5 U.S.C. App. (Ethics in Government Act of 1978); 26 U.S.C. 1043; Pub. L. 101-410, 104 Stat. 890, 28 U.S.C. 2461 note (Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990), as amended by Sec. 31001, Pub. L. 104-134, 110 Stat. 1321 (Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996); E.O. 12674, 54 FR 15159, 3 CFR, 1989 Comp., p. 215, as modified by E.O. 12731, 55 FR 42547, 3 CFR, 1990 Comp., p. 306.
The regulation in this part is issued pursuant to the authority of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978, as amended; 26 U.S.C. 1043; the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990, as amended by the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996; and Executive Order 12674 of April 12, 1989, as modified by Executive Order 12731 of October 17, 1990.
(a) This regulation supplements and implements title I of the Act and section 201(d) of Executive Order 12674 (as modified by Executive Order 12731) with respect to executive branch employees, by setting forth more specifically the uniform procedures and requirements for financial disclosure and for the certification and use of qualified blind and diversified trusts. Additionally, this regulation implements section 502 of the Reform Act by establishing procedures for executive branch personnel to obtain Certificates of Divestiture, which permit deferred recognition of capital gain in certain instances.
(b) The rules in this part govern both the public and confidential (nonpublic) financial disclosure systems, except as otherwise indicated. Subpart I of this part contains special rules unique to the confidential disclosure system.
(a) This regulation is intended to provide uniformity for executive branch financial disclosure systems. However, an agency may, subject to the prior written approval of the Office of Government Ethics, issue supplemental regulations implementing this part, if necessary to address special or unique agency circumstances. Such regulations:
(1) Shall be consistent with the Act, Executive Orders 12674 and 12731, and this part; and
(2) Shall impose no additional reporting requirements on either public or confidential filers, unless specifically authorized by the Office of Government Ethics as supplemental confidential reporting.
Supplemental regulations will not be used to satisfy the separate requirement of 5 U.S.C. App. (Ethics in Government Act of 1978, Section 402(d)(1)) that each agency have established written procedures on how to collect, review, evaluate, and, where appropriate, make publicly available, financial disclosure statements filed with it.
(b) Requests for approval of supplemental regulations under paragraph (a) of this section shall be submitted in writing to the Office of Government Ethics, and shall set forth the agency's need for any proposed supplemental reporting requirements. See § 2634.901 (b) and (c).
(c) Agencies should review all of their existing financial disclosure regulations to determine which of those regulations must be modified or revoked in order to conform with the requirements of this part. Any amendatory agency regulations shall be processed in accordance with paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section.
(a) Title I of the Act requires that high-level Federal officials disclose publicly their personal financial interests, to ensure confidence in the integrity of the Federal Government by demonstrating that they are able to carry out their duties without compromising the public trust. Title I also authorizes the Office of Government Ethics to establish a confidential (nonpublic) financial disclosure system for less senior executive branch personnel in certain designated positions, to facilitate internal agency conflict-of-interest review.
(b) Public and confidential financial disclosure serves to prevent conflicts of
(c) Financial disclosure reports are not net worth statements. Financial disclosure systems seek only the information that the President, Congress, or OGE as the supervising ethics office for the executive branch has deemed relevant to the administration and application of the criminal conflict of interest laws, other statutes on ethical conduct or financial interests, and Executive orders or regulations on standards of ethical conduct.
(d) Nothing in the Act or this part requiring reporting of information or the filing of any report shall be deemed to authorize receipt of income, honoraria, gifts, or reimbursements; holding of assets, liabilities, or positions; or involvement in transactions that are prohibited by law, Executive order or regulation.
(e) The provisions of title I of the Act and this part requiring the reporting of information shall supersede any general requirement under any other provision of law or regulation on the reporting of information required for purposes of preventing conflicts of interest or apparent conflicts of interest. However, the provisions of title I and this part shall not supersede the requirements of 5 U.S.C. 7342 (the Foreign Gifts and Decorations Act).
(f) This regulation is intended to be gender-neutral; therefore, use of the terms he, his, and him include she, hers, and her, and vice versa.
For purposes of this part:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(1) Is unmarried, under age 21, and living in the household of the reporting individual; or
(2) Is a dependent of the reporting individual within the meaning of section 152 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, 26 U.S.C. 152.
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
(1) Bequests and other forms of inheritance;
(2) Suitable mementos of a function honoring the reporting individual;
(3) Food, lodging, transportation, and entertainment provided by a foreign government within a foreign country or by the United States Government, the District of Columbia, or a State or
(4) Food and beverages which are not consumed in connection with a gift of overnight lodging;
(5) Communications to the offices of a reporting individual, including subscriptions to newspapers and periodicals;
(6) Consumable products provided by home-State businesses to the offices of the President or Vice President, if those products are intended for consumption by persons other than the President or Vice President; or
(7) Exclusions and exceptions as described at § 2634.304(c) and (d).
(i)
(j)
(k)
(l)
(m)
(n)
(1) Provided by the United States Government, the District of Columbia, or a State or local government or political subdivision thereof;
(2) Required to be reported by the reporting individual under 5 U.S.C. 7342 (the Foreign Gifts and Decorations Act); or
(3) Required to be reported under section 304 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 434) (relating to reports of campaign contributions).
Payments which are not made to the individual are not reimbursements for purposes of this part. Thus, payments made to the filer's employing agency to cover official travel-related expenses do not fit this definition of reimbursement. For example, payments being accepted by the agency pursuant to statutory authority such as 31 U.S.C. 1353, as implemented by 41 CFR part 304-1, are not considered reimbursements under this part 2634, because they are not payments received by the reporting individual. On the other hand, travel payments made to the employee by an outside entity for private travel are considered reimbursements for purposes of this part. Likewise, travel payments received from certain nonprofit entities under authority of 5 U.S.C. 4111 are considered reimbursements, even though for official travel, since that statute specifies that such payments must be made to the individual directly (with prior approval from the individual's agency).
(o)
(p)
(q)
(r)
(1) The Secretary of Commerce, in matters concerning the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;
(2) The Secretary of Health and Human Services, with respect to matters concerning the Public Health Service; and
(3) The Secretary of State with respect to matters concerning the Foreign Service.
(s)
(t)
(a)
An SES official commences performing the duties of his position on November 15. He will not be required to file an incumbent report for that calendar year.
An employee, who is classified at GS-15, is assigned to fill an SES position in an acting capacity, from October 15 through December 31. Having performed the duties of a covered position for more than 60 days during the calendar year, he will be required to file an incumbent report. In addition, he must file a new entrant report the first time he serves more than 60 days in a calendar year in the position, in accordance with § 2634.201(b) and § 2634.204(c)(1).
(b)
(2) However, no report shall be required if the individual:
(i) Has, within 30 days prior to assuming such position, left another position or office for which a public financial disclosure report under the Act was required to be filed; or
(ii) Has already filed such a report as a nominee or candidate for the position.
Y, an employee of the Treasury Department who has previously filed reports in accordance with the rules of this section, terminates employment with that Department on January 12, 1991, and begins employment with the Commerce Department on February 10, 1991, in a Senior Executive Service position. Y is not a new entrant since he has assumed a position described in § 2634.202 of this subpart within thirty days of leaving another position so described. Accordingly, he need not file a new report with the Commerce Department.
While Y did not have to file a new entrant report with the Commerce Department, that Department should request a
(c)
(2) This requirement shall not apply to any individual who is nominated to a position as:
(i) An officer of the uniformed services; or
(ii) A Foreign Service Officer.
Although the statute, 5 U.S.C. app. (Ethics in Government Act of 1978, section 101(b)(1)), exempts uniformed service officers only if they are nominated for appointment to a grade or rank for which the pay grade is 0-6 or below, the Senate confirmation committees have adopted a practice of exempting all uniformed service officers, unless otherwise specified by the committee assigned.
