Presidential DocumentExecutive Order 139912021-01766
Protecting the Federal Workforce and Requiring Mask-Wearing
Primary source
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Published
January 25, 2021
Signed
January 20, 2021
Issuing agencies
Executive Office of the President
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 14 (Monday, January 25, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 14 (Monday, January 25, 2021)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 7045-7048]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-01766]
Presidential Documents
Federal Register / Vol. 86 , No. 14 / Monday, January 25, 2021 /
Presidential Documents
[[Page 7045]]
Executive Order 13991 of January 20, 2021
Protecting the Federal Workforce and Requiring
Mask-Wearing
By the authority vested in me as President by the
Constitution and the laws of the United States of
America, including section 7902(c) of title 5, United
States Code, it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1. Policy. It is the policy of my
Administration to halt the spread of coronavirus
disease 2019 (COVID-19) by relying on the best
available data and science-based public health
measures. Such measures include wearing masks when
around others, physical distancing, and other related
precautions recommended by the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC). Put simply, masks and
other public health measures reduce the spread of the
disease, particularly when communities make widespread
use of such measures, and thus save lives.
Accordingly, to protect the Federal workforce and
individuals interacting with the Federal workforce, and
to ensure the continuity of Government services and
activities, on-duty or on-site Federal employees, on-
site Federal contractors, and other individuals in
Federal buildings and on Federal lands should all wear
masks, maintain physical distance, and adhere to other
public health measures, as provided in CDC guidelines.
Sec. 2. Immediate Action Regarding Federal Employees,
Contractors, Buildings, and Lands. (a) The heads of
executive departments and agencies (agencies) shall
immediately take action, as appropriate and consistent
with applicable law, to require compliance with CDC
guidelines with respect to wearing masks, maintaining
physical distance, and other public health measures by:
on-duty or on-site Federal employees; on-site Federal
contractors; and all persons in Federal buildings or on
Federal lands.
(b) The Director of the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB), the Director of the Office of Personnel
Management (OPM), and the Administrator of General
Services, in coordination with the President's
Management Council and the Coordinator of the COVID-19
Response and Counselor to the President (COVID-19
Response Coordinator), shall promptly issue guidance to
assist heads of agencies with implementation of this
section.
(c) Heads of agencies shall promptly consult, as
appropriate, with State, local, Tribal, and territorial
government officials, Federal employees, Federal
employee unions, Federal contractors, and any other
interested parties concerning the implementation of
this section.
(d) Heads of agencies may make categorical or case-
by-case exceptions in implementing subsection (a) of
this section to the extent that doing so is necessary
or required by law, and consistent with applicable law.
If heads of agencies make such exceptions, they shall
require appropriate alternative safeguards, such as
additional physical distancing measures, additional
testing, or reconfiguration of workspace, consistent
with applicable law. Heads of agencies shall document
all exceptions in writing.
(e) Heads of agencies shall review their existing
authorities and, to the extent permitted by law and
subject to the availability of appropriations and
resources, seek to provide masks to individuals in
Federal buildings when needed.
(f) The COVID-19 Response Coordinator shall
coordinate the implementation of this section. Heads of
the agencies listed in 31 U.S.C. 901(b) shall
[[Page 7046]]
update the COVID-19 Response Coordinator on their
progress in implementing this section, including any
categorical exceptions established under subsection (d)
of this section, within 7 days of the date of this
order and regularly thereafter. Heads of agencies are
encouraged to bring to the attention of the COVID-19
Response Coordinator any questions regarding the scope
or implementation of this section.
Sec. 3. Encouraging Masking Across America. (a) The
Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), including
through the Director of CDC, shall engage, as
appropriate, with State, local, Tribal, and territorial
officials, as well as business, union, academic, and
other community leaders, regarding mask-wearing and
other public health measures, with the goal of
maximizing public compliance with, and addressing any
obstacles to, mask-wearing and other public health best
practices identified by CDC.
(b) The COVID-19 Response Coordinator, in
coordination with the Secretary of HHS, the Secretary
of Homeland Security, and the heads of other relevant
agencies, shall promptly identify and inform agencies
of options to incentivize, support, and encourage
widespread mask-wearing consistent with CDC guidelines
and applicable law.
Sec. 4. Safer Federal Workforce Task Force.
(a) Establishment. There is hereby established the
Safer Federal Workforce Task Force (Task Force).
(b) Membership. The Task Force shall consist of the
following members:
(i) the Director of OPM, who shall serve as Co-Chair;
(ii) the Administrator of General Services, who shall serve as Co-Chair;
(iii) the COVID-19 Response Coordinator, who shall serve as Co-Chair;
(iv) the Director of OMB;
(v) the Director of the Federal Protective Service;
(vi) the Director of the United States Secret Service;
(vii) the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency;
(viii) the Director of CDC; and
(ix) the heads of such other agencies as the Co-Chairs may individually or
jointly invite to participate.
