U.S Code last checked for updates: Apr 26, 2024
REORGANIZATION PLAN NO. I OF 1939

Eff. July 1, 1939, 4 F.R. 2727, 53 Stat. 1423, by act June 7, 1939, ch. 193, 53 Stat. 813, as amended Sept. 13, 1982, Pub. L. 97–258, § 5(b), 96 Stat. 1068, 1085

Prepared by the President and transmitted to the Senate and the House of Representatives in Congress assembled, April 25, 1939, pursuant to the provisions of the Reorganization Act of 1939, approved April 3, 1939.

PART 1. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Section 1. Bureau of the Budget

[Repealed. Pub. L. 97–258, § 5(b), Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 1068, 1085. Section transferred the Bureau of the Budget and its functions and personnel from the Treasury Department to the Executive Office of the President, and provided that the functions of the Bureau be administered by the Director under the direction and supervision of the President. See 31 U.S.C. 501 et seq.]

Sec. 2. Central Statistical Board

[Repealed. Pub. L. 97–258, § 5(b), Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 1068, 1085. Section transferred the Central Statistical Board and its functions and personnel to the Bureau of the Budget, and provided that the Chairman of the Board perform such administrative duties as the Director of the Bureau shall prescribe.]

Sec. 3. Central Statistical Committee Abolished and Functions Transferred

[Repealed. Pub. L. 97–258, § 5(b), Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 1068, 1085. Section abolished the Board and transferred its functions to the Director of the Bureau of the Budget.]

Sec. 4. National Resources Planning Board

(a) The functions of the National Resources Committee, established by Executive Order No. 7065 of June 7, 1935, and its personnel (except the members of the Committee) and all of the functions of the Federal Employment Stabilization Office in the Department of Commerce and its personnel are hereby transferred to the Executive Office of the President. The functions transferred by this section are hereby consolidated, and they shall be administered under the direction and supervision of the President by the National Resources Planning Board (hereafter referred to as the Board), which shall be composed of five members to be appointed by the President. The President shall designate one of the members of the Board as Chairman and another as Vice Chairman. The Vice Chairman shall act as Chairman in the absence of the Chairman or in the event of a vacancy in that office. The members of the Board shall be compensated at the rate of $50 per day for time spent in attending and traveling to and from meetings, or in otherwise exercising the functions and duties of the Board, plus the actual cost of transportation: Provided, That in no case shall a member be entitled to receive compensation for more than thirty days’ service in two consecutive months. [Functions of Board were authorized to be carried out until June 30, 1940, and provisions concerning composition of Board were contained in Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of 1939.]

(b) The Board shall determine the rules of its own proceedings, and a majority of its members in office shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, but the Board may function notwithstanding vacancies.

(c) The Board may appoint necessary officers and employees and may delegate to such officers authority to perform such duties and make such expenditures as may be necessary. [Board abolished August 31, 1943, by act June 26, 1943, ch. 145, title I, § 1, 57 Stat. 170, and records and files were transferred to the National Archives.]

Sec. 5. National Resources Committee Abolished

The National Resources Committee is hereby abolished, and its outstanding affairs shall be wound up by the National Resources Planning Board.

Sec. 6. Federal Employment Stabilization Office Abolished

The Federal Employment Stabilization Office is hereby abolished, and the Secretary of Commerce shall promptly wind up its affairs.

Sec. 7. Transfer of Records and Property

All records and property (including office equipment) of the several agencies transferred, or the functions of which are transferred, by this part are hereby transferred to the Executive Office of the President for use in the administration of the agencies and functions transferred by this part.

Sec. 8. Transfer of Funds

So much of the unexpended balances of appropriations, allocations, or other funds available (including those available for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1940) for the use of any agency in the exercise of any functions transferred by this part, or for the use of the head of any department or agency in the exercise of any functions so transferred, as the Director of the Bureau of the Budget shall determine, shall be transferred to the Executive Office of the President for use in connection with the exercise of functions transferred by this part. In determining the amount to be transferred the Director of the Bureau of the Budget may include an amount to provide for the liquidation of obligations incurred against such appropriations, allocations, or other funds prior to the transfer: Provided, That the use of the unexpended balances of appropriations, allocations, or other funds transferred by this section shall be subject to the provisions of section 4(d)(3) and section 9 of the Reorganization Act of 1939.

