[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 37, Number 37 (Monday, September 17, 2001)]
[Page 1303]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Memorandum on Excused Absence and Assistance to Federal Employees 
Affected by the Attacks at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon

September 12, 2001

Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies

Subject: Excused Absence and Assistance to Federal Employees Affected by 
the Attacks at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon

    I am deeply saddened and outraged by the loss of life and suffering 
caused by the attacks at the World Trade Center in New York City and the 
Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. I convey my deepest sympathy and 
heartfelt sorrow to our fellow Americans and their families who have 
been affected by these senseless acts of violence. Many parts of the 
Federal Government have been mobilized to respond to this tragedy.
    As part of this effort, I ask the heads of executive departments and 
agencies having Federal civilian employees in the affected areas to 
excuse from duty, without charge to leave or loss of pay, any such 
employee who is prevented from reporting to work or faced with a 
personal emergency because of the terrorist attacks and who can be 
spared from his or her usual responsibilities. This policy should also 
be applied to any employee who is needed for emergency law enforcement, 
relief, or recovery efforts authorized by Federal, State, or local 
officials having jurisdiction.
    I have directed the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the 
Department of Labor to establish teams of specialists to assist with 
Federal benefits and workers' compensation claims of those employees who 
were injured or killed in the attacks.
    Finally, I have directed OPM to establish an emergency leave 
transfer program to assist employees affected by this major disaster. 
The emergency leave transfer program will permit employees in an 
executive agency to donate unused annual leave for transfer to employees 
of the same or other agencies who have been adversely affected by the 
attacks and who need additional time off from work without having to use 
their own paid leave.
                                                George W. Bush