Providing an Order of Succession Within the Department of Defense
Executive Order 2020-27739
|Signed on December 11, 2020
Defense45th Presidency
What it means
Establishes a clear line of succession for the Department of Defense, listing 18 positions in order of who would take over if the Secretary of Defense cannot perform their duties. This replaces a previous 2010 order with an updated chain of command.
Expected impact
- Enhanced continuity of operations within the Department of Defense during leadership transitions
- Greater clarity for national security officials about who has authority during a vacancy
- Streamlined decision-making process during potential leadership gaps at the Pentagon
- Potentially faster response capabilities during national security situations requiring Defense Department leadership