Providing an Order of Succession Within the Department of Agriculture

(i) Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm Production and Conservation;

(ii) Under Secretary of Agriculture for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services;

(iii) Under Secretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources and Environment;

(iv) Under Secretary of Agriculture for Research, Education, and Economics;

(v) Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development;

(vi) Under Secretary of Agriculture for Food Safety;

(vii) Under Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs;

(viii) Under Secretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs;

(ix) General Counsel of the Department of Agriculture;

(x) Assistant Secretary of Agriculture (Congressional Relations and Intergovernmental Affairs);

(xi) Chief Financial Officer, Department of Agriculture;

(xii) Assistant Secretary of Agriculture (Civil Rights);

(xiii) Assistant Secretary of Agriculture (Administration);

(xiv) Chief of Staff, Office of the Secretary;

(xv) State Executive Directors of the Farm Service Agency for the States of Kansas, Missouri, and Iowa, in order of seniority fixed by length of unbroken service as State Executive Director of that State;

(xvi) Director, Office of Budget and Program Analysis; and

(xvii) Chief, United States Forest Service.

(b) If any two or more individuals designated in subsection (a)(xv) of this section were sworn in to, or commenced service in, their respective offices on the same day, precedence shall be determined by the alphabetical order of the State in which the individual serves.

(b) No individual who is serving in an office listed in section 1(a)(i)-(xvii) of this order shall act as Secretary unless that individual is otherwise eligible to so serve under the Act.

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of this order, the President retains discretion, to the extent permitted by law, to depart from this order in designating an acting Secretary.

(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or

(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) 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.