Executive Office of the President of the United States
Chapter 2 · pp. 43–68 ·
Russ Vought
What this chapter is about
This chapter is about the offices that sit closest to the president. The biggest one is the budget office. It controls how money is spent. It also checks new rules before they can take effect. The chapter wants the president to use these offices much more forcefully. It also asks him to undo a long list of orders from the last president.
The document says “should”Who acts: President, OMBHow: internal managementp. 45 in the PDF
What the document says
“No Director should be chosen who is unwilling to restore apportionment decision-making to the PADs’ personal review”
Apportionment is the process by which OMB releases appropriated funds to agencies in instalments under the Anti-Deficiency Act of 1870. The chapter records that these were signed by career officials until the Trump Administration moved the responsibility to political appointees, that the Biden Administration reversed this, and says no OMB Director should be chosen who is unwilling to restore it, unwilling to wield the tool aggressively, or unable to defend it against Congress.
What the document actually says
“No Director should be chosen who is unwilling to restore apportionment decision-making to the PADs’ personal review”
That sentence, in plain words
Do not pick a budget chief who will not give this job back to political staff.
What this is about
Congress votes money to agencies. The budget office hands it out in parts. It can slow money down or attach terms. The book says political staff should sign off on that, not career staff.
The document says “should”Who acts: President, OMBHow: internal managementp. 47 in the PDF
What the document says
“the existing six RMOs should be divided into smaller subject-matter areas, allowing for more PADs, and each of these PADs should have a Deputy PAD.”
The chapter states that because each of OMB's six Resource Management Offices covers a wide range of policy, many granular decisions fall to career staff who serve across Administrations. It proposes splitting them into smaller subject areas so there can be more political appointees, each with a political deputy.
What the document actually says
“the existing six RMOs should be divided into smaller subject-matter areas, allowing for more PADs, and each of these PADs should have a Deputy PAD.”
That sentence, in plain words
The six budget teams should be split into smaller ones. That makes room for more political staff. Each one should get a deputy too.
What this is about
Six teams inside the budget office watch over spending. Each covers a lot of ground. So career staff end up making many calls. The book says to split the teams up. Then more political staff can be put in charge.
The document says “should”Who acts: PresidentHow: internal managementp. 47 in the PDF
What the document says
“the President should reintroduce the concept of administrative pay-as-you-go, or administrative PAYGO.”
Administrative PAYGO requires that discretionary agency actions be budget neutral, so that a new cost must be offset. The chapter says the President should reintroduce it regardless of whether Congress adopts his budget, and that it may occasionally yield to other requirements such as a presidential regulatory budget.
What the document actually says
“the President should reintroduce the concept of administrative pay-as-you-go, or administrative PAYGO.”
That sentence, in plain words
The president should bring back a rule. It is called administrative pay-as-you-go.
What this is about
Agencies can make choices that cost money. This rule says they must find savings first. If they add a cost, they must cut one. The book wants that rule back.
The document says “should”Who acts: OMBHow: regulationp. 48 in the PDF
What the document says
“using government contracts to push back against woke policies in corporate America.”
The chapter says the Office of Federal Procurement Policy should be engaged early and often in OMB's effort to drive policy, including by obtaining transparency about who receives federal contracts and grants and by using government contracts to push back against what it calls woke policies in corporate America. The chapter does not define the term.
What the document actually says
“using government contracts to push back against woke policies in corporate America.”
That sentence, in plain words
Use the contracts the government hands out. Use them to push back on woke policies in big firms.
What this is about
The government buys a lot from private firms. It can set terms for who it buys from. The book says to use that power. It wants to push back on what it calls woke company policies. The book does not say what counts as woke.
The document says “should”Who acts: President, OMBHow: executive orderp. 49 in the PDF
What the document says
“Regulatory analysis and OIRA review should also be required of the historically “independent” agencies as the Office of Legal Counsel has found is legally permissible.”
