Federal Register executive orders — 2025-12-23

Adjustments of Certain Rates of Pay

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:

Section 1 . Statutory Pay Systems. The rates of basic pay or salaries of the statutory pay systems (as defined in 5 U.S.C. 5302(1)), as adjusted under 5 U.S.C. 5303, are set forth on the schedules attached hereto and made a part hereof:

(a) The General Schedule (5 U.S.C. 5332(a)) at Schedule 1;

(b) The Foreign Service Schedule (22 U.S.C. 3963) at Schedule 2; and

(c) The schedules for the Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs (38 U.S.C. 7306, 7401, 7404; section 301(a) of Public Law 102-40) at Schedule 3.

Sec. 2 . Senior Executive Service. The ranges of rates of basic pay for senior executives in the Senior Executive Service, as established pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 5382, are set forth on Schedule 4 attached hereto and made a part hereof.

Sec. 3 . Certain Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Salaries. The rates of basic pay or salaries for the following offices and positions are set forth on the schedules attached hereto and made a part hereof:

(a) The Executive Schedule (5 U.S.C. 5311-5318) at Schedule 5;

(b) The Vice President (3 U.S.C. 104) and the Congress (2 U.S.C. 4501) at Schedule 6; and

(c) Justices and judges (28 U.S.C. 5, 44(d), 135, 252, and 461(a)) at Schedule 7.

Sec. 4 . Uniformed Services and Other. The rates of monthly basic pay (37 U.S.C. 203(a)) for members of the uniformed services, as adjusted under 37 U.S.C. 1009, and the rate of monthly cadet or midshipman pay (37 U.S.C. 203(c)) are set forth on Schedule 8 attached hereto and made a part hereof. Additionally, the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (Director) is directed to assess whether to provide up to a total increase of 3.8 percent (inclusive of the increase provided under Section 1) to the rates of pay of certain Federal civilian law enforcement personnel, as determined by the Director following coordination with agencies and consistent with 5 U.S.C. 5305.

Sec. 5 . Locality-Based Comparability Payments. (a) Pursuant to section 5304 of title 5, United States Code, and my authority to implement an alternative level of comparability payments under section 5304a of title 5, United States Code, locality-based comparability payments shall be paid in accordance with Schedule 9 attached hereto and made a part hereof.

(b) The Director shall take such actions as may be necessary to implement these payments and to publish appropriate notice of such payments in the Federal Register .

Sec. 6 . Administrative Law Judges. Pursuant to section 5372 of title 5, United States Code, the rates of basic pay for administrative law judges are set forth on Schedule 10 attached hereto and made a part hereof.

Sec. 7 . Effective Dates. Schedule 8 is effective January 1, 2026. The other schedules contained herein are effective on the first day of the first applicable pay period beginning on or after January 1, 2026.

Sec. 8 . Prior Order Superseded. Executive Order 14132 of December 23, 2024 (Adjustments of Certain Rates of Pay), is superseded as of the effective dates specified in section 7 of this order.

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Ensuring American Space Superiority

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:

Section 1 . Purpose. Superiority in space is a measure of national vision and willpower, and the technologies Americans develop to achieve it contribute substantially to the Nation's strength, security, and prosperity. The United States must therefore pursue a space policy that will extend the reach of human discovery, secure the Nation's vital economic and security interests, unleash commercial development, and lay the foundation for a new space age.

Sec. 2 . Policy. My Administration will focus its space policy on achieving the following priorities:

(a) Leading the world in space exploration and expanding human reach and American presence in space by:

(i) returning Americans to the Moon by 2028 through the Artemis Program, to assert American leadership in space, lay the foundations for lunar economic development, prepare for the journey to Mars, and inspire the next generation of American explorers;

(ii) establishing initial elements of a permanent lunar outpost by 2030 to ensure a sustained American presence in space and enable the next steps in Mars exploration; and

(iii) enhancing sustainability and cost-effectiveness of launch and exploration architectures, including enabling commercial launch services and prioritizing lunar exploration;

(b) Securing and defending American vital national and economic security interests in, from, and to space by:

(i) developing and demonstrating prototype next-generation missile defense technologies by 2028 to progressively and materially enhance America's air and missile defenses pursuant to Executive Order 14186 of January 27, 2025 (The Iron Dome for America);

(ii) ensuring the ability to detect, characterize, and counter threats to United States space interests from very low-Earth orbit and through cislunar space, including any placement of nuclear weapons in space;

