[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 32, Number 29 (Monday, July 22, 1996)]
[Pages 1266-1271]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Executive Order 13011--Federal Information Technology

July 16, 1996

    A Government that works better and costs less requires efficient and 
effective information systems. The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and 
the Information Technology Management Reform Act of 1996 provide the 
opportunity to improve significantly the way the Federal Government 
acquires and manages information technology. Agencies now have the clear 
authority and responsibility to make measurable improvements in mission 
performance and service delivery to the public through the strategic 
application of information technology. A coordinated approach that 
builds on existing structures and successful practices is needed to 
provide maximum benefit across the Federal Government from this 
technology.
    Accordingly, by the authority vested in me as President by the 
Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby 
ordered as follows:
    Section 1. Policy. It shall be the policy of the United States 
Government that executive agencies shall: (a) significantly improve the 
management of their information systems, including the acquisition of 
information technology, by implementing the relevant provisions of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Public Law 104-13), the Information 
Technology Management Reform Act of 1996 (Division E of Public Law 104-
106)

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(``Information Technology Act''), and the Government Performance and 
Results Act of 1993 (Public Law 103-62);
    (b) refocus information technology management to support directly 
their strategic missions, implement an investment review process that 
drives budget formulation and execution for information systems, and 
rethink and restructure the way they perform their functions before 
investing in information technology to support that work;
    (c) establish clear accountability for information resources 
management activities by creating agency Chief Information Officers 
(CIOs) with the visibility and management responsibilities necessary to 
advise the agency head on the design, development, and implementation of 
those information systems. These responsibilities include: (1) 
participating in the investment review process for information systems; 
(2) monitoring and evaluating the performance of those information 
systems on the basis of applicable performance measures; and, (3) as 
necessary, advising the agency head to modify or terminate those 
systems;
    (d) cooperate in the use of information technology to improve the 
productivity of Federal programs and to promote a coordinated, 
interoperable, secure, and shared Governmentwide infrastructure that is 
provided and supported by a diversity of private sector suppliers and a 
well-trained corps of information technology professionals; and
    (e) establish an interagency support structure that builds on 
existing successful interagency efforts and shall provide expertise and 
advice to agencies; expand the skill and career development 
opportunities of information technology professionals; improve the 
management and use of information technology within and among agencies 
by developing information technology procedures and standards and by 
identifying and sharing experiences, ideas, and promising practices; and 
provide innovative, multi-disciplinary, project-specific support to 
agencies to enhance interoperability, minimize unnecessary duplication 
of effort, and capitalize on agency successes.
    Sec. 2. Responsibilities of Agency Heads. The head of each executive 
agency shall: (a) effectively use information technology to improve 
mission performance and service to the public;
    (b) strengthen the quality of decisions about the employment of 
information resources to meet mission needs through integrated analysis, 
planning, budgeting, and evaluation processes, including:
     (1) determining, before making investments in new information 
systems, whether the Government should be performing the function, if 
the private sector or another agency should support the function, and if 
the function needs to be or has been appropriately redesigned to improve 
its efficiency;
     (2) establishing mission-based performance measures for information 
systems investments, aligned with agency performance plans prepared 
pursuant to the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (Public 
Law 103-62);
     (3) establishing agency-wide and project-level management 
structures and processes responsible and accountable for managing, 
selecting, controlling, and evaluating investments in information 
systems, with authority for terminating information systems when 
appropriate;
     (4) supporting appropriate training of personnel; and
     (5) seeking the advice of, participating in, and supporting the 
interagency support structure set forth in this order;
     (c) select CIOs with the experience and skills necessary to 
accomplish the duties set out in law and policy, including this order, 
and involve the CIO at the highest level of the agency in the processes 
and decisions set out in this section;
     (d) ensure that the information security policies, procedures, and 
practices of the executive agency are adequate;
     (e) where appropriate, and in accordance with the Federal 
Acquisition Regulation and guidance to be issued by the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB), structure major information systems 
investments into manageable projects as narrow in scope and brief in 
duration as practicable, consistent with the Information Technology Act, 
to reduce risk, promote flexibility and interoperability, increase 
accountability, and better correlate mission need with current 
technology and market conditions; and