Independent agencies, such as the financial and communications regulators, have not generally submitted their rules to White House review. The chapter says regulatory analysis and OIRA review should be required of them too, citing an Office of Legal Counsel finding that this is legally permissible. It puts the word independent in quotation marks.
What the document actually says
“Regulatory analysis and OIRA review should also be required of the historically “independent” agencies as the Office of Legal Counsel has found is legally permissible.”
That sentence, in plain words
These agencies should have to send their rules to the White House for review too.
What this is about
Some agencies have long been kept apart from the White House. They write rules without sending them over first. The book says they should have to send them. It says a legal office has said this is allowed.
The document says “should”Who acts: PresidentHow: executive orderp. 49 in the PDF
What the document says
“the next President should immediately begin to undo those changes and develop a rigorous, data-driven approach that will result in the least burdensome rules possible.”
The chapter says the President should maintain Executive Order 12866, the foundation of OIRA's review of regulatory actions, and should keep its extension to Treasury. If the Biden Administration modified that order or OMB Circular A-4, which underpins cost-benefit analysis, the next President should immediately begin undoing those changes.
What the document actually says
“the next President should immediately begin to undo those changes and develop a rigorous, data-driven approach that will result in the least burdensome rules possible.”
That sentence, in plain words
The next president should undo those changes right away. He should build a strict method that keeps rules as light as possible.
What this is about
One old order sets how new rules get checked. It weighs the cost against the good they do. The book says if the last president changed it, the next one should change it back.
The document says “should”Who acts: PresidentHow: executive orderp. 49 in the PDF
What the document says
“The next President should also revive the directive in Executive Order 13891 that significant guidance documents also must pass through OIRA review.”
Guidance documents are agency statements that are not formal regulations but shape how rules are applied. The chapter says the next President should revive the requirement, from Executive Order 13891, that significant guidance also pass through OIRA review.
What the document actually says
“The next President should also revive the directive in Executive Order 13891 that significant guidance documents also must pass through OIRA review.”
That sentence, in plain words
The next president should bring back the rule that big guidance papers must be checked too.
What this is about
Agencies write papers that are not full rules. They still tell people what to do. The book says these should be checked by the White House first.
The document says “should”Who acts: PresidentHow: executive orderp. 49 in the PDF
What the document says
“The next President should also reinstate the many executive orders signed by President Trump that were designed to make the regulatory process more just, efficient, and transparent.”
The chapter names the orders it wants revived, with modifications as needed: Executive Orders 13771, 13777, 13891, 13892, 13893, section 6 of 13924, 13979 and 13980. It separately says Executive Order 13132 on federalism should be strengthened, and that an updated version of Executive Order 12630 on federal takings should be signed.
What the document actually says
“The next President should also reinstate the many executive orders signed by President Trump that were designed to make the regulatory process more just, efficient, and transparent.”
That sentence, in plain words
President Trump signed many orders about rules. The next president should bring them back.
What this is about
President Trump signed a set of orders about how rules are made. President Biden cancelled most of them. The book lists eight by number. It says the next president should sign them again.
The chapter asked for eight named Trump-era regulatory orders to be reinstated, of which Executive Order 13771 established the repeal-for-issuance approach. This order re-establishes that approach rather than reinstating the named orders as a set.
The document says “should”Who acts: PresidentHow: executive orderp. 50 in the PDF
What the document says
“the President should revise and sign an updated version of President Ronald Reagan’s Executive Order 12630 on federal takings.”
Executive Order 12630, signed in 1988, directs agencies to assess whether their actions amount to a taking of private property requiring compensation under the Fifth Amendment. The chapter says the President should revise and sign an updated version.
What the document actually says
“the President should revise and sign an updated version of President Ronald Reagan’s Executive Order 12630 on federal takings.”
That sentence, in plain words
President Reagan signed an order about land. The president should update it. Then he should sign it again.
What this is about
Sometimes a government rule cuts what an owner can do with land. The Constitution says owners must be paid when property is taken. An old order made agencies check for this. The book wants a new version of it.