(3) Section 2634.605(c) provides expedited procedures in the case of individuals described in paragraph (c)(1) of this section. Those individuals referred to in paragraph (c)(2) of this section as being exempt from filing nominee reports shall file new entrant reports, if required by paragraph (b) of this section.
(d)
(1) Within 30 days of becoming a candidate or on or before May 15 of the calendar year in which the individual becomes a candidate, whichever is later, but in no event later than 30 days before the election; and
(2) On or before May 15 of each successive year an individual continues to be a candidate. However, in any calendar year in which an individual continues to be a candidate but all elections relating to such candidacy were held in prior calendar years, the individual need not file a report unless he becomes a candidate for a vacancy during that year.
P became a candidate for President in January 1991. P will be required to file a public financial disclosure report on or before May 15, 1991. If P had become a candidate on June 1, 1991, he would have been required to file a disclosure report within 30 days of that date.
(e)
(2) However, if within 30 days of such termination the individual assumes employment in another position or office for which a public report under the Act is required to be filed, no report shall be required by the provisions of this paragraph. See the related
(f)
The term
(a) The President;
(b) The Vice President;
(c) Each officer or employee in the executive branch, including a special Government employee as defined in 18 U.S.C. 202(a), whose position is classified above GS-15 of the General Schedule prescribed by 5 U.S.C. 5332, or the rate of basic pay for which is fixed, other than under the General Schedule, at a rate equal to or greater than 120% of the minimum rate of basic pay for GS-15 of the General Schedule; each member of a uniformed service whose pay grade is at or in excess of O-7 under 37 U.S.C. 201; and each officer or employee in any other position determined by the Director of the Office of Government Ethics to be of equal classification;
(d) Each employee who is an administrative law judge appointed pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 3105;
(e) Any employee not otherwise described in paragraph (c) of this section who is in a position in the executive branch which is excepted from the competitive service by reason of being of a confidential or policy-making character, unless excluded by virtue of a determination under § 2634.203 of this subpart;
(f) The Postmaster General, the Deputy Postmaster General, each Governor of the Board of Governors of the United States Postal Service and each officer or employee of the United States Postal Service or Postal Rate Commission whose basic rate of pay is equal to or greater than 120% of the minimum rate of basic pay for GS-15 of the General Schedule;
(g) The Director of the Office of Government Ethics and each agency's primary designated agency ethics official;
(h) Any civilian employee not otherwise described in paragraph (c) of this section who is employed in the Executive Office of the President (other than a special Government employee, as defined in 18 U.S.C. 202(a)) and holds a commission of appointment from the President; and
(i) Anyone whose employment in a position or office described in paragraphs (a) through (h) of this section has terminated, but who has not yet satisfied the filing requirements of § 2634.201(e) of this subpart.
References in this section and in §§ 2634.203 and 2634.904 to position classifications have been adjusted to reflect elimination of General Schedule classifications GS-16, GS-17, and GS-18 by the Federal Employees Pay Comparability Act of 1990, as incorporated in section 529 of Public Law 101-509.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(2) If the Office of Government Ethics finds that one or more positions has
(a)
(1) The designated agency ethics official or Secretary concerned, in a case to which the provisions of § 2634.201 (b) or (e) of this subpart (relating to new entrant and termination reports) would otherwise apply; or
(2) The Director of the Office of Government Ethics, in a case to which the provisions of § 2634.201(c) of this subpart (relating to nominee reports) would otherwise apply.
(b)
(c)
(1) Section 2634.201 (b) or (c) of this subpart (relating to new entrant and nominee reports) shall be filed within 15 calendar days after the sixtieth day of duty; and
(2) Section 2634.201(e) of this subpart (relating to termination reports) shall be filed as provided in that paragraph.
(a)
(1) The individual is a special Government employee, as defined in 18 U.S.C. 202(a), who performs temporary duties either on a full-time or intermittent basis;
(2) The individual is able to provide services specially needed by the Government;
(3) It is unlikely that the individual's outside employment or financial interests will create a conflict of interest; and
(4) Public financial disclosure by the individual is not necessary under the circumstances.
(b)
(2) The request shall consist of:
(i) A cover letter which identifies the individual and his position, states the approximate number of days in a calendar year which he expects to serve in that position, and requests a waiver of public reporting requirements under this section;
(ii) An enclosure which states the reasons for the individual's belief that the conditions of paragraphs (a) (1) through (4) of this section are met in the particular case; and
(iii) The report otherwise required by this subpart B, as a factual basis for the determination required by this section. The report shall bear the legend at the top of page 1: “CONFIDENTIAL: WAIVER REQUEST PENDING PURSUANT TO 5 CFR 2634.205.”
(3) The agency in which the individual serves shall advise the Office of Government Ethics as to the justification for a waiver.
(4) In the event a waiver is granted, the report shall not be subject to the public disclosure requirements of § 2634.603; however, the waiver request
(a)
(b)
(1) Real estate;
(2) Stocks, bonds, securities, and futures contracts;
(3) Livestock owned for commercial purposes;
(4) Commercial crops, either standing or held in storage;
(5) Antiques or art held for resale or investment;
(6) Beneficial interests in trusts and estates;
(7) Deposits in banks or other financial institutions;
(8) Pensions and annuities;
(9) Mutual funds;
(10) Accounts or other funds receivable; and
(11) Capital accounts or other asset ownership in a business.
(c)
(1) Any personal liability owed to the filer, spouse, or dependent child by a spouse, or by a parent, brother, sister, or child of the filer, spouse, or dependent child;
(2) Personal savings accounts (defined as any form of deposit in a bank, savings and loan association, credit union, or similar financial institution) in a single financial institution or holdings in a single money market mutual fund, aggregating $5,000 or less in that institution or fund;
(3) A personal residence of the filer or spouse, as defined in § 2634.105(l); and
(4) Financial interests in any retirement system of the United States (including the Thrift Savings Plan) or under the Social Security Act.
(d)
(1) Not more than $15,000;
(2) Greater than $15,000 but not more than $50,000;
(3) Greater than $50,000 but not more than $100,000;
(4) Greater than $100,000 but not more than $250,000;
(5) Greater than $250,000 but not more than $500,000;
(6) Greater than $500,000 but not more than $1,000,000; and
(7) Greater than $1,000,000;
(8) Provided that, with respect to items held by the filer alone or held jointly by the filer with the filer's spouse and/or dependent children, the following additional categories over$1,000,000 shall apply:
(i) Greater than $1,000,000 but not more than $5,000,000;
(ii) Greater than $5,000,000 but not more than $25,000,000;
(iii) Greater than $25,000,000 but not more than $50,000,000; and
(iv) Greater than $50,000,000.
(e)
(1) The purchase price (in which case, the filer should indicate date of purchase);
(2) Recent appraisal;
(3) The assessed value for tax purposes (adjusted to reflect the market value of the property used for the assessment if the assessed value is computed at less than 100 percent of that market value);
(4) The year-end book value of nonpublicly traded stock, the year-end exchange value of corporate stock, or the face value of corporate bonds or comparable securities;
(5) The net worth of a business partnership;
(6) The equity value of an individually owned business; or
(7) Any other recognized indication of value (such as the last sale on a stock exchange).
An official has a $4,000 savings account in Bank A. His spouse has a $2,500 certificate of deposit issued by Bank B and his dependent daughter has a $200 savings account in Bank C. The official does not have to disclose the deposits, as the total value of the deposits in any one bank does not exceed $5,000. Note, however, that the source, and if he is a public filer the amount, of interest income from any bank is required to be reported under § 2634.302(b) of this subpart if it exceeds the reporting threshold for income. See § 2634.309 of this subpart for disclosure coverage of spouses and dependent children.
