[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 37, Number 52 (Monday, December 31, 2001)]
[Page 1836]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Executive Order 13241--Providing an Order of Succession Within the 
Department of Agriculture

December 18, 2001

    By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and 
the laws of the United States of America, including Subchapter III of 
Chapter 33 of title 5 of the United States Code, it is hereby ordered 
that:
    Section 1. Subject to the provisions of section 3 of this Executive 
Order, the officers named in section 2, in the order listed, shall act 
as and perform the functions and duties of the office of Secretary of 
Agriculture (Secretary) during any period when both the Secretary and 
the Deputy Secretary of Agriculture (Deputy Secretary) have died, 
resigned, or are otherwise unable to perform the functions and duties of 
the office of Secretary.
    Sec. 2. Order of Succession.
    (a) Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm and Foreign Agricultural 
Services;
    (b) Under Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory 
Programs;
    (c) Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development;
    (d) Under Secretary of Agriculture for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer 
Services;
    (e) Under Secretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources and 
Environment;
    (f) Under Secretary of Agriculture for Research, Education, and 
Economics;
    (g) Under Secretary of Agriculture for Food Safety;
    (h) General Counsel of the Department of Agriculture;
    (i) Assistant Secretary of Agriculture for Administration; and
    (j) Assistant Secretary of Agriculture for Congressional Relations.
    Sec. 3. Exceptions.
    (a) No individual who is serving in an office listed in section 
2(a)-(j) in an acting capacity shall act as Secretary pursuant to this 
Executive Order.
    (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of this Executive Order, the 
President retains discretion, to the extent permitted by Subchapter III 
of Chapter 33 of title 5 of the United States Code, to depart from this 
Executive Order in designating an acting Secretary.
    Sec. 4. Executive Order 11957 of January 13, 1977, is hereby 
revoked.
                                                George W. Bush
 The White House,
 December 18, 2001.

 [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 8:45 a.m., December 20, 
2001]

Note: This Executive order was released by the Office of the Press 
Secretary on December 28, and it was published in the Federal Register 
on December 21.