# Does a U.S. president have unlimited Medals of Freedom to give out? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 26, 2022, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-u-s-president-have-unlimited-medals-of-freedom-to-give-out/972228 "2022-09-26T00:28:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-u-s-president-have-unlimited-medals-of-freedom-to-give-out/972228/1 "2022-09-26T00:28:41Z")
As I understand it, the Presidential Medal of Freedom is essentially entirely up to the president’s discretion and has no Congressional oversight. Could someone like Trump or Biden really hand them out like Halloween candy; “I liked all the waitresses at that restaurant; give them each a medal” or give a Medal to every single combat veteran they see? ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-u-s-president-have-unlimited-medals-of-freedom-to-give-out/972228/2 "2022-09-26T02:43:54Z")
From what I can tell, there seems to be no limit to how many a president can give out, but since it’s supposed to be for genuinely outstanding achievements, I think it would be questioned if a president gave one to his golf caddie; no matter how good he was. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-u-s-president-have-unlimited-medals-of-freedom-to-give-out/972228/3 "2022-09-26T02:51:11Z")
Why not? They do it with pardons. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-u-s-president-have-unlimited-medals-of-freedom-to-give-out/972228/4 "2022-09-26T03:17:12Z")
Here is the list of recipients. Doesn’t seem to be any limit (there were more than I expected…and they are not restricted to military personnel…anyone can get one it seems): > **[List of Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Presidential_Medal_of_Freedom_recipients)** > > This is a partial list of recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, listed chronologically within the aspect of life in which each recipient is or was renowned. > The Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded by the president of the United States "for especially meritorious contribution to (1) the security or national interests of the United States, or (2) world peace, or (3) cultural or other significant public or private endeavors." Honorees are selected by the president or recommended ... ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-u-s-president-have-unlimited-medals-of-freedom-to-give-out/972228/5 "2022-09-26T04:58:12Z")
From what I understand there’s an actual ceremony that has to be done for the medal which puts a hard limit on it since it requires time and planning to actually do. ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-u-s-president-have-unlimited-medals-of-freedom-to-give-out/972228/6 "2022-09-26T05:03:29Z")
Evidently, a future president or congress can rescind them. > **[Lawmakers Ask Biden to Rescind Medals for Wounded Knee Massacre (Published 2021)](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/03/us/politics/rescind-medals-wounded-knee-massacre.html)** > > Seventeen members of Congress said they believed it was within President Biden’s authority to revoke Medals of Honor “when appropriate.” [https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/1073/text?r=4&s=1](https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/1073/text?r=4&s=1) ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-u-s-president-have-unlimited-medals-of-freedom-to-give-out/972228/7 "2022-09-26T05:06:33Z")
Medal of Honor and Medal of Freedom are two completely different things. ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-u-s-president-have-unlimited-medals-of-freedom-to-give-out/972228/8 "2022-09-26T06:33:58Z")
Whoops. But yeah, maybe that one, too: [https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/6810/all-info?r=9&s=1#:~:text=Official%20Title%20as%20Introduced,Freedom%20that%20has%20been%20revoked](https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/6810/all-info?r=9&s=1#:~:text=Official%20Title%20as%20Introduced,Freedom%20that%20has%20been%20revoked). ---
**Author:** ![Yodalicious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yodalicious/32/8195_2.png) [@Yodalicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yodalicious)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-u-s-president-have-unlimited-medals-of-freedom-to-give-out/972228/9 "2022-09-26T15:26:25Z")
> [@dolphinboy](#): > > I think it would be questioned if a president gave one to his golf caddie; no matter how good he was. Or Rush Limbaugh… oh wait… ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-u-s-president-have-unlimited-medals-of-freedom-to-give-out/972228/10 "2022-09-26T20:33:20Z")
I wonder how much they cost? I assume they are manufactured in batches, but how many per batch? Is there some warehouse somewhere, with a shipping container full of them sitting in a back corner? ---