Public filer R has a collection of post-impressionist paintings which have been carefully selected over the years. From time to time, as new paintings have been acquired to add to the collection, R has made sales of both less desirable works from his collection and paintings of various schools which he acquired through inheritance. Under these circumstances, R must report the value of all the paintings he retains as interests in property pursuant to this section, as well as income from the sales of paintings pursuant to § 2634.302(b) of this subpart. Recurrent sales from a collection indicate that the collection is being held for investment or the production of income.
A reporting individual has investments which her broker holds as an IRA and invests in stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. Each such asset having a fair market value in excess of $1,000 at the close of the reporting period must be separately listed, and also the value must be shown if she is a public filer. See § 2634.311(c) of this subpart for attachment of brokerage statements in lieu of listing, in the event of extensive holdings. Note that for a mutual fund held in this IRA investment account, its underlying assets must also be separately detailed, unless it qualifies as an excepted investment fund, pursuant to § 2634.310 of this subpart.
(a)
(i) Salaries, fees, commissions, wages and any other compensation for personal services (other than from United States Government employment);
(ii) Retirement benefits (other than from United States Government employment, including the Thrift Savings Plan, or from Social Security);
(iii) Any honoraria, and the date services were provided, including payments made or to be made to charitable organizations on behalf of the filer in lieu of honoraria; and
(iv) Any other noninvestment income, such as prizes, awards, or discharge of indebtedness.
In calculating the amount of an honorarium, subtract any actual and necessary travel expenses incurred by the recipient and one relative. For example, if such expenses are paid or reimbursed by the honorarium source, they shall not be counted as part of the honorarium payment; if the expenses are paid or reimbursed by the individual receiving the honorarium, the amount of honorarium shall be reduced by the amount of such expenses.
An official is a participant in a retirement plan of Coastal Airlines. Pursuant to such plan, the official and his spouse receive passage on some Coastal flights without charge, and they receive passage on
An official serves on the board of directors at a bank, for which he receives a $500 fee each calendar quarter. He also receives an annual fee of $1,500 for service as trustee of a private trust. In both instances, such fees received or earned during the reporting period must be disclosed, and if he is a public filer the actual amount must be shown.
(2) In the case of payments to charitable organizations in lieu of honoraria, public filers shall also file a separate confidential listing of recipients, along with dates and amounts of payments, to the extent known. (See 5 U.S.C. app. 102(a)(1)(A) and app. 501(c).)
(b)
(1) The source and type of investment income, characterized as dividends, rents, interest, capital gains, or income from qualified or excepted trusts or excepted investment funds (see § 2634.310 of this subpart), which is received by the filer or accrued to his benefit during the reporting period, and which exceeds $200 in amount or value from any one source. Examples include, but are not limited to, income derived from real estate, collectible items, stocks, bonds, notes, copyrights, pensions, mutual funds, the investment portion of life insurance contracts, loans, and personal savings accounts (as defined in § 2634.301(c)(2) of this subpart). Note that for entities with portfolio holdings, such as Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA's), brokerage accounts, trusts, and mutual or pension funds, each underlying source of income must be separately disclosed, unless the entity qualifies for special treatment under § 2634.310 of this subpart. For public financial disclosure reports, the amount or value of income from each reported source shall also be disclosed and categorized in accordance with the following table:
(i) Not more than $1,000;
(ii) Greater than $1,000 but not more than $2,500;
(iii) Greater than $2,500 but not more than $5,000;
(iv) Greater than $5,000 but not more than $15,000;
(v) Greater than $15,000 but not more than $50,000;
(vi) Greater than $50,000 but not more than $100,000;
(vii) Greater than $100,000 but not more than $1,000,000; and
(viii) Greater than $1,000,000;
(ix) Provided that, with respect to investment income of the filer alone or joint investment income of the filer with the filer's spouse and/or dependent children, the following additional categories over $1,000,000 shall apply:
(A) Greater than $1,000,000 but not more than $5,000,000; and
(B) Greater than $5,000,000.
(2) The source, type, and in the case of public financial disclosure reports the actual amount or value, of gross income from a business, distributive share of a partnership, joint business venture income, payments from an estate or an annuity or endowment contract, or any other items of income not otherwise covered by paragraphs (a) or (b)(1) of this section which are received by the filer or accrued to his benefit during the reporting period and which exceed $200 from any one source.
An official rents out a portion of his residence. He receives rental income of $600 from one individual for four months and $1,200 from another individual for the remaining eight months of the year covered by his incumbent financial disclosure report. He must identify the property, specify the type of income (rent), and if he is a public filer indicate the category of the total amount of rent received. (He must also disclose the asset information required by § 2634.301 of this subpart.)
A reporting individual has three savings accounts with Bank A. One is in his name and earned $85 in interest during the reporting period. One is in a joint account with his spouse and earned $120 in interest. One is in his name and his dependent daughter's name and earned $35 in interest. Since the aggregate interest income from this source exceeds $200, the official must disclose the name of the bank, the type of income, and if he is a public filer, the category of the total amount of interest earned from all three accounts. (He must also disclose the accounts as assets under § 2634.301 of this subpart if, in the aggregate, they total more than $5,000 in that bank.)
An official has an ownership interest in a fast-food restaurant, from which she receives $10,000 in annual income. She must specify on her financial disclosure report the type of income, such as partnership distributive share or gross business income, and if she is a public filer indicate the actual amount of such income. (Additionally, she must describe the business and categorize its asset value, pursuant to § 2634.301 of this subpart).
At 63 FR 43068, Aug. 12, 1998, in § 2634.302, paragragh (a)(2) was revised and immediately stayed indefinitely.
(a)
(1) Of real property, other than a personal residence of the filer or spouse, as defined in § 2634.105(l) of this part; and
(2) Of stocks, bonds, commodity futures, mutual fund shares, and other forms of securities.
(b)
(2) Transactions involving Treasury bills, notes, and bonds; money market mutual funds or accounts; and personal savings accounts (as defined in § 2634.301(c)(2) of this subpart) need not be reported when occurring at rates, terms, and conditions available generally to members of the public. Likewise, transactions involving portfolio holdings of trusts and investment funds described in § 2634.310 (b) and (c) of this subpart need not be reported.
(3) Any transaction which occurred at a time when the reporting individual was not a Federal Government officer or employee need not be reported under paragraph (a) of this section.
An official sells her personal residence in Virginia for $100,000 and purchases a personal residence in the District of Columbia for $200,000. She need not report the sale of the Virginia residence or the purchase of the D.C. residence.
An official sells his beach home in Maryland for $50,000. Because he has rented it out for one month every summer, it does not qualify as a personal residence. He must disclose the sale under this section and any capital gain over $200 realized on the sale under § 2634.302 of this subpart.
An official sells a ranch to his dependent daughter. The official need not report the sale because it is a transaction between the reporting individual and a dependent child; however, any capital gain, except for that portion attributable to a personal residence, is required to be reported under § 2634.302 of this subpart.
An official sells an apartment building and realizes a loss of $100,000. He must report the sale of the building if the sale price of the property exceeds $1,000; however, he need not report anything under § 2634.302 of this subpart, as the sale did not result in a capital gain.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
An official accepts a print, a pen and pencil set, and a letter opener from a community service organization he has worked with solely in his private capacity. He determines, in accordance with paragraph (e) of this section, that these gifts are valued as follows:
The official must disclose Gifts 1 and 2, since together they aggregate more than $260 in value from the same source. Gift 3 need not be aggregated, because its value does not exceed $104.
An official receives the following gifts from a single source:
The official need only disclose Gift 4. Gift 1 falls within the exception in § 2634.105(h) for food and beverages not consumed in connection with a gift of overnight lodging. Gifts 3 and 5 need not be disclosed because they fall within the exception for personal hospitality of an individual. Gift 2 need not be aggregated and reported, because its value does not exceed $104.