Sec. 9. Personnel

Any personnel transferred by this part found to be in excess of the personnel necessary for the efficient administration of the functions transferred by this part shall be retransferred under existing law to other positions in the Government service, or separated from the service subject to the provisions of section 10(a) of the Reorganization Act of 1939.

PART 2. FEDERAL SECURITY AGENCY

Sec. 201. Federal Security Agency

(a) The United States Employment Service in the Department of Labor and its functions and personnel are transferred from the Department of Labor; the Office of Education in the Department of the Interior and its functions and personnel (including the Commissioner of Education) are transferred from the Department of the Interior; the Public Health Service in the Department of the Treasury and its functions and personnel (including the Surgeon General of the Public Health Service) are transferred from the Department of the Treasury; the National Youth Administration within the Works Progress Administration and its functions and personnel (including its Administrator) are transferred from the Works Progress Administration; and these agencies and their functions, together with the Social Security Board and its functions, and the Civilian Conservation Corps and its functions, are hereby consolidated under one agency to be known as the Federal Security Agency, with a Federal Security Administrator at the head thereof. The Federal Security Administrator shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, and shall receive a salary at the rate of $12,000 per annum. He shall have general direction and supervision over the administration of the several agencies consolidated into the Federal Security Agency by this section and shall be responsible for the coordination of their functions and activities.

(b) The Federal Security Administrator shall appoint an Assistant Federal Security Administrator, who shall receive a salary at the rate of $9,000 per annum, and he may also appoint such other personnel and make such expenditures as may be necessary.

(c) The Assistant Administrator shall act as Administrator during the absence or disability of the Administrator or in the event of a vacancy in that office and shall perform such other duties as the Administrator shall direct.

(d) The several agencies and functions consolidated by this section into the Federal Security Agency shall carry with them their personnel. [Federal Security Agency abolished and functions transferred to Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (Health and Human Services) by Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1953.]

Sec. 202. Social Security Board

The Social Security Board and its functions shall be administered as a part of the Federal Security Agency under the direction and supervision of the Federal Security Administrator. The Chairman of the Social Security Board shall perform such administrative duties as the Federal Security Administrator shall direct.

Sec. 203. United States Employment Service

(a) The functions of the United States Employment Service shall be consolidated with the unemployment compensation functions of the Social Security Board and shall be administered in the Social Security Board in connection with such unemployment compensation functions under the direction and supervision of the Federal Security Administrator.

(b) The office of the Director of the United States Employment Service is hereby abolished, and all of the functions of such office are transferred to, and shall be exercised by, the Social Security Board.

(c) All functions of the Secretary of Labor relating to the administration of the United States Employment Service are hereby transferred to, and shall be exercised by, the Federal Security Administrator.

Sec. 204. Office of Education

(a) The Office of Education and its functions shall be administered by the Commissioner of Education under the direction and supervision of the Federal Security Administrator.

(b) All functions of the Secretary of the Interior relating to the administration of the Office of Education are hereby transferred to, and shall be exercised by, the Federal Security Administrator.

Sec. 205. Public Health Service

(a) The Public Health Service and its functions shall be administered by the Surgeon General of the Public Health Service under the direction and supervision of the Federal Security Administrator.

(b) All the functions of the Secretary of the Treasury relating to the administration of the Public Health Service, except those functions relating to the acceptance and investment of gifts as authorized by sections 23(b) and 137(e),1

1
 So in original. Probably should be “sections 23b and 137e,”.
title 42, U.S. Code [see 42 U.S.C. 219, 286d], are hereby transferred to, and shall be exercised by, the Federal Security Administrator.

Sec. 206. National Youth Administration

The National Youth Administration and its functions shall be administered by the National Youth Administrator under the direction and supervision of the Federal Security Administrator. [National Youth Administration was extended until June 30, 1940, by Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of 1939, § 2(d) and until June 30, 1941, by Labor-Federal Security Appropriation Act, 1941, title II], [National Youth Administration was transferred to War Manpower Commission by Ex. Ord. No. 9247.]

[Liquidation of the National Youth Administration was provided for by acts July 12, 1943, ch. 221, title VII, 57 Stat. 518; June 28, 1944, ch. 302, title II, 58 Stat. 564, and disposal of its property was covered by acts July 12, 1943, ch. 229, title I, 57 Stat. 540; Dec. 23, 1943, ch. 380, title I, 57 Stat. 615.]

