Export Enforcement Center (E.O. 13558)

Summary

Establishes a new federal center to help different government agencies work together to enforce laws about what can be sent out of the country.

What problem does this solve?

Different government agencies were not working together effectively to enforce laws on what can be sent to other countries, which could harm national security. This order creates a central group to make sure all agencies share information and coordinate their actions to better protect the country.

What does this order do?

Establishes the Export Enforcement Coordination Center

Creates a new interagency center within the Department of Homeland Security to coordinate enforcement of U.S. export control laws.

Mandates interagency coordination

Requires coordination among the Departments of State, Treasury, Defense, Justice, Commerce, Energy, Homeland Security, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

Defines leadership structure

Appoints a Director from the Department of Homeland Security, with Deputy Directors from the Departments of Commerce and Justice.

Serves as an information hub

Acts as the main link between federal law enforcement and the intelligence community for sharing information about potential export violations.

Tracks enforcement statistics

Creates a government-wide system for tracking data on criminal and administrative export control enforcement activities.

Preserves existing agency authority

Clarifies that the order does not give any single agency primary investigative power and that agencies will continue to investigate violations as they did before.

Who does this affect?

Federal government agencies
U.S. exporters
Foreign importers

What is the real world impact?

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Strengthens national security

Improves the enforcement of export laws to prevent sensitive goods and technologies from falling into the wrong hands, which helps protect the country.

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Centralizes enforcement efforts

Creates a single point of coordination within the Department of Homeland Security, streamlining how different agencies investigate and prosecute export violations.

When does this start?

This order takes effect on November 9, 2010.