**Author:** ![Tired\_and\_Cranky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@Tired\_and\_Cranky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tired_and_Cranky)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-u-s-president-have-unlimited-medals-of-freedom-to-give-out/972228/11 "2022-09-26T21:25:35Z")
I have no idea about Medals of Freedom but I understand that Purple Hearts were manufactured in batches. The last big batch being ordered during [World War II](https://www.warhistoryonline.com/instant-articles/purple-heart-stockpile-wwii-medal.html?firefox=1) in anticipation of an invasion of Japan that never came. I understand that we are still issuing those, although we have ordered a few more along the way. I somehow doubt we have quite that many Medals of Freedom just waiting around. The limit on the Medal of Freedom is that giving out too many cheapens its meaning and makes the President look bad. The whole point of the award is to make the President look good by recognizing worthy people, so giving out too many just won’t do. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-u-s-president-have-unlimited-medals-of-freedom-to-give-out/972228/12 "2022-09-26T22:14:23Z")
Yes, that would require a president who violated all previous norms of decency, and that could never, ever happen in this country. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-u-s-president-have-unlimited-medals-of-freedom-to-give-out/972228/13 "2022-09-26T23:51:08Z")
I have no idea why people keep bringing up Trump here, he only gave out 23 MoF in his four years in office, and Biden is set to give out more already in less time. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-u-s-president-have-unlimited-medals-of-freedom-to-give-out/972228/14 "2022-09-26T23:58:37Z")
> [@Asuka](#): > > I have no idea why people keep bringing up Trump here, Because every thread on the SD has to turn into a “Let’s bash Trump!” thread. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2022, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-u-s-president-have-unlimited-medals-of-freedom-to-give-out/972228/15 "2022-09-27T00:03:18Z")
> [@Asuka](#): > > I have no idea why people keep bringing up Trump here, he only gave out 23 MoF in his four years in office, and Biden is set to give out more already in less time. > [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Because every thread on the SD has to turn into a “Let’s bash Trump!” thread. I did a search for “Trump” in this thread. It shows up once in the OP (as an example and not being picked on) and then the only mention since was the two of you. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2022, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-u-s-president-have-unlimited-medals-of-freedom-to-give-out/972228/16 "2022-09-27T00:08:01Z")
Actually, mine was more a commentary on the State of the Board (that I’ve made before) rather than this thread in particular. After I wrote it, I thought I must have missed something because I didn’t see anything about Trump either and you’re almost right. Yodalicious made a veiled reference to Trump via Rush Limbaugh. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2022, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-u-s-president-have-unlimited-medals-of-freedom-to-give-out/972228/17 "2022-09-27T00:56:44Z")
[Moderating] > [@Yodalicious](#): > > Or Rush Limbaugh… oh wait… > [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Yes, that would require a president who violated all previous norms of decency, and that could never, ever happen in this country. Cut the political potshots. Now. The next one gets a Warning. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2022, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-u-s-president-have-unlimited-medals-of-freedom-to-give-out/972228/18 "2022-09-27T02:11:43Z")
> [@Asuka](#): > > From what I understand there’s an actual ceremony that has to be done for the medal which puts a hard limit on it since it requires time and planning to actually do. There’s no requirement that the medal be awarded in a ceremony – the Presidential Medal of Freedom is entirely a creation of executive orders and doesn’t have any statutory requirements. The President can award them to whom and however he or she wishes. As for who pays for the medals themselves, I’m sure it falls within some budgetary subcategory of the Executive Office of the President. They can’t cost that much. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2022, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-u-s-president-have-unlimited-medals-of-freedom-to-give-out/972228/19 "2022-09-27T03:11:26Z")
Just as the the Office of the Pardon Attorney in the DoJ researches and evaluates proposed pardons, the PMofF are formally recommended by the Distinguished Civilian Service Awards Board, which was formed in 1957 and been kicked around a bit since then but appears to be under the Director of the Office of Personnel Management who turns them over to the President. The President is not obligated to go by the recommendations and appears to have unlimited discretion on medals, although I don’t think this has ever been tested. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2022, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-u-s-president-have-unlimited-medals-of-freedom-to-give-out/972228/20 "2022-09-28T23:55:16Z")
You don’t have to be American for medal of Freedom. Steven Hawking for example got one Hawking never won a Nobel prize and the reason given was they pick people who do more practical stuff and he was mostly a theory guy