An official receives free tickets from an outside source for himself and his spouse to attend an awards banquet at a local club. The value of each ticket is $150. Even though this is a gift which exceeds the more than $260 threshold amount for disclosure, the official need not report it, because of the exception in § 2634.105(h) for food and beverages not consumed in connection with a gift of overnight lodging.
Prior to accepting this gift of tickets, the individual should consult ethics officials at his agency to determine whether standards of conduct rules will permit acceptance, depending on whether or not the donor is a prohibited source and the exact nature of the event.
An official is asked to speak at an out-of-town meeting on a matter which is unrelated to her official duties and her agency. The round-trip airfare exceeds $260. If the official pays for the ticket and is then reimbursed by the organization to which she spoke, she must disclose this reimbursement under paragraph (b) of this section. If the organization simply provided the ticket, that must be disclosed as a gift under paragraph (a) of this section.
(e)
(1) If the gift has been newly purchased or is readily available in the market, the value shall be its retail price. The filer need not contact the donor, but may contact a retail establishment selling similar items to determine the present cost in the market.
(2) If the item is not readily available in the market, such as a piece of art, a handmade item, or an antique, the filer may make a good faith estimate of the value of the item.
(3) The term readily available in the market means that an item generally is available for retail purchase in the metropolitan area nearest to the official's residence.
Items such as a pen and pencil set, letter opener, leather case or engraved pen are generally available in the market and can be determined by contacting stores which sell like items and ascertaining the retail price of each.
The market value of a ticket entitling the holder to attend an event which includes food, refreshments, entertainment or other benefits is the face value of the ticket,
(f)
(i) Both the basis of the relationship between the grantor and the grantee and the motivation behind the gift are personal; and
(ii) No countervailing public purpose requires public disclosure of the nature, source, and value of the gift.
i. The Secretary of Education and her spouse receive the following two wedding gifts:
A. Gift 1—A crystal decanter valued at $285 from the Secretary's former college roommate and lifelong friend, who is a real estate broker in Wyoming.
B. Gift 2—A gift of a print valued at $300 from a business partner of the spouse, who owns a catering company.
ii. Under these circumstances, the Director of OGE may grant a request for a waiver of the requirement to aggregate and report on an SF 278 each of these gifts.
(2)
(3)
(ii) On an enclosure to the cover letter, the filer shall set forth:
(A) The identity and occupation of the donor;
(B) A statement that the relationship between the donor and the filer is personal in nature;
(C) A statement that neither the donor nor any person or organization who employs the donor or whom the donor represents, conducts or seeks business with, engages in activities regulated by, or is directly affected by action taken by, the agency employing the filer. If the preceding statement cannot be made without qualification, the filer shall indicate those qualifications, along with a statement demonstrating that he plays no role in any official action which might directly affect the donor or any organization for which the donor works or serves as a representative; and
(D) A brief description of the gift and the value of the gift.
(iii) With respect to the information required in paragraph (f)(3)(ii) of this section, if a gift has more than one donor, the filer shall provide the necessary information for each donor.
(a)
(b)
(1) Personal liabilities owed to a spouse or to the parent, brother, sister, or child of the filer, spouse, or dependent child;
(2) Any mortgage secured by a personal residence of the filer or his spouse;
(3) Any loan secured by a personal motor vehicle, household furniture, or appliances, provided that the loan does not exceed the purchase price of the item which secures it; and
(4) Any revolving charge account with an outstanding liability which does not exceed $10,000 at the close of the reporting period.
An incumbent official has the following debts outstanding at the end of the calendar year:
1. Mortgage on personal residence—$80,000.
2. Mortgage on rental property—$50,000.
3. VISA Card—$1,000.
4. Master Card—$11,000.
5. Loan balance of $15,000, secured by family automobile purchased for $16,200.
6. Loan balance of $10,500, secured by antique furniture purchased for $8,000.
7. Loan from parents—$20,000.
The loans indicated in items 2, 4, and 6 must be disclosed. Loan 1 is exempt from disclosure under paragraph (b)(2) of this section because it is secured by the personal residence. Loan 3 need not be disclosed under paragraph (b)(4) of this section because it is considered to be a revolving charge account with an outstanding liability that does not exceed $10,000 at the end of the reporting period. Loan 5 need not be disclosed under paragraph (b)(3) of this section because it is secured by a personal motor vehicle which was purchased for more than the value of the loan. Loan 7 need not be disclosed because the creditors are persons specified in paragraph (b)(1) of this section.
Each financial disclosure report filed pursuant to this part, whether public or confidential, shall identify the parties to and the date of, and shall briefly describe the terms of, any agreement or arrangement of the filer in existence at any time during the reporting period with respect to:
(a) Future employment;
(b) A leave of absence from employment during the period of the reporting individual's Government service;
(c) Continuation of payments by a former employer other than the United States Government; and
(d) Continuing participation in an employee welfare or benefit plan maintained by a former employer.
(a)
(b)
(1) Positions held in any religious, social, fraternal, or political entity; and
(2) Positions solely of an honorary nature, such as those with an emeritus designation.
(a)
(b)
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
A nominee who is a partner or employee of a law firm and who has worked on a matter involving a client from which the firm received over $5,000 in fees during a calendar year must report the name of the client only if the value of the services rendered by the nominee exceeded $5,000. The name of the client would not normally be considered confidential.
(c)
(a)
(1)
(i) With respect to a spouse, the source but not the amount of items of earned income (other than honoraria) which exceed $1,000 from any one source; and if items of earned income are derived from a spouse's self-employment in a business or profession, the nature of the business or profession but not the amount of the earned income;
(ii) With respect to a spouse, the source, and for a public financial disclosure report the actual amount or value, of any honoraria received by or accrued to the spouse (or payments made or to be made to charity on the spouse's behalf in lieu of honoraria) which exceed $200 from any one source, and the date on which the services were provided; and
(iii) With respect to a spouse or dependent child, the type and source, and for a public financial disclosure report the amount or value (category or actual amount, in accordance with § 2634.302 of this subpart), of all other income exceeding $200 from any one source, such as investment income from interests in property (if the property itself is reportable according to § 2634.301 of this subpart).
The spouse of a filer is employed as a teller at Bank X and earns $23,000 per year. The report must disclose that the spouse is employed by Bank X. The amount of the spouse's earnings need not be disclosed, either on a public or confidential financial disclosure report.
The spouse of a reporting individual is self-employed as a pediatrician. The report must disclose that he is a physician, but need not disclose the amount of income, either on a public or confidential financial disclosure report.
(2)
(3)
(i) The filer certifies that the item represents the spouse's or dependent child's sole financial interest or responsibility, and that the filer has no specific knowledge regarding that item;
(ii) The item is not in any way, past or present, derived from the income, assets or activities of the filer; and
(iii) The filer neither derives, nor expects to derive, any financial or economic benefit from the item.
One who prepares a joint tax return with his spouse will normally derive a financial or economic benefit from assets held by the spouse, and will also be charged with knowledge of such items; therefore he could not avail himself of this exception. Likewise, a trust for the education of one's minor child normally will convey a financial benefit to the parent. If so, the assets of the trust would be reportable on a financial disclosure statement.
(b)
(c)
(1) A spouse living separate and apart from the reporting individual with the intention of terminating the marriage or providing for permanent separation;
(2) A former spouse or a spouse from whom the reporting individual is permanently separated; or
(3) Any income or obligations of the reporting individual arising from dissolution of the reporting individual's marriage or permanent separation from a spouse.