The document says “should”Who acts: President, CongressHow: legislationp. 50 in the PDF
What the document says
“The next President should work with Congress to pass significant regulatory policy and process reforms, which could go a long way toward reining in the administrative state.”
The chapter names the bills it gives as examples: the Regulatory Accountability Act, the SMART Act, the GOOD Act, the Early Participation in Regulations Act, the Unfunded Mandates Accountability and Transparency Act and the REINS Act. It states that executive action alone is not enough and that Congress must also act.
What the document actually says
“The next President should work with Congress to pass significant regulatory policy and process reforms, which could go a long way toward reining in the administrative state.”
That sentence, in plain words
The next president should work with Congress. Together they should change how rules get made.
What this is about
The book says orders from the president are not enough. Congress has to pass laws too. It names six bills it wants passed. They would all make new rules harder to issue.
The document says “should”Who acts: President, CongressHow: legislationp. 50 in the PDF
What the document says
“Congress and the President should enact the Midnight Rules Relief Act”
The Congressional Review Act lets Congress undo recent regulatory actions on an accelerated timetable. The chapter says the Midnight Rules Relief Act would let multiple actions be packaged and voted on together, and that robust use of the Congressional Review Act would let the President spend rulemaking capacity on new reforms rather than years undoing the previous Administration's final rules.
What the document actually says
“Congress and the President should enact the Midnight Rules Relief Act”
That sentence, in plain words
Congress and the president should pass a new law. It is called the Midnight Rules Relief Act.
What this is about
A president often issues many rules just before he leaves. Congress can undo them, but only one at a time. This bill would let Congress undo them in one batch.
The document says “should”Who acts: National Security AdvisorHow: internal managementp. 51 in the PDF
What the document says
“the NSA should immediately evaluate and eliminate directorates that are not aligned with the President’s agenda”
The chapter says the National Security Advisor should immediately assess the Council's directorates, eliminate those not aligned with the President's agenda and replace them with new ones able to drive his signature national security priorities, assigning named senior officials responsibility for specific initiatives with measurable milestones.
What the document actually says
“the NSA should immediately evaluate and eliminate directorates that are not aligned with the President’s agenda”
That sentence, in plain words
The adviser should look at each team. He should close the ones that do not fit the president's aims.
What this is about
The security council is split into small teams by subject. The book says the new adviser should judge each one. Teams that do not fit the president's plans should be closed. New teams would take their place.
The document says “should”Who acts: National Security AdvisorHow: internal managementp. 52 in the PDF
What the document says
“the NSA should return all nonessential detailees to their home agencies on their first day in office”
The chapter says the National Security Advisor should send all nonessential detailees back to their home agencies on the first day, so the Administration can proceed without what it calls the personnel land mines left by the previous stewards, and should replace essential detailees as soon as possible with staff aligned to the new President's priorities.
What the document actually says
“the NSA should return all nonessential detailees to their home agencies on their first day in office”
That sentence, in plain words
On day one, send the borrowed staff back. They should go to the agencies they came from.
What this is about
Much of this staff is borrowed from other agencies. The book says most of them should be sent back at once. It says they may be loyal to the last president. New staff would replace them.
The document says “should”Who acts: NSCHow: internal managementp. 52 in the PDF
What the document says
“The NSC should rigorously review all general and flag officer promotions to prioritize the core roles and responsibilities of the military over social engineering and non-defense matters”
The chapter says the National Security Council should rigorously review all general and flag officer promotions, in order to prioritize the military's core roles over what it calls social engineering and non-defense matters, listing climate change, critical race theory and manufactured extremism among the policies it says weaken the armed forces.
What the document actually says
“The NSC should rigorously review all general and flag officer promotions to prioritize the core roles and responsibilities of the military over social engineering and non-defense matters”
That sentence, in plain words
The council should check every top officer picked to lead. Fighting should count first, not other aims.
What this is about
The military picks its own top officers. The book says the White House should check each choice. It wants officers judged on fighting ability. It names climate change and race training as things to weigh against.