Sec. 207. Civilian Conservation Corps

The Civilian Conservation Corps and its functions shall be administered by the Director of the Civilian Conservation Corps under the direction and supervision of the Federal Security Administrator.

Sec. 208. Transfer of Records and Property

All records and property (including office equipment) of the several agencies which, with their functions, are consolidated by section 201 into the Federal Security Agency are hereby transferred to the jurisdiction and control of the Federal Security Agency for use in the administration of the agencies and functions consolidated by that section.

Sec. 209. Transfer of Funds

So much of the unexpended balances of appropriations, allocations, or other funds (including those available for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1940) available for the use of any agency in the exercise of any functions transferred by this part, or for the use of the head of any department or agency in the exercise of any functions so transferred, as the Director of the Bureau of the Budget shall determine, shall be transferred for use in connection with the exercise of the functions transferred by this part. In determining the amount to be transferred the Director of the Bureau of the Budget may include an amount to provide for the liquidation of obligations incurred against such appropriations, allocations, or other funds prior to the transfer: Provided, That the use of the unexpended balances of appropriations, allocations, or other funds transferred by this section shall be subject to the provisions of section 4(d)(3) and section 9 of the Reorganization Act of 1939.

Sec. 210. Administrative Funds

The Director of the Bureau of the Budget shall allocate to the Federal Security Agency, from appropriations, allocations, or other funds available (including those available for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1940) for the administrative expenses of the agencies and functions consolidated by this part, such sums, and in such proportions, as he may find necessary for the administrative expenses of the Federal Security Agency.

Sec. 211. Personnel

Any personnel transferred by this part found to be in excess of the personnel necessary for the efficient administration of the functions transferred by this part shall be retransferred under existing law to other positions in the Government service, or separated from the service subject to the provisions of section 10(a) of the Reorganization Act of 1939.

PART 3. FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY

Sec. 301. Federal Works Agency

(a) The Bureau of Public Roads in the Department of Agriculture and its functions and personnel (including the Chief thereof) are transferred from the Department of Agriculture; the Public Buildings Branch of the Procurement Division in the Treasury Department and its functions and personnel are transferred from the Treasury Department; the Branch of Buildings Management of the National Park Service in the Department of the Interior and its functions and personnel (except those relating to monuments and memorials), and the functions of the National Park Service in the District of Columbia in connection with the general assignment of space, the selection of sites for public buildings, and the determination of the priority in which the construction or enlargement of public buildings shall be undertaken, and the personnel engaged exclusively in the administration of such functions, and the United States Housing Authority in the Department of the Interior and its functions and personnel (including the Administrator) are transferred from the Department of the Interior; and all of these agencies and functions, together with the Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works and its functions, and all of the Works Progress Administration and its functions (except the National Youth Administration and its functions) are hereby consolidated into one agency to be known as the Federal Works Agency, with a Federal Works Administrator at the head thereof. The Federal Works Administrator shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, and shall receive a salary at the rate of $12,000 per annum. He shall have general direction and supervision over the administration of the several agencies consolidated into the Federal Works Agency by this section and shall be responsible for the coordination of their functions. [Federal Works Agency abolished and functions transferred to General Services Administration by act June 30, 1949, ch. 288, title I, § 103, 63 Stat. 380.]

(b) The Federal Works Administrator shall appoint an Assistant Federal Works Administrator, who shall receive a salary at the rate of $9,000 per annum, and he may also appoint such other personnel and make such expenditures as may be necessary.

(c) The Assistant Administrator shall act as Administrator during the absence or disability of the Administrator, or in the event of a vacancy in that office, and shall perform such other duties as the Administrator shall direct.

(d) The several agencies and functions consolidated by this section in the Federal Works Agency shall carry with them their personnel.

Sec. 302. Public Roads Administration

(a) The Bureau of Public Roads and its functions shall be administered as the Public Roads Administration at the head of which shall be the Chief of the Bureau of Public Roads whose title shall be changed to Commissioner of Public Roads. Hereafter the Commissioner of Public Roads shall be appointed by the Federal Works Administrator.

