UPDATE ON EXECUTIVE ORDERS 2018

Margaret A.M. Heine

is the principal counsel at Heine Law Group in Fullerton, California. She is licensed in California and Washington and has authority to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States and the United States Court of International Trade.

Her practice includes estate planning, wills, trusts, and probate as well as business, real estate, and civil litigation. Email: nbylegas@gmail.com or visit company website www.margaretamheine.com.

UPDATE ON EXECUTIVE ORDERS 2018

There was such an uproar in 2017 regarding the use of executive orders by President Donald Trump and now nothing is being reported regarding his use of the executive order. In 2018, the President has issued 15 executive orders. They cover a wide range of issues and concerns that are not being immediately addressed elsewhere.

A short review of the newest executive orders reveals a concern over the treatment of our military and their families, violence, cost efficiency, and protection of America.

Executive Order 13833, Enhancing the Effectiveness of Agency Chief Information Officers. This Order recognizes that the U.S. Government is a major collector of data. Every agency and organization in the government has an IT department and information officers who are in charge of collecting, characterizing, and using the data which is collected. In an effort to reduce costs, improve interagency enforcement efforts, and form a comprehensive policy regarding data collection, this executive order sets up a commission to review the current policies, merge and eliminate duplicative or unnecessary IT functions. It requires each department and each agency to participate in the coordination of efforts.

In a further effort to contain costs, EO 13829 takes on the issue of the U.S. Postal System, with the implementation of a Task Force on the United States Postal System to evaluate and recommend changes to make the U.S. Postal System to reverse the major losses suffered by them.

Other economic related Executive Orders are EO 13821: Streamlining and Expediting Requests to Locate broadband Facilities in Rural America. Acknowledging the dependence on the internet and internet access, this executive order seeks to upgrade services in Rural America with less red tape than previously.

Additional executive orders which focus on the American family are: EO 13828, Reducing Poverty in America by Promoting Opportunity and Economic Mobilty. Recognizing that poverty and low income programs consume a significant portion of public services, this establishes a priority to reform the welfare system so that able bodied men and women can work for a living and escape poverty, and form a coordinated effort with the States to provide opportunity and job sustainability. EO 13826, Federal Interagency Council on Crime Prevention and Improving Reentry. Executive Order sets forth the desire to prevent youths and adults from coming into the criminal justice system and to lower rates for recidivism—looking to cure criminal justice issues instead of simple incarceration. Creates the Federal Interagency Council on Crime Prevention and Improving Reentry.

EO 13823, Protecting America Through Lawful Detention of Terrorists is controversial as it maintains Guantanamo Bay facilities for the use by the military for captured Terrorists or other detainees threatening the United States. The detainees are to be reviewed on a regular basis to determine their status at Guantanamo.

The President continues and amends religious input in government by enactment of the Faith in Executive Order 13831. The first of these orders were issued in January 2001, and has been amended, added to or changed in subsequent years with the last change occurring in 2006. In essence, the White House is to be advised by the various leaders of Centers for Faith and Opportunity, including States, Local, and tribal governments, and consultation with Faith-Based communities to address initiatives to serve and strengthen individuals, families, and communities in the United States on the basis of faith.

There are four executive orders related to military members. Executive Order EO 13830 permits the military to issue decorations of the “Crosses” of each regiment to servicemen and women by the Secretary of Defense or Homeland Security. Executive Order EO 13825 sets forth amendments to the Courts-Martial manual for military proceedings. Executive Order EO 13822, Supporting Our Veterans During Their Transition from Uniformed Service to Civilian Life. Sets forth a commission and deadlines to provide for mental health of service members who are leaving the military and returning to civilian life. Executive Order 13832, Noncompetitive Civil Service Appointments of Military Spouses. This Order essentially recognizes that our military personnel have families and that many times their family members need to work. This opens up the civil service ranks to military spouses so that they may fill jobs where their spouses are stationed.

Almost all of these executive orders have been executed without significant dissent or fanfare. The use of the Executive Order is unique and powerful in the United States, and it can help decipher what areas of improvement or change the President would like to see during his term of office.
Additional information on Executive Orders can be found at www.federalregister.gov to read the full text of any of the orders.