Presidential Documents

Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 14 / Monday, January 25, 2021 / Presidential Documents 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 


jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with EXECORD7
7046 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 14 / Monday, January 25, 2021 / Presidential Documents 

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; 


jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with EXECORD7
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 14 / Monday, January 25, 2021 / Presidential Documents 7047 

(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 missioncritical 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 


jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with EXECORD7
7048 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 14 / Monday, January 25, 2021 / Presidential Documents 

(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. 

THE WHITE HOUSE, 

January 20, 2021. 

[FR Doc. 2021–01766 

Filed 1–22–21; 11:15 am] 

Billing code 3295–F1–P 


jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with EXECORD7BIDEN.EPS</GPH>