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President Trump signed an Executive Order on October 13 titled “Modernizing America’s Water Resource Management and Water Infrastructure.” According to a recent EPA news release, Executive Order 13956 is meant to ensure greater federal coordination regarding water policy by establishing a Water Subcabinet consisting of officials from multiple departments and agencies “to facilitate efficient and effective management and modernization of our water supplies and systems while also eliminating duplication between agencies.”

The Water Subcabinet is directed to produce a series of reports and recommendations outlining strategies to meet stated objectives, such as:

  • Promote effective and efficient water resources management by reducing duplication between federal agencies developing water policy;
  • Develop a national water strategy to ensure the reliability of our water supplies, water quality, water systems, and water forecasting;
  • Protect taxpayer investments and improve water infrastructure planning by promoting integrated planning and coordination for drinking water, wastewater, water reuse, water storage and delivery, and water resource management; and
  • Support and enhance workforce development to recruit, train, and retain water sector professionals.

The Water Subcabinet will be co-chaired by Secretary Bernhardt of the U.S. Department of the Interior and EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. Members of the subcabinet will include senior officials from the departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Energy, and Army (Civil Works). The subcabinet will work closely with the White House Council on Environmental Quality, the Office of Management and Budget, and the Office of Science and Technology Policy, as well as any other appropriate federal agencies to accomplish the administration’s goals.

A more extensive review of the executive order will be included in the October Regulatory and Sustainability and Security Reports.