General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order 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 order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This order 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.
THE WHITE HOUSE,
January 19, 2021.