(b) All functions of the Secretary of Agriculture relating to the administration of the Bureau of Public Roads are hereby transferred to, and shall be exercised by, the Federal Works Administrator.

Sec. 303. Public Buildings Administration

(a) The Public Buildings Branch of the Procurement Division and its functions the Branch of Buildings Management of the National Park Service and its functions (except those relating to monuments and memorials) and the functions of the National Park Service in the District of Columbia in connection with the general assignment of space, the selection of sites for public buildings, and the determination of the priority in which the construction or enlargement of public buildings shall be undertaken, are hereby consolidated and shall be administered as the Public Buildings Administration, with a Commissioner of Public Buildings at the head thereof. The Commissioner of Public Buildings shall be appointed by the Federal Works Administrator and shall receive a salary at the rate of $9,000 per annum. The Commissioner of Public Buildings shall act under the direction and supervision of the Federal Works Administrator.

(b) All functions of the Secretary of the Treasury and the Director of Procurement relating to the Administration of the Public Buildings Branch of the Procurement Division and to the selection of location and sites for public buildings, and all functions of the Secretary of the Interior and the Director of the National Park Service relating to the administration of the functions of the Branch of Buildings Management and the functions of the National Park Service in the District of Columbia in connection with the general assignment of space, the selection of sites for public buildings, and the determination of the priority in which the construction or enlargement of public buildings shall be undertaken, are hereby transferred to, and shall be exercised by, the Federal Works Administrator.

Sec. 304. United States Housing Authority

(a) The United States Housing Authority and its functions shall be administered by the United States Housing Administrator under the direction and supervision of the Federal Works Administrator.

(b) All functions of the Secretary of the Interior relating to the administration of the United States Housing Authority are hereby transferred to, and shall be exercised by, the Federal Works Administrator. [United States Housing Authority consolidated with other agencies into National Housing Authority during World War II, see Ex. Ord. No. 9070.] [Change of name of United States Housing Authority to Public Housing Administration and transfer to Housing and Home Finance Agency, see 1947 Reorg. Plan No. 3.] [Housing and Home Finance Agency lapsed and functions were transferred to Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, see section 9(c) of Pub. L. 89–174, Sept. 9, 1965, 79 Stat. 670, set out as a note under 42 U.S.C. 3531.]

Sec. 305. Public Works Administration

The Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works and its functions shall be administered as the Public Works Administration with a Commissioner of Public Works at the head thereof. The Commissioner of Public Works shall be appointed by the Federal Works Administrator and shall receive a salary at the rate of $10,000 per annum. The Commissioner of Public Works shall act under the direction and supervision of the Federal Works Administrator.

[Appropriations for liquidation of the Public Works Administration were authorized by the Second Deficiency Appropriation Act of 1944, act June 28, 1944, ch. 304, title I, 58 Stat. 602, and First Deficiency Appropriation Act, 1945, act Apr. 25, 1945, ch. 95, title I, § 1, 59 Stat. 80.]

Sec. 306. Work Projects Administration

The Works Progress Administration and its functions (except the National Youth Administration and its functions) shall be administered as the Work Projects Administration, with a Commissioner of Work Projects at the head thereof. The Commissioner shall be appointed by the Federal Works Administrator and shall receive a salary at the rate of $10,000 per annum. The Commissioner shall act under the direction and supervision of the Federal Works Administrator. [Functions were authorized to be carried out until June 30, 1941, and provisions concerning appointment of Commissioner were contained in Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of 1939, § 1(f and g), and Emergency Relief Appropriation Act, fiscal year 1941, § 1(i and j).] [Functions, records, property, personnel and administration of the Sample Surveys Section of Work Projects Administration transferred to Bureau of Census, Dept. of Commerce, see Ex. Ord. No. 9232.]

[Liquidation of the Works Projects Administration was ordered by President’s letter of December 4, 1942, and appropriations for the liquidation were authorized by act July 12, 1943, ch. 229, title I, 57 Stat. 540.]

Sec. 307. Transfer of Records and Property

All records and property (including office equipment) of the several agencies which, with their functions, are consolidated by section 301 into the Federal Works Agency are hereby transferred to the jurisdiction and control of the Federal Works Agency for use in the administration of the agencies and functions consolidated by that section.

Sec. 308. Transfer of Funds

(a) So much of the unexpended balances of appropriations, allocations, or other funds available (including those available for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1940