(c) Organization. A member of the Task Force may
designate, to perform the Task Force functions of the
member, a senior-level official who is a full-time
officer or employee of the member's agency. At the
direction of the Co-Chairs, the Task Force may
establish subgroups consisting exclusively of Task
Force members or their designees, as appropriate.
(d) Administration. The General Services
Administration shall provide funding and administrative
support for the Task Force to the extent permitted by
law and within existing appropriations. The Co-Chairs
shall convene regular meetings of the Task Force,
determine its agenda, and direct its work.
(e) Mission. The Task Force shall provide ongoing
guidance to heads of agencies on the operation of the
Federal Government, the safety of its employees, and
the continuity of Government functions during the
COVID-19 pandemic. Such guidance shall be based on
public health best practices as determined by CDC and
other public health experts, and shall address, at a
minimum, the following subjects as they relate to the
Federal workforce:
(i) testing methodologies and protocols;
(ii) case investigation and contact tracing;
(iii) requirements of and limitations on physical distancing, including
recommended occupancy and density standards;
(iv) equipment needs and requirements, including personal protective
equipment;
(v) air filtration;
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(vi) enhanced environmental disinfection and cleaning;
(vii) safe commuting and telework options;
(viii) enhanced technological infrastructure to support telework;
(ix) vaccine prioritization, distribution, and administration;
(x) approaches for coordinating with State, local, Tribal, and territorial
health officials, as well as business, union, academic, and other community
leaders;
(xi) any management infrastructure needed by agencies to implement public
health guidance; and
(xii) circumstances under which exemptions might appropriately be made to
agency policies in accordance with CDC guidelines, such as for mission-
critical purposes.
(f) Agency Cooperation. The head of each agency
listed in 31 U.S.C. 901(b) shall, consistent with
applicable law, promptly provide the Task Force a
report on COVID-19 safety protocols, safety plans, or
guidance regarding the operation of the agency and the
safety of its employees, and any other information that
the head of the agency deems relevant to the Task
Force's work.
Sec. 5. Federal Employee Testing. The Secretary of HHS,
through the Director of CDC, shall promptly develop and
submit to the COVID-19 Response Coordinator a testing
plan for the Federal workforce. This plan shall be
based on community transmission metrics and address the
populations to be tested, testing types, frequency of
testing, positive case protocols, and coordination with
local public health authorities for contact tracing.
Sec. 6. Research and Development. The Director of the
Office of Science and Technology Policy, in
consultation with the Secretary of HHS (through the
National Science and Technology Council), the Director
of OMB, the Director of CDC, the Director of the
National Institutes of Health, the Director of the
National Science Foundation, and the heads of any other
appropriate agencies, shall assess the availability of
Federal research grants to study best practices for
implementing, and innovations to better implement,
effective mask-wearing and physical distancing
policies, with respect to both the Federal workforce
and the general public.
Sec. 7. Scope. (a) For purposes of this order:
(i) ``Federal employees'' and ``Federal contractors'' mean employees
(including members of the Armed Forces and members of the National Guard in
Federal service) and contractors (including such contractors' employees)
working for the executive branch;
(ii) ``Federal buildings'' means buildings, or office space within
buildings, owned, rented, or leased by the executive branch of which a
substantial portion of occupants are Federal employees or Federal
contractors; and
(iii) ``Federal lands'' means lands under executive branch control.
(b) The Director of OPM and the Administrator of
General Services shall seek to consult, in coordination
with the heads of any other relevant agencies and the
COVID-19 Response Coordinator, with the Sergeants at
Arms of the Senate and the House of Representatives and
the Director of the Administrative Office of the United
States Courts (or such other persons designated by the
Majority and Minority Leaders of the Senate, the
Speaker and Minority Leader of the House, or the Chief
Justice of the United States, respectively), to promote
mask-wearing, physical distancing, and adherence to
other public health measures within the legislative and
judicial branches, and shall provide requested
technical assistance as needed to facilitate compliance
with CDC guidelines.
Sec. 8. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order
shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or
the head thereof; or
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(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget
relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with
applicable law and subject to the availability of
appropriations.
(c) Independent agencies are strongly encouraged to
comply with the requirements of this order.
(d) This order is not intended to, and does not,
create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural,
enforceable at law or in equity by any party against
the United States, its departments, agencies, or
entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any
other person.
<GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT>
(Presidential Sig.)
THE WHITE HOUSE,
January 20, 2021.
[FR Doc. 2021-01766
Filed 1-22-21; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3295-F1-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on January 25, 2021.
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