Documents › Executive orders › 14243
Executive Order 14243
Stopping Waste, Fraud, and Abuse by Eliminating Information Silos
Signed March 20, 2025, printed at 90 FR 13681. 3 sections of substance, 795 words.
This order tells agencies to share their data with each other. It says walls between them hide waste and fraud.
Sec. 1. Purpose
Purpose. Removing unnecessary barriers to Federal employees accessing Government data and promoting inter-agency data sharing are important steps toward eliminating bureaucratic duplication and inefficiency while enhancing the Government's ability to detect overpayments and fraud.
Purpose. Removing unnecessary barriers to Federal employees accessing Government data and promoting inter-agency data sharing are important steps toward eliminating bureaucratic duplication and inefficiency while enhancing the Government's ability to detect overpayments and fraud.
This states the aim. Federal staff face barriers to reaching government data. Those barriers must come down. Agencies must share data with each other. It says that cuts duplicate work. It says it cuts waste. It says it helps the government spot overpayments. Fraud is named too.
Sec. 2. Definitions
(a) ``Agency'' has the meaning given to it 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. (b) ``Agency Head'' means the highest-ranking official of an agency, such as the Secretary, Administrator, or Director. With respect to multimember agencies, ``Agency Head'' means the Chairman or equivalent official.
(a) ``Agency'' has the meaning given to it 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. (b) ``Agency Head'' means the highest-ranking official of an agency, such as the Secretary, Administrator, or Director. With respect to multimember agencies, ``Agency Head'' means the Chairman or equivalent official.
This defines the terms. Agency has its meaning in federal law. The White House itself is left out. Agency head means the top person there. For a board, it means the chairman. Both terms run through the rest of the order.
Sec. 3. Eliminating Information Silos
(a) Agency Heads shall take all necessary steps, to the maximum extent consistent with law, to ensure Federal officials designated by the President or Agency Heads (or their designees) have full and prompt access to all unclassified agency records, data, software systems, and information technology systems--or their equivalents if providing access to an equivalent dataset does not delay access--for purposes of pursuing Administration priorities related to the identification and elimination of waste, fraud, and abuse. This includes authorizing and facilitating both the intra- and inter-agency sharing and consolidation of unclassified agency records. (b) Within 30 days of the date of this order, Agency Heads shall, to the maximum extent consistent with law, rescind or modify all agency guidance that serves as a barrier to the inter- or intra-agency sharing of unclassified information
(a) Agency Heads shall take all necessary steps, to the maximum extent consistent with law, to ensure Federal officials designated by the President or Agency Heads (or their designees) have full and prompt access to all unclassified agency records, data, software systems, and information technology systems--or their equivalents if providing access to an equivalent dataset does not delay access--for purposes of pursuing Administration priorities related to the identification and elimination of waste, fraud, and abuse. This includes authorizing and facilitating both the intra- and inter-agency sharing and consolidation of unclassified agency records. (b) Within 30 days of the date of this order, Agency Heads shall, to the maximum extent consistent with law, rescind or modify all agency guidance that serves as a barrier to the inter- or intra-agency sharing of unclassified information
This opens up agency records. Named officials get access to data and systems. Classified files are not covered. The access is for finding waste and fraud. Records may be shared within and between agencies. Within 30 days agency heads must drop guidance that blocks sharing.
Sec. 4. 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, Washington, March 20, 2025. [FR Doc. 2025-05214 Filed 3-24-25; 8:45 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, Washington, March 20, 2025. [FR Doc. 2025-05214 Filed 3-24-25; 8:45 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.
How this order is quoted
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