The document says “will need to”Who acts: National Security AdvisorHow: internal managementp. 52 in the PDF
What the document says
“The NSC staff will need to consolidate the functions of both the NSC and the Homeland Security Council (HSC)”
The chapter says the National Security Council staff will need to absorb the Homeland Security Council and the Office of the National Cyber Director, and evaluate which regional and functional directorates are required. It notes that the Homeland Security Council has overseen pandemic response and says its incorporation is important.
What the document actually says
“The NSC staff will need to consolidate the functions of both the NSC and the Homeland Security Council (HSC)”
That sentence, in plain words
There are two councils that keep us safe. The staff will need to join them into one.
What this is about
There are two councils, one for threats abroad and one for threats at home. The book says one should absorb the other. The home one has handled things like pandemics.
The document says “should”Who acts: President, CEQHow: regulationp. 60 in the PDF
What the document says
“The President should instruct the CEQ to rewrite its regulations implementing NEPA along the lines of the historic 2020 effort and restoring its key provisions such as banning the use of cumulative impact analysis.”
The National Environmental Policy Act requires environmental review before major federal actions. The chapter says the President should have the Council on Environmental Quality rewrite its rules along the lines of the 2020 revision, restoring the ban on cumulative impact analysis, and should frame the new rules to limit the scope for judicial review of agency environmental analysis and the remedies available.
What the document actually says
“The President should instruct the CEQ to rewrite its regulations implementing NEPA along the lines of the historic 2020 effort and restoring its key provisions such as banning the use of cumulative impact analysis.”
That sentence, in plain words
The president should have this office rewrite the rules on environmental checks. It should go back to the 2020 version. That version banned adding up effects over time.
What this is about
Big projects must be checked for harm to the environment first. One rule made agencies add up harm from many sources together. The book wants that rule dropped. It also wants courts to have less say.
The document says “should”Who acts: PresidentHow: executive orderp. 61 in the PDF
What the document says
“The President should eliminate the Interagency Working Group on the Social Cost of Carbon (SCC), which is cochaired by the OSTP, OMB, and CEA, and by executive order should end the use of SCC analysis.”
The social cost of carbon is a dollar figure agencies use to weigh the future damage from emissions when assessing a rule. The chapter says the President should abolish the working group that sets it and end the use of the analysis by executive order.
What the document actually says
“The President should eliminate the Interagency Working Group on the Social Cost of Carbon (SCC), which is cochaired by the OSTP, OMB, and CEA, and by executive order should end the use of SCC analysis.”
That sentence, in plain words
The president should shut down the group that sets the cost of carbon. He should sign an order to stop using the figure at all.
What this is about
Agencies use a dollar figure for the harm from carbon. They weigh it when they write rules. A small group of offices sets that figure. The book says to close the group and drop the figure.
The chapter asked that the working group be eliminated and the use of the analysis ended by executive order. The Federal Register text disbands that working group by name and withdraws its documents. The chapter's request covered ending use of the analysis generally, which extends beyond disbanding the group that produced it.
The document says “should”Who acts: PresidentHow: executive orderp. 62 in the PDF
What the document says
“The President should immediately revoke Executive Order 14020”
The chapter says the President should revoke Executive Order 14020 and every policy and guidance document related to the Gender Policy Council. It states that abolishing the council would eliminate central promotion of abortion, comprehensive sexuality education, and what it calls gender ideology. It proposes appointing an official at Special Assistant rank or higher to lead the President's priorities on life and family with the Domestic Policy Council.
What the document actually says
“The President should immediately revoke Executive Order 14020”
That sentence, in plain words
The president should cancel one order right away. Its number is 14020.
What this is about
One order set up a council on gender inside the White House. The book says to cancel that order and close the council. It wants a new post instead. That post would work on life and family issues.
The chapter asked for Executive Order 14020 to be revoked. The Federal Register records this order as revoking it by name. The chapter also asked for the appointment of an official at Special Assistant rank or higher to lead life and family policy with the Domestic Policy Council; that is a separate step and is not established by this order.
