Official Washington has experienced many changes in the months since the terrorist attacks of September 11th. Several weeks ago, we learned that a “shadow” Executive Branch operates in a secure, undisclosed location. Now, the President has issued an Executive Order setting the order of succession at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the event that both EPA Administrator Christine Todd Whitman and her principal deputy, Linda Fisher, die, resign, or are otherwise unable to perform their official functions at the same time, for any reason.
According to the Executive Order released on March 19, the Assistant Administrator of EPA’s Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances, Stephen Johnson, would be the first in line to succeed Whitman and Fisher. Jeffrey Holmstead, Assistant Administrator for the Office of Air and Radiation, would be next in line.
Cabinet departments and other independent agencies also have created formal orders of succession in the event of catastrophic leadership voids.