(a)
(2) No information, however, is required about a nonvested beneficial interest in the principal or income of an estate or trust. A vested interest is a present right or title to property, which carries with it an existing right of alienation, even though the right to possession or enjoyment may be postponed to some uncertain time in the future. This includes a future interest when one has a right, defeasible or indefeasible, to the immediate possession or enjoyment of the property, upon the ceasing of another's interest. Accordingly, it is not the uncertainty of the time of enjoyment in the future, but the uncertainty of the right of enjoyment (title and alienation), which differentiates a “vested” and a “nonvested” interest.
(b)
(2) In the case of an excepted trust, a filer should indicate the general nature of its holdings, to the extent known, but will not otherwise need to report information about the trust's holdings or income from holdings. The category of the aggregate amount of income from an excepted trust which is received by or accrued to the benefit of the filer, his spouse, or dependent child shall be reported on public financial disclosure reports. For purposes of this part, the term “excepted trust” means a trust:
(i) Which was not created directly by the filer, spouse, or dependent child; and
(ii) The holdings or sources of income of which the filer, spouse, or dependent child have no specific knowledge through a report, disclosure, or constructive receipt, whether intended or inadvertent.
(c)
(2) For purposes of financial disclosure reports filed under the provisions of this part, an “excepted investment fund” means a widely held investment fund (whether a mutual fund, regulated investment company, common trust fund maintained by a bank or similar financial institution, pension or deferred compensation plan, or any other investment fund), if:
(i)(A) The fund is publicly traded or available; or
(B) The assets of the fund are widely diversified; and
(ii) The filer neither exercises control over nor has the ability to exercise control over the financial interests held by the fund.
(3) A fund is widely diversified if it holds no more than 5% of the value of its portfolio in the securities of any one issuer (other than the United States Government) and no more than 20% in any particular economic or geographic sector.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(2) In lieu of reporting the category of amount or value of any item listed in any public financial disclosure report filed pursuant to this part, a filer may report the actual dollar amount of such item.
(a)
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(2)
(i) The independence of trustees is facilitated by limiting the entities which may serve in this capacity to certain financial institutions.
(ii) In addition to the trustee, the Act extends the independence requirement to other entities which manage trust assets or administer the trust, including officers and employees of the trustee, any other entity designated in the trust instrument to perform fiduciary duties on behalf of the trust, and the officers and employees of any other
(iii) Those entities governed by the Act will be considered “independent” for purposes of this subpart if, among other requirements, the entities are not affiliated with, associated with, related to, or subject to the control or influence of, any of the parties that hold a beneficial interest in the trust.
(3)
(4)
(b)
(2) Because, for the trusts certified under the provisions of this subpart D, the Government official is or will become blind to the identity and nature of his actual trust holdings, the reporting requirements of section 102(f)(1) of the Act and subparts C or I of this part, which generally require Government filers to disclose the contents of a trust's portfolio, do not apply. See § 2634.310 of this part. Further, as discussed in paragraphs (a)(1) (ii) and (iii) of this section, 18 U.S.C. 208 and other Federal conflict of interest laws do not generally apply to the holdings of qualified trusts, except in the case of the original assets transferred to a qualified blind trust until notice that a particular original asset has been disposed of or that the asset's value is below $1,000.
(c)
(1) Classification as a qualified trust. In order to be classified as a qualified trust for purposes of the Act, blind and diversified trusts must satisfy the following three requirements:
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(d)
(2) No trust will be considered “qualified” for purposes of the Act until the Office of Government Ethics certifies the trust prior to execution. The Office of Government Ethics makes available to attorneys model trust agreements for use in drafting proposed trust agreements which are to be submitted to the Office for certification. Attorneys are cautioned to consider each model provision in light of the circumstances presented by the particular case, and to modify provisions to the extent that such modifications are necessary or appropriate. Attorneys should not rely uncritically upon the language of the model agreements. However, many of the model provisions implement the minimum requirements which must be contained in any trust instrument certified by the Office. Certificates of Independence for fiduciaries must be executed in the form indicated in appendix A of this part.
(3) The Office of Government Ethics does not draft trust instruments for use in individual cases. However, its staff is always willing to cooperate with attorneys and to make its experience available to them in developing appropriate trust instruments which satisfy applicable Federal laws, Executive orders and regulations. If the use of a qualified trust is contemplated in a particular case, it is strongly recommended that the interested parties or their representatives contact the Office of Government Ethics as early as possible.
(4) Prior to trust certification, prospective trustees or their representatives should schedule with the staff of the Office of Government Ethics an appointment for an orientation to the specialized requirements and procedures which have been established by the Act and the regulations with respect to qualified trust administration.
(a)
(b)
(a)
(b)
(1) The primary purpose of the blind trust is to confer on the independent trustee and any other designated fiduciary the sole responsibility to administer the trust and to manage trust assets without the participation by, or the knowledge of, any interested party. This includes the duty to decide when and to what extent the original assets of the trust are to be sold or disposed of and in what investments the proceeds of sale are to be reinvested;
(2) The trustee and any other designated fiduciary in the exercise of their authority and discretion to manage and control the assets of the trust shall not consult or notify any interested party;
(3) None of the assets initially placed in the trust's portfolio shall include assets the holding of which by any interested party would be prohibited by the Act, by the implementing regulations, or by any other applicable Federal law, Executive order, or regulation;
(4) Any portfolio asset transferred to the trust by an interested party is free of any restriction with respect to its transfer or sale, except as fully described in schedules attached to the trust instrument, and as approved by the Director of the Office of Government Ethics;
(5) During the term of the trust, the interested parties shall not pledge, mortgage, or otherwise encumber their interests in the property held by the trust;
(6) The trustee shall promptly notify the filer and the Director of the Office of Government Ethics when any particular asset transferred to the trust by an interested party has been completely disposed of or when the value of that asset is reduced to less than $1,000;
(7) The trustee or his designee shall prepare the trust's income tax return. Under no circumstances shall the trustee or any other designated fiduciary disclose publicly, or to any interested party, the trust's tax return, any information relating to that return except for a summary of trust income in categories necessary for an interested party to complete his individual tax return, or any information which might specifically identify current trust assets, or those assets which have been sold or disposed of from trust holdings, other than information relating to the sale or disposition of original trust assets under paragraph (b)(6) of this section;
(8) An interested party shall not receive any report on trust holdings and sources of trust income, except that the trustee shall, without identifying specifically any asset or holding:
(i) Report quarterly the aggregate market value of the assets representing the interested party's interest in the trust;
(ii) Report the net income or loss of the trust, and any other information necessary to enable the interested party to complete his individual income tax return; and
(iii) Report annually, for purposes of section 102(a)(1)(B) of the Act, the aggregate amount of the trust's income attributable to the interested party's beneficial interest in the trust, categorized in accordance with § 2634.302(b);
(9) There shall be no direct or indirect communication with respect to the trust between an interested party and the independent trustee or any
(i) Such communication is in writing, with the prior written approval of the Director of the Office of Government Ethics and is filed with the Director in accordance with § 2634.408(c) of this subpart; and
(ii) It relates only:
(A) To the request for a distribution from the trust, which does not specify whether the distribution shall be made in cash or in kind;
(B) To the general financial interest and needs of the interested party including, but not limited to, a preference for maximizing current income or long-term capital appreciation;
(C) To notification of the trustee by the interested party that the interested party is prohibited by subsequently applicable statute, Executive order, or regulation from holding an asset, and to directions to the trustee that the trust shall not hold that asset; or
(D) To instructions to the trustee to sell all of an asset which was initially placed in the trust by an interested party, and which, in the determination of the filer creates a real or apparent conflict due to duties subsequently assumed by the filer (but the filer is not required to give such directions);
By the terms of paragraph (3)(C)(vi) of section 102(f) of the Act, communications which solely consist of requests for distributions of cash or other unspecified assets of the trust are not required to be in writing. Further, there is no statutory mechanism for pre-screening of proposed communications. However, experience of the Office of Government Ethics over the years dictates the necessity of prohibiting any oral communications between the trustee and an interested party with respect to the trust and pre-screening all proposed written communications, to prevent inadvertent prohibited communications and preserve confidence in the Federal qualified trust program. Accordingly, under its authority pursuant to paragraph (3)(D) of section 102(f) of the Act, the Office of Government Ethics will not approve proposed trust instruments which do not contain language conforming to this policy, except in unusual cases where compelling necessity is demonstrated to the Director, in his sole discretion.