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     (f) to the extent permitted by law, enter into a contract that 
provides for multiagency acquisitions of information technology as an 
executive agent for the Government, if and in the manner that the 
Director of OMB considers it advantageous to do so.
    Sec. 3. Chief Information Officers Council. (a) Purpose and 
Functions. A Chief Information Officers Council (``CIO Council'') is 
established as the principal interagency forum to improve agency 
practices on such matters as the design, modernization, use, sharing, 
and performance of agency information resources. The Council shall:
    (1) develop recommendations for overall Federal information 
technology management policy, procedures, and standards;
    (2) share experiences, ideas, and promising practices, including 
work process redesign and the development of performance measures, to 
improve the management of information resources;
    (3) identify opportunities, make recommendations for, and sponsor 
cooperation in using information resources;
    (4) assess and address the hiring, training, classification, and 
professional development needs of the Federal Government with respect to 
information resources management;
    (5) make recommendations and provide advice to appropriate executive 
agencies and organizations, including advice to OMB on the 
Governmentwide strategic plan required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995; and
    (6) seek the views of the Chief Financial Officers Council, 
Government Information Technology Services Board, Information Technology 
Resources Board, Federal Procurement Council, industry, academia, and 
State and local governments on matters of concern to the Council as 
appropriate.
    (b) Membership. The CIO Council shall be composed of the CIOs and 
Deputy CIOs of the following executive agencies plus two representatives 
from other agencies:
    1. Department of State;
    2. Department of the Treasury;
    3. Department of Defense;
    4. Department of Justice;
    5. Department of the Interior;
    6. Department of Agriculture;
    7. Department of Commerce;
    8. Department of Labor;
    9. Department of Health and Human Services;
    10. Department of Housing and Urban Development;
    11. Department of Transportation;
    12. Department of Energy;
    13. Department of Education;
    14. Department of Veterans Affairs;
    15. Environmental Protection Agency;
    16. Federal Emergency Management Agency;
    17. Central Intelligence Agency;
    18. Small Business Administration;
    19. Social Security Administration;
    20. Department of the Army;
    21. Department of the Navy;
    22. Department of the Air Force;
    23. National Aeronautics and Space Administration;
    24. Agency for International Development;
    25. General Services Administration;
    26. National Science Foundation;
    27. Nuclear Regulatory Commission; and
    28. Office of Personnel Management.
The Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs of 
OMB, the Controller of the Office of Federal Financial Management of 
OMB, the Administrator of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy of 
OMB, a Senior Representative of the Office of Science and Technology 
Policy, the Chair of the Government Information Technology Services 
Board, and the Chair of the Information Technology Resources Board shall 
also be members. The CIO Council shall be chaired by the Deputy Director 
for Management of OMB. The Vice Chair, elected by the CIO Council on a 
rotating basis, shall be an agency CIO.
    Sec. 4. Government Information Technology Services Board.
    (a) Purpose and Functions. A Government Information Technology 
Services Board (``Services Board'') is established to ensure continued 
implementation of the information technology recommendations of the 
National Performance Review and to identify and promote the development 
of innovative technologies, standards, and practices among agencies and 
State and local governments and the private sector. It shall seek the 
views of experts from industry, academia, and State

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and local governments on matters of concern to the Services Board as 
appropriate. The Services Board shall also make recommendations to the 
agencies, the CIO Council, OMB, and others as appropriate, and assist in 
the following:
    (1) creating opportunities for cross-agency cooperation and 
intergovernmental approaches in using information resources to support 
common operational areas and to develop and provide shared 
governmentwide infrastructure services;
    (2) developing shared governmentwide information infrastructure 
services to be used for innovative, multiagency information technology 
projects;
    (3) creating and utilizing affinity groups for particular business 
or technology areas; and
    (4) developing with the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology and with established standards bodies, standards and 
guidelines pertaining to Federal information systems, consistent with 
the limitations contained in the Computer Security Act of 1987 (40 
U.S.C. 759 note), as amended by the Information Technology Act.
     (b) Membership. The Services Board shall be composed of individuals 
from agencies based on their proven expertise or accomplishments in 
fields necessary to achieve its goals. Major government mission areas 
such as electronic benefits, electronic commerce, law enforcement, 
environmental protection, national defense, and health care may be 
represented on the Services Board to provide a program operations 
perspective. Initial selection of members will be made by OMB in 
consultation with other agencies as appropriate. The CIO Council may 
nominate two members. The Services Board shall recommend new members to 
OMB for consideration. The Chair will be elected by the Services Board.
    Sec. 5. Information Technology Resources Board. 
    (a) Purpose and Functions. An Information Technology Resources Board 
(``Resources Board'') is established to provide independent assessments 
to assist in the development, acquisition, and management of selected 
major information systems and to provide recommendations to agency heads 
and OMB as appropriate. The Resources Board shall:
     (1) review, at the request of an agency and OMB, specific 
information systems proposed or under development and make 
recommendations to the agency and OMB regarding the status of systems or 
next steps;
     (2) publicize lessons learned and promising practices based on 
information systems reviewed by the Board; and
     (3) seek the views of experts from industry, academia, and State 
and local governments on matters of concern to the Resources Board, as 
appropriate.
     (b) Membership. The Resources Board shall be composed of 
individuals from executive branch agencies based on their knowledge of 
information technology, program, or acquisition management within 
Federal agencies. Selection of members shall be made by OMB in 
consultation with other agencies as appropriate. The Chair will be 
elected by the Resources Board. The Resources Board may call upon the 
department or agency whose project is being reviewed, or any other 
department or agency to provide knowledgeable representative(s) to the 
Board whose guidance and expertise will assist in focusing on the 
primary issue(s) presented by a specific system.
     Sec. 6. Office of Management and Budget. The Director of OMB shall:
     (1) evaluate agency information resources management practices and, 
as part of the budget process, analyze, track and evaluate the risks and 
results of all major capital investments for information systems;
     (2) notify an agency if it believes that a major information system 
requires outside assistance;
     (3) provide guidance on the implementation of this order and on the 
management of information resources to the executive agencies and to the 
Boards established by this order; and
     (4) evaluate the effectiveness of the management structure set out 
in this order after 3 years and make recommendations for any appropriate 
changes.
     Sec. 7. General Services Administration. Under the direction of 
OMB, the Administrator of General Services shall:
     (1) continue to manage the FTS2000 program and coordinate the 
follow-on to that