(iii) creating a responsive and adaptive national security space architecture by accelerating acquisition reform, integrating commercial space capabilities, and enabling new market entrants; and

(iv) strengthening ally and partner contributions to United States and collective space security, including through increased space security spending, operational cooperation, basing agreements, and ally and partner investments in America's space industrial base;

(c) Growing a vibrant commercial space economy through the power of American free enterprise by:

(i) fostering economic growth, attracting at least $50 billion of additional investment in American space markets by 2028, and increasing launch and reentry cadence through new and upgraded facilities, improved efficiency, and policy reforms;

(ii) demonstrating spectrum leadership across space applications to promote United States technology competitiveness, spectrum management efficiency, and global market access; and

(iii) spurring private sector initiative and a commercial pathway to replace the International Space Station by 2030; and

(d) Developing and deploying advanced capabilities and approaches to enable the next century of space achievements by:

(i) optimizing space research-and-development investments to achieve my Administration's near-term space objectives, use emerging technologies and scientific discoveries to advance mission capabilities, and enable scientific discovery for America's long-term science and technology leadership;

(ii) enabling near-term utilization of space nuclear power by deploying nuclear reactors on the Moon and in orbit, including a lunar surface reactor ready for launch by 2030;

(iii) improving high-value space and Earth weather forecasting and operations to meet needs on Earth and beyond, utilizing improved business approaches such as firm fixed-price contracts and as-a-service models for both space and ground-based segments;

(iv) enabling the sustainability of space operations through effective and responsible approaches to space traffic management; orbital debris mitigation and remediation; and terrestrial and cislunar positioning, navigation, and timing, including by establishing the United States as the standards and services leader in these areas; and

(v) establishing ground, space, and lunar infrastructure and standards that enable implementation of space priorities and a robust space industrial base.

Sec. 3 . Implementation. (a) The Assistant to the President for Science and Technology (APST) shall coordinate the overall implementation of this order, including:

(i) within 60 days of the date of this order, issuing guidance on establishing a National Initiative for American Space Nuclear Power to achieve the nuclear power policy priorities directed in this order, in coordination with the heads of relevant executive departments and agencies (agencies) identified by the APST; and

(ii) within 120 days of the date of this order, propose revisions to Presidential Policy Directive 26 of November 21, 2013 (National Space Transportation Policy), to support implementation of this order.

(b) Within 90 days of the date of this order, the APST shall coordinate development of and integrate into one submission to the President the following:

(i) a plan from the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), in coordination with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy (APDP), for achieving the policy objectives in this order regarding leading the world in space exploration and expanding human reach and American presence in space, including plans for mitigating any technology, supply chain, or industrial capacity gaps relevant to achieving those goals within available funding;

(ii) the results of comprehensive reviews by the Secretary of Commerce and the Administrator of NASA, in consultation with the Director of OMB, of their respective major space acquisition programs to identify any such programs that are more than 30 percent behind schedule based on the program's acquisition baseline, 30 percent over cost based on the program's baseline, unable to meet any key performance parameters, or unaligned with the priorities in this order, along with a description of their planned mitigation or remediation efforts; and

(iii) a report from the Secretary of War, in coordination with the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) and the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs (APNSA), of any technology, supply chain, or industrial capacity gaps relevant to this order's directive to progressively and materially enhance America's air and missile defenses, and plans for mitigating such gaps within available funding.

(c) Within 180 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Commerce and the Administrator of NASA shall each reform their respective agency's space acquisition processes to support the space priorities in this order, and to further Executive Order 14271 of April 15, 2025 (Ensuring Commercial, Cost-Effective Solutions in Federal Contracts). These reforms shall incorporate the following:

(i) use of existing authorities to improve efficiency and expedite space acquisitions, including a first preference for commercial solutions and a general preference for Other Transactions Authority or Space Act Agreements, customary commercial terms, or any other pathways to promote effective or streamlined acquisitions;

(ii) a detailed review of each functional support role within the agency's Federal and contract workforce, to eliminate unnecessary tasks, reduce duplication, and accelerate decision-making;

(iii) for the Department of Commerce, strengthening capabilities for conducting space acquisition and sustainment activities in a manner that supports collaboration with, but does not require acquisition assistance from, NASA, including by recommending legislative reforms as necessary; and

(iv) for NASA, aligning space-focused acquisition and procurement processes across NASA centers and activities to improve efficiency.