(10) The interested parties shall not take any action to obtain, and shall take reasonable action to avoid receiving, information with respect to the holdings and the sources of income of the trust, including a copy of any trust tax return filed by the trustee, or any information relating to that return, except for the reports and information specified in paragraphs (b)(6) and (b)(8) of this section;
(11) An independent trustee and any other designated fiduciary shall file, with the Director of the Office of Government Ethics by May 15th following any calendar year during which the trust was in existence, a properly executed Certificate of Compliance in the form prescribed in appendix B to this part. In addition, the independent trustee and such fiduciary shall maintain and make available for inspection by the Office of Government Ethics, as it may from time to time direct, the trust's books of account and other records and copies of the trust's tax returns for each taxable year of the trust;
(12) Neither the trustee nor any other designated fiduciary shall knowingly and willfully, or negligently:
(i) Disclose to any interested party any information regarding the trust that may not be disclosed pursuant to title I of the Act, the implementing regulations, or the trust instrument;
(ii) Acquire any holding the ownership of which is prohibited by, or not in accordance with, the terms of the trust instrument;
(iii) Solicit advice from any interested party with respect to the trust, if such solicitation is prohibited by title I of the Act, the implementing regulations, or the trust instrument; or
(iv) Fail to file any document required by title I of the Act or by this part;
(13) An interested party shall not knowingly and willfully, or negligently:
(i) Solicit or receive any information regarding the trust that may not be disclosed pursuant to title I of the Act, the implementing regulations, or the trust instrument; or
(ii) Fail to file any document required by title I of the Act or by this part;
(14) No person, including investment counsel, investment advisers, accountants, and tax preparers, may be employed or consulted by an independent
(i) When any interested party learns about such employment or consultation, the person must sign the trust instrument as a party, subject to the prior approval of the Director of the Office of Government Ethics;
(ii) Under all the facts and circumstances, the person is determined pursuant to the requirements for eligible entities under § 2634.406 of this subpart to be independent of any interested party with respect to the trust arrangement;
(iii) The person is instructed by the independent trustee or other designated fiduciary not to disclose publicly or to any interested party information which might specifically identify current trust assets which have been sold or disposed of from trust holdings, other than information relating to the sale or disposition of original trust assets under paragraph (b)(6) of this section; and
(iv) The person is instructed by the trustee or other designated fiduciary to have no direct communication with respect to the trust with any interested party, and to make all indirect communications with respect to the trust only through the trustee, pursuant to paragraph (b)(9) of this section;
(15) The trustee shall not acquire by purchase, grant, gift, exercise of option, or otherwise, without the prior written approval of the Director of the Office of Government Ethics, securities, cash, or other property from any interested party;
(16) The existence of any banking or other client relationship between any interested party and an independent trustee or any other designated fiduciary shall be disclosed in schedules attached to the trust instrument, and no other such relationship shall be instituted unless that relationship is disclosed to the Director of the Office of Government Ethics; and
(17) The independent trustee and any other designated fiduciary shall be compensated in accordance with schedules annexed to the trust instrument.
(a)
(b)
(2)
(i) The value of the securities concentrated in any particular or limited industrial, economic or geographic sector is no more than twenty percent of the total; and
(ii) The value of the securities of any single issuer (other than the United States Government) is no more than five percent of the total.
(3)
(i) Daily price quotations for the security appear regularly in newspapers of general circulation; and
(ii) The trust holds the security in a quantity that does not unduly impair liquidity.
(c)
(1) The primary purpose of the diversified trust is to confer on the independent trustee and any other designated fiduciary the sole responsibility to administer the trust and to manage trust assets without the participation by, or the knowledge of, any interested party. This includes the duty to decide when and to what extent the original assets of the trust are to be sold or disposed of and in what investments the proceeds of sale are to be reinvested;
(2) The trustee and any other designated fiduciary in the exercise of their authority and discretion to manage and control the assets of the trust shall not consult or notify any interested party;
(3) The trust's initial assets shall comprise a widely diversified portfolio of readily marketable securities, in accordance with the principles of paragraph (b) of this section, and the trustee shall not acquire additional securities in excess of the diversification standards;
(4) Any portfolio asset transferred to the trust by an interested party is free of any restriction with respect to its transfer or sale, except as fully described in schedules attached to the trust instrument, and as approved by the Director of the Office of Government Ethics;
(5) During the term of the trust, the interested parties shall not pledge, mortgage, or otherwise encumber their interests in the property held under the trust;
(6) None of the assets initially placed in the trust's portfolio shall consist of securities of issuers having substantial activities in the reporting individual's primary area of Federal responsibility;
(7) The trustee or designee shall prepare the trust's income tax return and, on behalf of any interested party, the personal income tax returns and similar tax documents which may contain information relating to the trust. Under no circumstances shall the trustee or any other designated fiduciary disclose publicly or to any interested party, any of the returns prepared by the trustee or his designee, any information relating to those returns, or any information which might specifically identify current trust assets, or those assets which have been sold or disposed of from trust holdings;
(8) An interested party shall not receive any report on trust holding and sources of trust income, except that the trustee shall, without identifying specifically any asset or holding:
(i) Report quarterly the aggregate market value of the assets representing the interested party's interest in the trust; and
(ii) Report annually, for purposes of section 102(a)(1)(B) of the Act, the aggregate amount actually distributed from the trust to such interested party, or applied for the party's benefit;
(9) There shall be no direct or indirect communication with respect to the trust between an interested party and the independent trustee or any other designated fiduciary unless:
(i) Such communication is in writing, with the prior written approval of the Director of the Office of Government Ethics and is filed with the Director in accordance with § 2634.408(c) of this subpart; and,
(ii) It relates only:
(A) To the request for a distribution from the trust, which does not specify whether the distribution shall be made in cash or in kind;
(B) To the general financial interest and needs of the interested party including, but not limited to, a preference for maximizing current income or long-term capital appreciation; or
(C) To information, documents, and funds concerning income tax obligations arising from sources other than the property held in trust, which are required by the trustee to enable him to file, on behalf of an interested party,
By the terms of paragraph (3)(C)(vi) of section 102(f) of the Act, communications which soley consist of requests for distributions of cash or other unspecified assets of the trust are not required to be in writing. Further, there is no statutory mechanism for pre-screening of proposed communications. However, experience of the Office of Government Ethics over the years dictates the necessity of prohibiting any oral communications between the trustee and an interested party with respect to the trust and pre-screening all proposed written communications, to prevent inadvertent prohibited communications and preserve confidence in the Federal qualified trust program. Accordingly, under its authority pursuant to paragraph (3)(D) of section 102(f) of the Act, the Office of Government Ethics will not approve proposed trust instruments which do not contain language conforming to this policy, except in unusual cases where compelling necessity is demonstrated to the Director, in his sole discretion.
