For questions, contact: AmericasBankAccountEO@treasury.gov 

Overview

On March 25, 2025, the President signed Executive Order (EO) 14247 and EO 14249, directing the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury) to modernize the government’s payment infrastructure and enhance its ability to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse. These efforts support greater operational efficiency, financial integrity, and improved customer experience across all federal payment and collection activities.

Stay Informed

Treasury will continue to release guidance, notices, and technical resources to assist agencies in implementing these executive orders. Check back regularly for updates.

EO 14247, “Modernizing Payments to and from America's Bank Account”

This executive order mandates a shift to fully electronic federal payments and collections, reducing reliance on outdated paper-based processes and physical lockboxes.

Electronic Disbursements

• Treasury will cease issuing paper checks for all federal disbursements by September 30, 2025, to the extent permitted by law.
• All federal agencies must transition to electronic funds transfer (EFT) and actively enroll recipients in digital payment methods.
• Treasury will provide agencies with support and guidance throughout this transition.

Agency Notice: Agency Action Required in Support of EO 14247 Implementation

Executive Order (EO) 14247 mandates the elimination of federal paper check disbursements by September 30, 2025.  In accordance with the EO, the Department of the Treasury (Treasury) is actively working to transition the federal government to fully electronic, secure, and accessible payment delivery. Effective October 1, 2025, Treasury will be transitioning its check disbursement operations to a designated third-party provider. This shift will significantly reduce the government’s capacity to issue paper checks, which will be limited to qualifying exceptions.  

Treasury is also conducting a comprehensive review of current electronic funds transfer (EFT) waiver policies and procedures and will issue updated guidance regarding check payment exceptions. The guidance will take into account the needs of individuals who do not have access to banking services or electronic payment systems.

At this time, we urge federal agencies to take the following actions:

• Proactively engage existing check recipients to facilitate their enrollment in direct deposit to a checking or savings account or other EFT alternatives to include developing targeted outreach, communicating available EFT options, and providing customer support.
• Continue following existing EFT waiver procedures outlined in the Treasury Financial Manual (TFM), Volume I, Part 4A-2000, Section 2040, to the extent applicable.
• Update public forms, digital content, and public facing guidance to remove check payment options, unless a waiver exception applies, and promote direct deposit to a checking or savings account and other EFT alternatives.
• Revise internal processes and training materials to prevent unnecessary check issuance and ensure procedures reflect options to adopt EFT.
• Coordinate with relevant program offices to identify potential challenges or compliance risks and report operational or statutory implementation barriers to Treasury as soon as possible, but no later than July 25, 2025.

Failure to implement these measures may result non-compliance with EO 14247 mandates. Due to the expected reduction in check printing capacity, agencies are urged to prioritize this transition to avoid disruption in timely payment delivery.

Agencies are invited to submit feedback on EO implementation challenges and waiver policy recommendations. Please direct your responses to AmericasBankAccountEO@treasury.gov by July 25, 2025. Your input will inform the final EFT waiver guidance.

Electronic Receipts

• All receipts to the federal government must be processed electronically as soon as practicable.
• Agencies must eliminate use of Treasury's physical lockbox services and implement digital collection solutions.
• Treasury will provide agencies with support and guidance throughout this transition. 

Agency Notice: Lockbox Elimination in Support of Executive Order 14247 – Transition Guidance and Exception Process

To support implementation of Executive Order 14247 and advance the federal government’s transition to modern, electronic payment and collection systems, the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury) will begin a phased elimination of its lockbox services currently used by federal agencies. This initiative aligns with broader efforts to improve payment security, reduce costs, and increase operational efficiency across all agencies.

Phased Transition and Service Continuity

Lockbox services will be discontinued in stages. During the transition period, certain lockbox functions will remain in operation to support ongoing agency needs while migration plans are finalized and implemented.

Exceptions to Lockbox Elimination

Specific exceptions may be granted where electronic alternatives are not feasible or where mission-critical operations require continued lockbox use. Agencies that believe continuation of their lockbox service is required should submit a written request with a brief summary of the type of payment(s) involved and the specific statutory or regulatory citation requiring paper-based receipt of the payment.

Agency Preparation and Support

Treasury will issue further guidance outlining phase-out timelines, exception criteria, and transition support in the near future.  In the meantime, agencies are encouraged to begin reviewing current lockbox dependencies and develop internal transition plans. Treasury is available to consult on technical alternatives and provide migration assistance. You may contact Treasury’s lockbox services at glnecp@fiscal.treasury.gov.

Please submit exception requests to AmericasBankAccountEO@treasury.gov by July 25, 2025. Your input is vital in shaping the final transition framework and exception guidelines. 

Public Awareness Campaign 

• Treasury is developing a comprehensive public outreach campaign to educate federal payment recipients about the shift to electronic payments.

Agency Notice: Request for Information Related to Executive Order 14247 “Modernizing Payments To and From America’s Bank Account”

On May 30, 2025, Treasury published in the Federal Register a request for information (RFI) related to Executive Order (EO) 14247, “Modernizing Payments To and From America’s Bank Account.”  Public comments are due June 30, 2025. Treasury welcomes agencies’ review of the RFI and invites input related to the EO’s implementation efforts directed to AmericasBankAccountEO@treasury.gov.

For additional information please refer to Treasury’s press release.

EO 14249, “Protecting America’s Bank Account Against Waste, Fraud, and Abuse”

This executive order strengthens Treasury’s capabilities to identify improper payments, prevent fraud, and manage disbursement operations efficiently and securely.

Payment Verification

• Treasury will update systems and guidance to ensure all federal payments are subject to pre-certification verification processes.
• New guidelines will ensure compliance with the Do Not Pay Working System and other anti-fraud tools.
• Treasury will minimize data access barriers, including exercising the authority for Computer Matching Agreement (CMA) waivers where possible, to support agency compliance and fraud prevention.
• Treasury will issue guidance to agencies to provide Treasury access to fraud prevention data. 

Core Financial Management (FM) System Consolidation 

• CFO Act agencies are required to consolidate their core FM systems using Treasury-approved solutions via the FM Quality Service Management Office (FM QSMO).
• Non-CFO Act agencies must consolidate transactional FM services under a single Treasury-approved provider.

Non-Treasury Disbursing Office (NTDO) Transition

• Treasury will coordinate with NTDOs to transition disbursing authority to Treasury and decommission internal agency payment systems, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law.