in effect
This is Executive Order 14238, signed March 14, 2025, a directive from the President to parts of the federal government. It orders seven federal agencies and offices to shrink themselves down to only what the law strictly requires them to do.
The order names seven entities — the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, the U.S. Agency for Global Media, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, and the Minority Business Development Agency. Each must eliminate any function or staff not specifically required by law, and reduce even its legally required work and personnel to the minimum the law demands. Within 7 days, the head of each entity must send a report to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget confirming compliance and explaining which functions, if any, are legally required. Going forward, OMB and other officials reviewing these entities’ budget or grant requests are directed to reject funding that does not fit this order, except where funding is needed to wind an entity down. The order states it applies only “to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law” and is subject to available funding.
The seven listed agencies and their employees are directly affected, facing cuts to staff and activities not mandated by statute. People and organizations that rely on these entities — such as recipients of their grants, services, or programs — may see reduced availability. The order also explicitly states it creates no legal rights anyone can enforce in court.