(10) The interested parties shall not seek to obtain, and shall take reasonable action to avoid receiving, information with respect to trust holdings and sources of trust income, including a copy of any tax return filed by the trustee, or any information relating to that return, except for the reports and information specified in paragraph (c)(8) of this section;
(11) An independent trustee and any other designated fiduciary shall file, with the Director of the Office of Government Ethics, by May 15 following any calendar year during which the trust was in existence, a properly executed Certificate of Compliance in the form prescribed in appendix B to this part. In addition, the independent trustee and any other designated fiduciary shall maintain and make available for inspection by the Office of Government Ethics, as it may from time to time direct, the trust's books of account and other records and copies of the trust's tax returns for each taxable year of the trust;
(12) Neither the trustee nor any other designated fiduciary shall knowingly and willfully, or negligently:
(i) Disclose to any interested party any information regarding the trust that may not be disclosed pursuant to title I of the Act, the implementing regulations, or the trust instrument;
(ii) Acquire any holding the ownership of which is prohibited by, or not in accordance with, the terms of the trust instrument;
(iii) Solicit advice from any interested party with respect to the trust, if such solicitation is prohibited by title I of the Act, the implementing regulations, or the trust instrument; or
(iv) Fail to file any document required by title I of the Act or by this part;
(13) An interested party shall not knowingly and willfully, or negligently:
(i) Solicit or receive any information regarding the trust that may not be disclosed pursuant to title I of the Act, the implementing regulations, or the trust instrument; or
(ii) Fail to file any document required by title I of the Act or by this part;
(14) No person, including investment counsel, investment advisers, accountants, and tax preparers, may be employed or consulted by an independent trustee or any other designated fiduciary to assist in any capacity to administer the trust or to manage and control the trust assets, unless, the following four conditions are met:
(i) When an interested party learns about such employment or consultation, the person must sign the trust instrument as a party, subject to the prior approval of the Director of the Office of Government Ethics;
(ii) Under all the facts and circumstances, the person is determined pursuant to the requirements for eligible entities under § 2634.406 of this subpart to be independent of any interested party with respect to the trust arrangement;
(iii) The person is instructed by the independent trustee or other designated fiduciary not to disclose publicly or to any interested party information which might specifically identify current trust assets or those assets which have been sold or disposed of from trust holdings; and
(iv) The person is instructed by an independent trustee or other designated fiduciary to have no direct communication with respect to the trust with any interested party, and to make all indirect communications
(15) The trustee shall not acquire by purchase, grant, gift, exercise of option, or otherwise, without the prior written approval of the Director of the Office of Government Ethics, any securities, cash, or other property from any interested party;
(16) The existence of any banking or other client relationship between any interested party and an independent trustee or other designated fiduciary shall be disclosed in schedules attached to the trust instrument, and no other such relationship shall be instituted unless that relationship is disclosed to the Director of the Office of Government Ethics; and
(17) The independent trustee and any other designated fiduciary shall be compensated in accordance with schedules annexed to the trust instrument.
(d)
(a)
(1) A trust will be certified for purposes of this subpart only if:
(i) It is established to the Director's satisfaction that the requirements of section 102(f) of the Act and this subpart have been met;
(ii) Certification is in the public interest; and
(iii) Certification is consistent with the policies established by the Act, this subpart and other applicable laws and regulations.
(2) Certification will not be granted in any case in which, in the Director's sole judgment, such action would not be appropriate because of the ready availability of other remedies, the lack of any substantive ethical concern which would warrant the establishment of a qualified trust, or the nature or negligible value of the assets proposed for a trust's initial portfolio.
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(a)
(2)
(i) A bank, as defined in 12 U.S.C. 1841(c); or
(ii) An investment adviser, as defined in 15 U.S.C. 80b-2(a)(11).
By the terms of paragraph (3)(A)(i) of section 102(f) of the Act, an individual who is an attorney, a certified public accountant, a broker, or an investment advisor is also eligible to serve as an independent trustee. However, experience of the Office of Government Ethics over the years dictates the necessity of limiting service as a trustee or other fiduciary to the financial institutions referred to in this paragraph, to maintain effective administration of trust arrangements and preserve confidence in the Federal qualified trust program. Accordingly, under its authority pursuant to paragraph (3)(D) of section 102(f) of the Act, the Office of Government Ethics will not approve proposed trustees or other fiduciaries who are not financial institutions, except in unusual cases where compelling necessity is demonstrated to the Director, in his sole discretion.
(3)
(i) That entity is independent of and unassociated with any interested party so that it cannot be controlled or influenced in the administration of the trust by any interested party; and
(ii) That entity is not and has not been affiliated with any interested party, and is not a partner of, or involved in any joint venture or other investment or business with, any interested party; and
(iii) Any director, officer, or employee of such entity:
(A) Is independent of and unassociated with any interested party so that such director, officer, or employee cannot be controlled or influenced in the administration of the trust by any interested party;
(B) Is not and has not been employed by any interested party, not served as a director, officer, or employee of any organization affiliated with any interested party, and is not and has not been a partner of, or involved in any joint venture or other investment with, any interested party; and
(C) Is not a relative of any interested party.
(b)
(2) The Director shall indicate approval of a proposed trustee, and of any other person designated in the trust instrument to perform fiduciary duties, including those of an investment adviser, by reporting such approval in writing to the interested parties or to their representatives.
(c)
(d)
(a)
(1) Disclose any information to an interested party with respect to the trust that may not be disclosed under title I of the Act, the implementing regulations or the trust instrument;
(2) Acquire any holding:
(i) Directly from an interested party without the prior written approval of the Director; or
(ii) The ownership of which is prohibited by, or not in accordance with, title I of the Act, the implementing regulations, the trust instrument, or with other applicable statutes and regulations;
(3) Solicit advice from any interested party with respect to such trust, which solicitation is prohibited by title I of the Act, the implementing regulations, or the trust instrument; or
(4) Fail to file any document required by the implementing regulations or the trust instrument.
(b)
(1) Solicit or receive any information about the trust that may not be disclosed under title I of the Act, the implementing regulations or the trust instrument; or
(2) Fail to file any document required by this subpart or the trust instrument.
(a)
(1)
(i) The executed trust instrument of the trust (other than those provisions which relate to the testamentary disposition of the trust assets); and
(ii) A list of the assets which were transferred to the trust, categorized as to value of each asset in accordance with § 2634.301(d).
(2)
(3)
(i) File a report of the dissolution with the Director of the Office of Government Ethics; and
(ii) File with the Director a list of assets of the trust at the time of the dissolution, categorized as to value in accordance with § 2634.301(d).
(b)
(c)
(d)
The various model trust documents and Certificates of Independence and Compliance referenced in this subpart, together with the underlying regulatory provisions (and appendixes A, B and C to this part for the Certificates), are all approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 3209-0007.
(a)
(b)
For purposes of this subpart (unless otherwise indicated):
(a)
(b)
(a) Where the Senior Attorney concludes that violations or apparent violations of the trust restrictions exist and may warrant revocation of trust certification or trustee approval previously granted under § 2634.405 or § 2634.406 of this subpart, the Senior Attorney may, pursuant to the procedure specified in paragraph (b) of this section, conduct a review of the matter, and may submit findings and a recommendation concerning final action to the Director of the Office of Government Ethics.
(b) Review procedure. (1) In his review of the matter, the Senior Attorney shall perform such examination and analysis of violations or apparent violations as he deems reasonable.
(2) The Senior Attorney shall provide an independent trustee and, if appropriate, the interested parties, with:
(i) Notice that revocation of trust certification or trustee approval is
(ii) A summary of the violation or apparent violations which shall state the preliminary facts and circumstances of the transactions or occurrences involved with sufficient particularity to permit the recipients to determine the nature of the allegations; and
(iii) Notice that the recipients may present evidence and submit statements on any matter in issue within ten business days of the recipient's actual receipt of the notice and summary.
(c) Determination. (1) In making determinations with respect to the violations or apparent violations under this section, the Director of the Office of Government Ethics shall consider the findings and recommendations of final action submitted by the Senior Attorney under paragraph (a) of this section, as well as the written record of review compiled under paragraph (b) of this section.