(d) Within 180 days of the date of this order, the APNSA shall, in coordination with the Secretary of War, the DNI, the APST, and the heads of other relevant agencies:

(i) implement a space security strategy that accounts for United States interests in, from, and to space; addresses current and projected threats to United States space interests from very low-Earth orbit through cislunar space; and incorporates a technology plan for detecting, characterizing, and countering potential adversary placement of nuclear weapons in space; and

(ii) implement a plan for a responsive and adaptive national security space architecture to support the space security strategy and other relevant priorities established in this order.

(e) Within 180 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of War and the DNI, shall implement a plan to strengthen ally and partner contributions to United States and collective space security.

(f) Within 120 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Commerce shall coordinate with the APST, the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy, the APDP, and the heads of relevant agencies to assert spectrum leadership, which shall include considering opportunities for reapportioning and sharing spectrum, as appropriate.

(g) Within 120 days of the date of this order, the Administrator of NASA, in coordination with the Secretary of State and the APST, shall ensure that international civil space cooperation arrangements involving NASA support the policy priorities in this order, including by initiating new arrangements and modifying or terminating existing arrangements where appropriate and consistent with existing authorities and legal obligations.

Sec. 4 . Rescission. (a) This order supersedes Executive Order 14056 of December 1, 2021 (The National Space Council), which is hereby revoked.

(b) Space Policy Directive 3 of June 18, 2018 (National Space Traffic Management Policy), is hereby revised as follows:

(i) by replacing “free of direct user fees” with “for commercial and other relevant use” in subsections 3(b) and 4(d); and

(ii) by replacing “provided free of direct user fees” with “available for commercial and other relevant use” in subsections 5(a)(ii) and 5(b)(ii).

(c) To the extent this order is inconsistent with any provision of any previous Executive Order, Presidential Memorandum, or Presidential Directive, this order shall control.

Sec. 5 . Definitions. (a) The term “commercial solutions” means any of the methods for procurement of a commercial product or service described in part 12 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation, or other industry solutions funded by private investment that meet agency needs.

(b) The term “Other Transactions Authority” means the ability of the United States Government to enter into contracts other than standard contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements.

Sec. 6 . 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

(ii) the functions of the Director of OMB 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.

(d) The costs for publication of this order shall be borne by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

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Increasing Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:

Section 1 . Purpose and Policy. Americans deserve access to the best medical treatments and research infrastructure in the world. In 2023, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) completed a review of the landscape of medical use of marijuana and found scientific support for its use to treat anorexia related to a medical condition, nausea and vomiting, and pain. Chronic pain affects nearly 1 in 4 United States adults and more than 1 in 3 United States seniors, and 6 in 10 people who use medical marijuana report doing so to manage pain. Forty States plus the District of Columbia have State- or locally-sanctioned, regulated medical marijuana programs. Yet decades of Federal drug control policy have neglected marijuana's medical uses. That oversight has limited the ability of scientists and manufacturers to complete the necessary research on safety and efficacy to inform doctors and patients.

Marijuana is currently controlled under Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). In 2023, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recommended to the Drug Enforcement Agency that marijuana be controlled under Schedule III of the CSA. Schedule I drugs are defined as drugs with no currently accepted medical use, a high potential for abuse, and a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug under medical supervision. Schedule III drugs are classified as having a potential for abuse less than the drugs or other substances in Schedules I and II, a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, and a potential for moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence in the event of drug abuse.

The recommendation from HHS included a determination that medical marijuana has a currently accepted medical use. That determination was based in part on a finding by the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary of Health that more than 30,000 licensed healthcare practitioners across 43 United States jurisdictions are authorized to recommend the medical use of marijuana for more than 6 million registered patients to treat at least 15 medical conditions. It was also based on a finding by the FDA of credible scientific support to substantiate the use of marijuana in the treatment of pain, anorexia related to certain medical conditions, and nausea and vomiting induced by chemotherapy. The National Institute on Drug Abuse concurred with the FDA's recommendation that marijuana be rescheduled from Schedule I to Schedule III of the CSA. In May 2024, the Department of Justice issued a proposed rule to reschedule marijuana to Schedule III. The proposed rule received nearly 43,000 public comments and is currently awaiting an administrative law hearing.