The document says “should”Who acts: PresidentHow: executive orderp. 59 in the PDF
What the document says
“The President should also issue an executive order to reshape the U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) and related climate change research programs.”
The chapter states that the research program's products, such as the National Climate Assessment, narrow the legally proper options available in presidential decisions and agency rulemakings, and can frustrate the government's defense of litigation. It says the process should include diverse viewpoints, that OSTP and OMB should jointly assess the independence of the contractors used, and that related offices should be confined to a more limited advisory role.
What the document actually says
“The President should also issue an executive order to reshape the U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) and related climate change research programs.”
That sentence, in plain words
The president should sign an order. It would change how the government studies climate change.
What this is about
The government runs a big climate research program. It writes reports on what is happening. The book says those reports limit what the president can then do. It wants the program changed by order.
The document says “should”Who acts: PresidentHow: not specifiedp. 60 in the PDF
What the document says
“The next President should critically analyze and, if required, refuse to accept any USGCRP assessment prepared under the Biden Administration.”
The chapter says the next President should critically analyze assessments produced by the Global Change Research Program under the Biden Administration and, if required, refuse to accept them. It names no instrument for doing so.
What the document actually says
“The next President should critically analyze and, if required, refuse to accept any USGCRP assessment prepared under the Biden Administration.”
That sentence, in plain words
The next president should look hard at any climate report written under President Biden. He should refuse it if he needs to.
What this is about
The book says the next president should study these climate reports closely. If he does not accept a report, he can say so. It does not say how he would do that.
The document says “should”Who acts: PresidentHow: executive orderp. 61 in the PDF
What the document says
“The President should issue an executive order establishing a Senior Advisor to coordinate the policy development and implementation of relevant energy and environment policy”
The chapter says the order should also abolish the existing Office of Domestic Climate Policy, and that the new Senior Advisor would report directly to the Chief of Staff and coordinate energy and environment policy across the National Security Council, National Economic Council, Domestic Policy Council, Council on Environmental Quality and Office of Science and Technology Policy.
What the document actually says
“The President should issue an executive order establishing a Senior Advisor to coordinate the policy development and implementation of relevant energy and environment policy”
That sentence, in plain words
The president should sign an order. One adviser would lead on energy. That same adviser would lead on the environment.
What this is about
Many White House offices work on energy. Others work on the environment. The book says one adviser should run it all. The same order would shut the climate office.
The document says “must”Who acts: PresidentHow: not specifiedp. 61 in the PDF
What the document says
“The next President’s top drug policy priority must be to address the current fentanyl crisis”
The chapter states that more than 100,000 Americans died of overdoses in 2021 and says addressing the fentanyl crisis must be the next President's top drug policy priority. It says the Administration must reaffirm a commitment to preventing drug use, providing treatment leading to long-term recovery, and reducing the availability of illicit drugs, and that the Director should consult federal border enforcement officials.
What the document actually says
“The next President’s top drug policy priority must be to address the current fentanyl crisis”
That sentence, in plain words
The next president's first job on drugs must be the fentanyl crisis.
What this is about
Fentanyl is a very strong drug. It killed more than 100,000 people in one year. The book says this should come first. It wants work on stopping use, on treatment, and on the border.
The chapter's discrete recommendations across the Office of Management and Budget, the National Security Council, the National Economic Council, the Trade Representative, the Council of Economic Advisers, the Space Council, the Office of Science and Technology Policy, the Council on Environmental Quality, drug policy, the Gender Policy Council and the Vice President's office.
Descriptions of how each office currently works, the chapter's argument about the constitutional position of the executive branch, and its characterizations of the bureaucracy. Advice on what qualities an appointee should have is indexed only where it asks for a specific change.
This chapter names many executive orders by number. Where it asks for a batch of orders to be revived without describing each, the proposal records the batch and lists the numbers rather than splitting them into separate entries.
