Efficient Federal Operations (E.O. 13834)

Summary

Tells government agencies to reduce waste, cut costs, and protect the environment by using less energy and water.

What problem does this solve?

Federal government agencies were not always using resources like energy and water efficiently, leading to waste and high costs. This order sets goals for agencies to cut waste, save money, and better protect the environment in their daily work.

What does this order do?

Sets efficiency goals for federal agencies

Requires agencies to reduce building energy and water use, meet renewable energy goals, prevent waste, and recycle.

Appoints sustainability officers

Mandates that each agency designate a senior official as a Chief Sustainability Officer to oversee the implementation of these new efficiency goals.

Repeals previous sustainability order

Revokes Executive Order 13693, which had established different sustainability goals for the federal government.

Creates oversight and reporting structure

Tasks the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) with overseeing agency progress and issuing guidance.

Allows exemptions for national security

Permits agency heads to exempt intelligence, law enforcement, or military activities from these rules if needed to protect national security or secret operations.

Who does this affect?

Federal government agencies
Federal employees
Government contractors

What is the real world impact?

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Promotes fiscal responsibility

Aims to reduce government spending by making federal agencies cut down on waste in energy, water, and other resources. This saves taxpayer money.

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Streamlines environmental rules

Replaces a previous, more detailed executive order on federal sustainability with a more flexible approach. This gives agencies more freedom in how they meet environmental goals.

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Potentially weakens environmental goals

By revoking a prior executive order and focusing on cost-cutting, some may argue this order lowers the priority of ambitious environmental protection and climate goals for the federal government.

When does this start?

This order became effective on May 17, 2018, and includes several deadlines for agencies to take action.

Designate Chief Sustainability Officer

Within 45 days of the order (by July 1, 2018), each agency must designate its Chief Sustainability Officer.

Review environmental guidance

Within 90 days of the order (by August 15, 2018), several agency heads must review existing environmental guidance and plan to update or remove it.

Review federal vehicle fleets

Within 120 days of the order (by September 14, 2018), the Secretary of Energy must review federal vehicle fleet rules and report on ways to cut costs.

Revise CEQ guidance

Within 150 days of the order (by October 14, 2018), the Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) must review and revise existing guidance.