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Executive Order 14222
Implementing the President's "Department of Government Efficiency" Cost Efficiency Initiative
Signed February 26, 2025, printed at 90 FR 11095. 4 sections of substance, 1,532 words.
This order is about federal contracts, grants and loans. It calls for each one to be listed in the open.
Sec. 1. Purpose
This order commences a transformation in Federal spending on contracts, grants, and loans to ensure Government spending is transparent and Government employees are accountable to the American public.
This order commences a transformation in Federal spending on contracts, grants, and loans to ensure Government spending is transparent and Government employees are accountable to the American public.
This is about federal spending. It covers contracts, grants and loans. It calls for that spending to be open.
Sec. 2. Definitions
As used in this order: (a) ``Administrator'' means the Administrator of the United States DOGE Service, as defined in Executive Order 14158 of January 20, 2025 (Establishing and Implementing the President's ``Department of Government Efficiency''). (b) ``Agency'' has the meaning given to that term in section 3502 of title 44, United States Code, except that such term does not include the Executive Office of the President or any components thereof. (c) ``Agency Head'' means the highest-ranking official of an agency, such as the Secretary, Administrator, Chairman, or Director. Agency Heads may select designees within their agencies to carry out the responsibilities specified in this order. (d) ``Covered contracts and grants'' means discretionary spending through Federal contracts, grants, loans, and related instruments, but excludes direct assistance to individuals; expenditures related
As used in this order: (a) ``Administrator'' means the Administrator of the United States DOGE Service, as defined in Executive Order 14158 of January 20, 2025 (Establishing and Implementing the President's ``Department of Government Efficiency''). (b) ``Agency'' has the meaning given to that term in section 3502 of title 44, United States Code, except that such term does not include the Executive Office of the President or any components thereof. (c) ``Agency Head'' means the highest-ranking official of an agency, such as the Secretary, Administrator, Chairman, or Director. Agency Heads may select designees within their agencies to carry out the responsibilities specified in this order. (d) ``Covered contracts and grants'' means discretionary spending through Federal contracts, grants, loans, and related instruments, but excludes direct assistance to individuals; expenditures related
This defines the terms. Administrator means the head of the DOGE service. Agency has its meaning in federal law. The White House itself is left out. Agency head means the top person there. Covered contracts and grants means discretionary spending. Direct aid to individuals is excluded.
Sec. 3. Cutting Costs to Save Taxpayers Money
(a) Contract and Grant Justification. Each Agency Head shall, with assistance as requested from the agency's DOGE Team Lead, build a centralized technological system within the agency to seamlessly record every payment issued by the agency pursuant to each of the agency's covered contracts and grants, along with a brief, written justification for each payment submitted by the agency employee who approved the payment. This system shall include a mechanism for the Agency Head to pause and rapidly review any payment for which the approving employee has not submitted a brief, written justification within the technological system. (i) Once the system described in subsection (a) of this section is in place, the Agency Head shall issue guidance, in consultation with the agency's DOGE Team Lead, to require that the relevant agency employee promptly submit a brief, written justification prior to
(a) Contract and Grant Justification. Each Agency Head shall, with assistance as requested from the agency's DOGE Team Lead, build a centralized technological system within the agency to seamlessly record every payment issued by the agency pursuant to each of the agency's covered contracts and grants, along with a brief, written justification for each payment submitted by the agency employee who approved the payment. This system shall include a mechanism for the Agency Head to pause and rapidly review any payment for which the approving employee has not submitted a brief, written justification within the technological system. (i) Once the system described in subsection (a) of this section is in place, the Agency Head shall issue guidance, in consultation with the agency's DOGE Team Lead, to require that the relevant agency employee promptly submit a brief, written justification prior to
This sets up a payment system. Each agency must build one. It records every payment on a covered contract or grant. The staff member who approves it must write a short reason. The agency head may pause a payment with no reason given. Guidance must then require the reason first.
Sec. 4. General Exclusions
This order does not apply to: (a) Law enforcement officers, as defined in 5 U.S.C. 5541(3) and 5 CFR 550.103, or covered contracts and grants directly related to the enforcement of Federal criminal or immigration law; (b) U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the Department of Homeland Security; (c) the Uniformed Services, as defined in 20 CFR 404.1330; (d) any other covered grant or contract, agency component, or real property that the relevant Agency Head exempts in writing from all or part of this order, in consultation with the agency's DOGE Team Lead and the Director of OMB; or (e) classified information or classified information systems.
This order does not apply to: (a) Law enforcement officers, as defined in 5 U.S.C. 5541(3) and 5 CFR 550.103, or covered contracts and grants directly related to the enforcement of Federal criminal or immigration law; (b) U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the Department of Homeland Security; (c) the Uniformed Services, as defined in 20 CFR 404.1330; (d) any other covered grant or contract, agency component, or real property that the relevant Agency Head exempts in writing from all or part of this order, in consultation with the agency's DOGE Team Lead and the Director of OMB; or (e) classified information or classified information systems.
This says who is left out. Police officers are not covered. Nor are contracts tied to criminal or border law. Border and customs staff are exempt. So are the uniformed services. An agency head may exempt other work in writing. Classified systems are also excluded.
Sec. 5. General Provisions
Every order carries this. It is not what the order does.
(a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: (i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or (ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals. (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations. (c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person. <GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT> (Presidential Sig.) THE WHITE HOUSE, February 26, 2025. [FR Doc. 2025-03527 Filed 2-28-25; 11:15 am] Billing code 3395-F4-P </pre></body> </html>
(a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: (i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or (ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals. (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations. (c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person. <GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT> (Presidential Sig.) THE WHITE HOUSE, February 26, 2025. [FR Doc. 2025-03527 Filed 2-28-25; 11:15 am] Billing code 3395-F4-P </pre></body> </html>
This is the closing clause that nearly every order carries. It says the order does not change what the law already allows. It also says no one can sue to enforce it.
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