[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 39, Number 4 (Monday, January 27, 2003)]
[Pages 93-94]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Executive Order 13283--Establishing the Office of Global Communications

January 21, 2003

    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. Establishment of the Office of Global Communications. 
There is hereby established within the White House Office an Office of 
Global Communications (the ``Office'') to be headed by a Deputy 
Assistant to the President for Global Communications.
    Sec. 2. Mission. The mission of the Office shall be to advise the 
President, the heads of appropriate offices within the Executive Office 
of the President, and the heads of executive departments and agencies 
(agencies) on utilization of the most effective means for the United 
States Government to ensure consistency in messages that will promote 
the interests of the United States abroad, prevent misunderstanding, 
build support for and among coalition partners of the United States, and 
inform international audiences. The Office shall provide such advice on 
activities in which the role of the United States Government is apparent 
or publicly acknowledged.
    Sec. 3. Functions. In carrying out its mission:
    (a) The Office shall assess the methods and strategies used by the 
United States Government (other than special activities as defined in 
Executive Order 12333 of December 4, 1981) to deliver information to 
audiences abroad. The Office shall coordinate the formulation among 
appropriate agencies of messages that reflect the strategic 
communications framework and priorities of the United States, and shall 
facilitate the development of a strategy among the appropriate agencies 
to effectively communicate such messages.
    (b) The Office shall work with the policy and communications offices 
of agencies in developing a strategy for disseminating truthful, 
accurate, and effective messages about the United States, its Government 
and policies, and the American people and culture. The Office may, after 
consulting with the Department of State and obtaining the approval of 
the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs on the 
President's behalf, work with cooperating foreign governments in the 
development of the strategy. In performing its work, the Office shall 
coordinate closely and regularly with the Assistant to the President for 
National Security Affairs, or the Assistant's designee.
    (c) The Office shall work with appropriate agencies to coordinate 
the creation of temporary teams of communicators for short-term 
placement in areas of high global interest and media attention as 
determined by the Office. Team members shall include personnel from 
agencies to the extent permitted by law and subject to the availability 
of personnel. In performing its functions, each information team shall 
work to disseminate accurate and timely information about topics of 
interest to the on-site news media, and assist media personnel in 
obtaining access to information, individuals, and events that reinforce 
the strategic communications objectives of the United States and its 
allies. The Office shall coordinate when and where information teams 
should be deployed; provided, however, no information team shall be

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deployed abroad without prior consultation with the Department of State 
and the Department of Defense, and prior notification to the Office of 
the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs.
    (d) The Office shall encourage the use of state-of-the-art media and 
technology and shall advise the United States Government of events, 
technologies, and other communications tools that may be available for 
use in conveying information.
    Sec. 4. Administration. The Office of Administration within the 
Executive Office of the President shall provide the Office with 
administrative and related support, to the extent permitted by law and 
subject to the availability of appropriations, as directed by the Chief 
of Staff to the President to carry out the provisions of this order.
    Sec. 5. Relationship to Other Interagency Coordinating Mechanisms. 
Presidential direction regarding National Security Council-related 
mechanisms for coordination of national security policy shall apply with 
respect to the Office in the same manner as it applies with respect to 
other elements of the White House Office. Nothing in this order shall be 
construed to impair or otherwise affect any function assigned by law or 
by the President to the National Security Council or to the Assistant to 
the President for National Security Affairs.
    Sec. 6. Continuing Authorities. This order does not alter the 
existing authorities of any agency. Agencies shall assist the Deputy 
Assistant to the President for Global Communications, to the extent 
consistent with applicable law and direction of the President, and to 
the extent such assistance is consistent with national security 
objectives and with the mission of such agencies, in carrying out the 
Office's mission.
    Sec. 7. General Provisions.
    (a) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or 
benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or equity by any 
party against the United States, its agencies, instrumentalities or 
entities, its officers or employees, or any other person.
    (b) Nothing in this order shall be construed to grant to the Office 
any authority to issue direction to agencies, officers, or employees.
                                                George W. Bush
 The White House,
 January 21, 2003.

 [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 8:45 a.m., January 23, 
2003]

Note: This Executive order was published in the Federal Register on 
January 24.