Page:M-21-15 Memorandum for Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies.pdf/1

 EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET January 24, 2021 M-21-15

MEMORANDUM FOR HEADS OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES

FROM: Aviva Aron-DineExecutive Associate Director

SUBJECT: COVID-19 Safe Federal Workplace: Agency Model Safety Principles

This memo provides guidance to agencies following the release of the President’s Executive Order (EO) on Protecting the Federal Workforce and Requiring Mask-Wearing. This EO, which is part of the National Strategy for the COVID-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness, states that:

Pursuant to this EO, agencies should immediately require masks and distancing consistent with current CDC guidance in all Federal buildings.

To provide ongoing guidance to heads of agencies on the operation of the Federal Government, the safety of its employees, and the continuity of Government functions during the COVID-19 pandemic, the President has established a Safer Federal Workforce Task Force. The Task Force’s guidance and recommendations to departments and agencies will be based on public health best practices as determined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other public health experts and will be co-chaired by the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the Administrator of General Services (GSA), and the COVID19 Response Coordinator, with membership from several agencies.

As an initial step, to support the implementation of this Executive Order, the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force and OMB are providing agencies with model safety principles for executive departments and agencies as they build tailored COVID-19 workplace safety plans (see Appendix I). These model principles are intended to assist agencies in fulfilling the