diff --git a/templates/components/empty_state.html b/templates/components/empty_state.html
index b0aaa038..a9d9ff5e 100644
--- a/templates/components/empty_state.html
+++ b/templates/components/empty_state.html
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {% from "components/icon.html" import Icon %}
 
-{% macro EmptyState(message, action_label, action_href, icon=None, sub_message=None) -%}
+{% macro EmptyState(message, action_label, action_href, icon=None, sub_message=None, add_perms=True) -%}
   <div class='empty-state'>
     <p class='empty-state__message'>{{ message }}</p>
 
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
       <p class='empty-state__sub-message'>{{ sub_message }}</p>
     {% endif %}
 
-    {% if action_href and action_label %}
+    {% if add_perms and (action_href and action_label) %}
       <a href='{{ action_href }}' class='usa-button usa-button-big'>{{ action_label }}</a>
     {% endif %}
 
diff --git a/templates/portfolios/task_orders/index.html b/templates/portfolios/task_orders/index.html
index f4d62f27..15cc074b 100644
--- a/templates/portfolios/task_orders/index.html
+++ b/templates/portfolios/task_orders/index.html
@@ -113,6 +113,7 @@
       action_label='Add a New Task Order',
       action_href=url_for('task_orders.edit', portfolio_id=portfolio.id),
       icon='cloud',
+      add_perms=user_can(permissions.CREATE_TASK_ORDER)
     ) }}
   {% endif %}
 </div>