[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 38, Number 49 (Monday, December 9, 2002)]
[Page 2110]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Memorandum on Designation of Officers of the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency To Act as Director of the Federal Emergency Management 
Agency

November 26, 2002

Memorandum for the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency

Subject: Designation of Officers of the Federal Emergency Management 
Agency to Act as Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency

    By the authority vested in me as President under the Constitution 
and laws of the United States of America and pursuant to the Federal 
Vacancies Reform Act of 1998, 5 U.S.C. 3345 et seq., I hereby order 
that:
    Section 1. Order of Succession.
    During any period when both the Director of the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency (Director) and the Deputy Director of the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency (Deputy Director) have died, resigned, or 
otherwise become unable to perform the functions and duties of the 
office of Director, the following officers of the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency, in the order listed, shall perform the functions and 
duties of the office of Director, if they are eligible to act as 
Director under the provisions of the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 
1998, until such time as the Director or Deputy Director is able to 
perform the functions and duties of the office of Director:
    Administrator of the United States Fire Administration;
    Administrator of the Federal Insurance and Mitigation 
      Administration;
    Assistant Director, Administration and Resource Planning 
      Directorate; and
    Regional Director, Region IV.
    Section 2. Exceptions.
(a)          No individual who is serving in an office listed in section 
            1 in an acting capacity, by virtue of so serving, shall act 
            as Director pursuant to this memorandum.
(b)          Not withstanding the provisions of this memorandum, the 
            President retains discretion, to the extent permitted by the 
            Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998, 5 U.S.C. 3345-3349d, 
            to depart from this order in designating an acting Director.
    Section 3. Termination.
    This memorandum shall terminate immediately upon the transfer of the 
authorities, functions, personnel, and assets of the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency to the Department of Homeland Security.
    Section 4. Publication.
    The Director is authorized and directed to publish this memorandum 
in the Federal Register.
                                                George W. Bush

Note: This memorandum was released by the Office of the Press Secretary 
on December 2.