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program, on behalf of and with the advice of customer agencies;
     (2) develop, maintain, and disseminate for the use of the Federal 
community, as requested by OMB or the agencies, recommended methods and 
strategies for the development and acquisition of information 
technology;
     (3) conduct and manage outreach programs in cooperation with agency 
managers;
     (4) be a focal point for liaison on information resources 
management, including Federal information technology, with State and 
local governments, and with nongovernmental international organizations 
subject to prior consultation with the Secretary of State to ensure such 
liaison would be consistent with and support overall United States 
foreign policy objectives;
     (5) support the activities of the Secretary of State for liaison, 
consultation, and negotiation with intergovernmental organizations in 
information resources management matters;
     (6) assist OMB, as requested, in evaluating agencies' performance-
based management tracking systems and agencies' achievement of cost, 
schedule, and performance goals; and
     (7) provide support and assistance to the interagency groups 
established in this order.
    Sec. 8. Department of Commerce. The Secretary of Commerce shall 
carry out the standards responsibilities under the Computer Security Act 
of 1987, as amended by the Information Technology Act, taking into 
consideration the recommendations of the agencies, the CIO Council, and 
the Services Board.
    Sec. 9. Department of State. (a) The Secretary of State shall be 
responsible for liaison, consultation, and negotiation with foreign 
governments and intergovernmental organizations on all matters related 
to information resources management, including Federal information 
technology. The Secretary shall further ensure, in consultation with the 
Secretary of Commerce, that the United States is represented in the 
development of international standards and recommendations affecting 
information technology. In the exercise of these responsibilities, the 
Secretary shall consult, as appropriate, with affected domestic 
agencies, organizations, and other members of the public.
     (b) The Secretary of State shall advise the Director on the 
development of United States positions and policies on international 
information policy and technology issues affecting Federal Government 
activities and the development of international information technology 
standards.
    Sec. 10. Definitions. (a) ``Executive agency'' has the meaning given 
to that term in section 4(1) of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy 
Act (41 U.S.C. 403(1)).
     (b) ``Information Technology'' has the meaning given that term in 
section 5002 of the Information Technology Act.
     (c) ``Information resources'' has the meaning given that term in 
section 3502(6) of title 44, United States Code.
     (d) ``Information resources management'' has the meaning given that 
term in section 3502(7) of title 44, United States Code.
     (e) ``Information system'' has the meaning given that term in 
section 3502(8) of title 44, United States Code.
     (f) ``Affinity group'' means any interagency group focussed on a 
business or technology area with common information technology or 
customer requirements. The functions of an affinity group can include 
identifying common program goals and requirements; identifying 
opportunities for sharing information to improve quality and 
effectiveness; reducing costs and burden on the public; and recommending 
protocols and other standards, including security standards, to the 
National Institute of Standards and Technology for Governmentwide 
applicability, for action in accordance with the Computer Security Act 
of 1987, as amended by the Information Technology Act.
    (g) ``National security system'' means any telecommunications or 
information system operated by the United States Government, the 
function, operation, or use of which (1) involves intelligence 
activities; (2) involves cryptologic activities related to national 
security; (3) involves command and control of military forces; (4) 
involves equipment that is an integral part of a weapon or weapons 
system; or (5) is critical to the direct fulfillment of military or 
intelligence missions, but excluding any system that is to be used for 
routine administrative and business applica- 

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tions (including payroll, finance, logistics, and personnel management 
applications).
    Sec. 11. Applicability to National Security Systems.
     The heads of executive agencies shall apply the policies and 
procedures established in this order to national security systems in a 
manner consistent with the applicability and related limitations 
regarding such systems set out in the Information Technology Act.
    Sec. 12. Judicial Review. Nothing in this Executive order shall 
affect any otherwise available judicial review of agency action. This 
Executive order is intended only to improve the internal management of 
the executive branch and does not create any right or benefit, 
substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or equity by a party 
against the United States, its agencies or instrumentalities, its 
officers or employees, or any other person.
                                            William J. Clinton
The White House,
July 16, 1996.

[Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 8:45 a.m., July 18, 
1996]

Note: This Executive order was released by the Office of the Press 
Secretary on July 17, and it was published in the Federal Register on 
July 19.