Collapse to view only § 2.7 - Authority to supervise and direct.

§ 2.6 - Designation of first assistants.

(a) Every office within the Department to which appointment is required to be made by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate (“PAS Office”) may have a First Assistant within the meaning of 5 U.S.C. 3345–3349d.

(1) Where there is a position of principal deputy to the PAS Office, the principal deputy shall be the First Assistant.

(2) Where there is only one deputy position to the PAS Office, the official in that position shall be the First Assistant.

(3) Where there is more than one deputy position to the PAS Office, and this part establishes which deputy is delegated the authority to perform all the duties and exercise all the powers of the PAS Office during the absence or unavailability of the PAS official, the deputy delegated such authority shall be the First Assistant.

(4) Where neither paragraph (a)(1), (2), nor (3) of this section is applicable to the PAS Office, except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, the Secretary may designate in writing the First Assistant position.

(b) The Inspector General of the Department shall determine any arrangements for the temporary performance of the functions and duties of the Inspector General when that office is vacant.

[81 FR 45963, July 15, 2016]

§ 2.7 - Authority to supervise and direct.

Unless specifically reserved, or otherwise delegated (including delegations of legal functions to the General Counsel at § 2.31), the delegations of authority to each general officer of the Department and each agency head contained in this part includes the authority to direct and supervise the employees engaged in the conduct of activities under such official's jurisdiction, and the authority to take any action, execute any document, authorize any expenditure, promulgate any rule, regulation, order, or instruction required by or authorized by law and deemed by the general officer or agency head to be necessary and proper to the discharge of his or her responsibilities. This authority will be exercised subject to applicable administrative directives. Unless otherwise provided, a general officer or agency head may, subject to his or her continuing responsibility for the proper discharge of delegations made to him, in this part, delegate and provide for the redelegation of his or her authority to appropriate officers and employees. Subject to the general supervision of the Secretary, agency heads who are delegated authority from a general officer, in this part, report to and are under the supervision of that general officer.

[60 FR 56393, Nov. 8, 1995, as amended at 83 FR 22179, May 14, 2018]

§ 2.8 - Delegations of authority to agency heads to order that the United States flag be flown at half-staff.

Pursuant to section 5 of Proclamation 3044, 3 CFR, 1954–1958 Comp., p. 4, each general officer and agency head is delegated authority to order that the United States flag shall be flown at half-staff on buildings and grounds under his or her jurisdiction or control. This authority shall be exercised in accordance with directives promulgated by the Director, Office of Operations.

§ 2.9 - Additional delegations.

The authority granted to a general officer may be exercised in the discharge of any additional functions which the Secretary may assign.

§ 2.10 - Limitations.

The delegations made in this part shall not be construed to confer upon any general officer or agency head the authority of the Secretary to prescribe regulations which by law require approval of the President.

§ 2.11 - New principles and periodic reviews.

In the exercise of authority delegated by the Secretary, the application of new principles of major importance or a departure from principles established by the Secretary should be brought to the attention of the Secretary. General officers are responsible for assuring that periodic reviews are conducted of the activities of the agencies assigned to their direction and supervision, as required by 5 U.S.C. 305.

§ 2.12 - Secretary and general officers not precluded from exercising delegated powers.

No delegation of authority by the Secretary or a general officer contained in this part shall preclude the Secretary or general officer from exercising any of the authority so delegated.

§ 2.13 - Status of prior delegations.

Nothing in this part shall affect the bylaws of the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, or the Rural Telephone Bank. All delegations previously made which are inconsistent with delegations made in this part are superseded; however, any regulation, order, authorization, expenditure, or other instrument, heretofore issued or made pursuant to any delegation of authority shall continue in full force and effect unless and until withdrawn or superseded pursuant to authority granted in this part.