The Federal Government's long delay in recognizing the medical use of marijuana does not serve the Americans who report health benefits from the medical use of marijuana to ease chronic pain and other various medically recognized ailments. Americans who often seek alternative relief from chronic pain symptoms are particularly impacted. For example, in one research survey, 20 percent of participating United States veterans reported using fewer opioids as a result of their medical marijuana use. One in 10 seniors used marijuana in the last year and some evidence shows improvements in seniors' health-related quality of life and pain with medical marijuana use. However, the current Schedule I position of marijuana has impeded research. The lack of appropriate research on medical marijuana and consequent lack of FDA approval leaves American patients and doctors without adequate guidance on appropriate prescribing and utilization. One patient survey showed that just 56 percent of older Americans using marijuana have discussed the usage with their healthcare provider. This places patients, especially seniors who may be on multiple medications, at increased risk of drug interactions or other adverse events. The Federal Government must improve the research infrastructure for medical marijuana to better serve Americans.

In addition to medical marijuana, which is primarily made up of two cannabinoids—cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydracannabinol (THC)—hemp-derived cannabinoid products, defined by section 297A of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1639o), have shown potential to improve patient symptoms for common ailments and are frequently used by Americans. One in 5 United States adults and nearly 15 percent of seniors reported using CBD in the past year, and chronic pain patients have reported improvements with CBD use in clinical studies. Furthermore, evidence suggests that the amount of THC in hemp-derived cannabinoid products can affect both pain treatment efficacy and adverse events. Hemp-derived cannabinoids, as defined in 7 U.S.C. 1639o, are not controlled substances under the CSA but are subject to the same authorities and requirements as FDA-regulated products containing any other substance. Adding complexity is the fact that some full-spectrum CBD products will once again be controlled as marijuana under the CSA when section 781 of Public Law 119-37 goes into effect because they contain THC levels above the per-container threshold set by that law. Further, a recent study found that some commercially available CBD products evaluated were inaccurately labeled regarding CBD isolate, broad-spectrum, or full-spectrum composition, posing safety risks for consumers. In short, the current legal landscape leaves American patients and doctors without adequate guidance or product safeguards for CBD.

It is the policy of my Administration to increase medical marijuana and CBD research to better inform patients and doctors. It is critical to close the gap between current medical marijuana and CBD use and medical knowledge of risks and benefits, including for specific populations and conditions. Research methods and models should include real-world evidence and should facilitate affordable access in order to rapidly assess the health outcomes of medical marijuana and legal CBD products while focusing on long-term health effects in vulnerable populations like adolescents and young adults.

Sec. 2 . Rescheduling Medical Marijuana and Improving Access to Cannabidiol Products. (a) The Attorney General shall take all necessary steps to complete the rulemaking process related to rescheduling marijuana to Schedule III of the CSA in the most expeditious manner in accordance with Federal law, including 21 U.S.C. 811.

(b) The Assistant to the President and Deputy Chief of Staff for Legislative, Political, and Public Affairs shall work with the Congress to update the statutory definition of final hemp-derived cannabinoid products to allow Americans to benefit from access to appropriate full-spectrum CBD products while preserving the Congress's intent to restrict the sale of products that pose serious health risks. This will include consultation with appropriate executive departments and agencies and authorities to develop a regulatory framework for hemp-derived cannabinoid products, including development of guidance on an upper limit on milligrams of THC per serving with considerations on per container limits and CBD to THC ratio requirements. The Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and the Director of the National Institutes of Health shall develop research methods and models utilizing real-world evidence to improve access to hemp-derived cannabinoid products in accordance with Federal law and to inform standards of care.

Sec. 3 . 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

(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.

(d) The costs for publication of this order shall be borne by the Department of Health and Human Services.

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Providing for the Closing of Executive Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government on December 24, 2025, and December 26, 2025

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:

Section 1 . All executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government shall be closed and their employees excused from duty on Wednesday, December 24, 2025, and Friday, December 26, 2025, the day before and the day following Christmas Day, respectively.

Sec. 2 . The heads of executive departments and agencies may determine that certain offices and installations of their organizations, or parts thereof, must remain open and that certain employees must report for duty on December 24, 2025, or December 26, 2025, or both, for reasons of national security, defense, or other public need.

Sec. 3 . December 24, 2025, and December 26, 2025, shall be considered as falling within the scope of Executive Order 11582 of February 11, 1971, and of 5 U.S.C. 5546 and 6103(b) and other similar statutes insofar as they relate to the pay and leave of employees of the United States.

Sec. 4 . The Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall take such actions as may be necessary to implement this order.

Sec. 5 . 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

(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.

(d) The costs for publication of this order shall be borne by the Office of Personnel Management.

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