Tracking every rollback, reversal, and overreach — and the path back to the America we know.
President Trump signed Executive Order 13787 on March 31, 2017, establishing the order of succession for the Department of Justice. The order designates the line of succession for the Attorney General position and other DOJ leadership roles in the event of a vacancy or incapacity. This order directly affects the federal chain of command at DOJ and determines who assumes leadership authority in specified circumstances.
Executive Order 13775 was signed on February 9, 2017, establishing the order of succession for leadership positions within the Department of Justice. The order specifies which officials assume the role of Attorney General, Deputy Attorney General, and other DOJ leadership positions in the event of vacancy or incapacity. This order determines who exercises executive authority over the department's operations, including enforcement of federal law, in the absence of a Senate-confirmed Attorney General.