(2) If the Director finds a violation or violations of the trust restrictions he may, as he deems appropriate:
(i) Issue an order revoking trust certification or trust approval;
(ii) Resolve the matter through any other remedial action within the Director's authority;
(iii) Order further examination and analysis of the violation or apparent violation; or
(iv) Decline to take further action.
(3) If an order of revocation is issued, the parties to the trust instrument shall be expeditiously notified in writing. The notice shall state the basis for the revocation, and shall inform the parties either that the trust is no longer a qualified blind or qualified diversified trust for any purpose under Federal law; or that the independent trustee may no longer serve the trust in any capacity, and must be replaced by a successor, who is subject to the prior written approval of the Director; or both where appropriate.
(a) The Office of Government Ethics provides, through the Federal Supply Service of the General Services Administration (GSA), a standard form, the SF 278 (Public Financial Disclosure Report), for reporting the information described in subpart B of this part on executive branch public disclosure. The Office of Government Ethics also provides two uniform formats relating to confidential financial disclosure: OGE Form 450 (Confidential Financial Disclosure Report) for reporting the information described in subpart I of this part on executive branch confidential disclosure; and OGE Optional Form 450-A (Confidential Certificate of No New Interests) for voluntary use by certain employees in lieu of filing an annual OGE Form 450, if authorized by their agency, in accordance with § 2634.905(d) of subpart I of this part. Supplies of the two confidential forms are to be reproduced locally by each agency, from a camera-ready copy or an electronic format made available by the Office of Government Ethics. (Until August 31, 1997, the old SF 450 remains usable, rather than the new OGE Form 450, and is available from GSA's Federal Supply Service.)
(b) Subject to the prior written approval of the Director of the Office of Government Ethics, an agency may require employees to file additional confidential financial disclosure forms which supplement either or both of the standard forms referred to in paragraph (a) of this section, if necessary because of special or unique agency circumstances. The Director may approve such agency forms when, in his opinion, the supplementation is shown to be necessary for a comprehensive and effective agency ethics program to identify and resolve conflicts of interest. See §§ 2634.103 and 2634.901.
(c) The information collection and recordkeeping requirements have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 3209-0001 for the SF 278, and control number 3209-0006 for OGE Form 450/SF 450. OGE Optional Form 450-A has been determined not to require an OMB paperwork control number, as its use is strictly optional for employees, it is
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the reporting individual shall file financial disclosure reports required under this part with the designated agency ethics official or his delegate at the agency where the individual is employed, or was employed immediately prior to termination of employment, or in which he will serve. Detailees shall file with their primary agency. Reports are due at the times indicated in § 2634.201 of subpart B (public disclosure) or § 2634.903 of subpart I (confidential disclosure) of this part, unless an extension is granted pursuant to the provisions of subparts B or I of this part.
(b) The President, the Vice President, any independent counsel, and persons appointed by independent counsel under 28 U.S.C. chapter 40, shall file the public financial disclosure reports required under this part with the Director of the Office of Government Ethics.
(c)(1) Each agency receiving the public financial disclosure reports required to be filed under this part by the following individuals shall transmit copies to the Director of the Office of Government Ethics:
(i) The Postmaster General;
(ii) The Deputy Postmaster General;
(iii) The Governors of the Board of Governors of the United States Postal Service;
(iv) The designated agency ethics official;
(v) Employees of the Executive Office of the President who are appointed under 3 U.S.C. 105(a)(2)(A) or (B) or 3 U.S.C. 107(a)(1)(A) or (b)(1)(A)(i), and employees of the Office of Vice President who are appointed under 3 U.S.C. 106(a)(1)(A) or (B); and
(vi) Officers and employees in, and nominees to, offices or positions which require confirmation by the Senate, other than members of the uniformed services.
(2) Prior to transmitting a copy of a report to the Director of the Office of Government Ethics, the designated agency ethics official or his delegate shall review that report in accordance with § 2634.605 of this subpart, except for his own report, which shall be reviewed by the agency head or by a delegate of the agency head.
(3) For nominee reports, the Director of the Office of Government Ethics shall forward a copy to the Senate committee that is considering the nomination. (See § 2634.605(c) of this subpart for special procedures regarding the review of such reports.)
(d) The Director of the Office of Government Ethics shall file his financial disclosure report with his Office, which shall make it immediately available to the public in accordance with this part.
(e) Candidates for President and Vice President identified in § 2634.201(d), other than an incumbent President or Vice President, shall file their financial disclosure reports with the Federal Election Commission, which shall review and send copies of such reports to the Director of the Office of Government Ethics.
(f) Members of the uniformed services identified in § 2634.202(c) shall file their financial disclosure reports with the Secretary concerned, or his delegate.
(a) Each agency shall make available to the public in accordance with the provisions of this section those public reports filed with the agency by reporting individuals described under subpart B of this part.
(b) This section does not require public availability of those reports filed by:
(1) Any individual in the Central Intelligence Agency, the Defense Intelligence Agency, or the National Security Agency, or any individual engaged in intelligence activities in any agency of the United States, if the President finds or has found that, due to the nature of the office or position occupied by that individual, public disclosure of the report would, by revealing the
(2) An independent counsel whose identity has not been disclosed by the Court under 28 U.S.C chapter 40, or any person appointed by that independent counsel under such chapter.
(c) Each agency shall, within thirty days after any public report is received by the agency, permit inspection of the report by, or furnish a copy of the report to, any person who makes written application as provided by agency procedure. Agency reviewing officials and the support staffs who maintain the files, the staff of the Office of Government Ethics, and Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation who are conducting a criminal inquiry into possible conflict of interest violations need not submit an application. The agency may utilize Office of Government Ethics Form 201 for such applications. An application shall state:
(1) The requesting person's name, occupation, and address;
(2) The name and address of any other person or organization on whose behalf the inspection or copy is requested; and
(3) That the requesting person is aware of the prohibitions on obtaining or using the report set forth in paragraph (f) of this section.
(d) Applications for the inspection of or copies of public reports shall also be made available to the public throughout the period during which the report itself is made available, utilizing the procedures in paragraph (c) of this section.
(e) The agency may require a reasonable fee, established by agency regulation, to recover the direct cost of reproduction or mailing of a public report, excluding the salary of any employee involved. A copy of the report may be furnished without charge or at a reduced charge if the agency determines that waiver or reduction of the fee is in the public interest. The criteria used by an agency to determine when a fee will be reduced or waived shall be established by regulation. Agency regulations contemplated by paragraph (e) of this section do not require approval pursuant to § 2634.103.
(f) It is unlawful for any person to obtain or use a public report:
(1) For any unlawful purpose;
(2) For any commercial purpose, other than by news and communications media for dissemination to the general public;
(3) For determining or establishing the credit rating of any individual; or
(4) For use, directly or indirectly, in the solicitation of money for any political, charitable, or other purpose.
The deputy general counsel of Agency X is responsible for reviewing the public financial disclosure reports filed by persons within that agency. The agency personnel director, who does not exercise functions within the ethics program, wishes to review the disclosure report of an individual within the agency. The personnel director must file an application to review the report. However, the supervisor of an official with whom the deputy general counsel consults concerning matters arising in the review process need not file such an application.
A state law enforcement agent is conducting an investigation which involves the private financial dealings of an individual who has filed a public financial disclosure report. The agent must complete a written application in order to inspect or obtain a copy.
A financial institution has received an application for a loan from an official which indicates her present financial status. The official has filed a public financial disclosure statement with her agency. The financial institution cannot be given access to the disclosure form for purposes of verifying the information contained on the application.
(g)(1) Any public report filed with an agency or transmitted to the Director of the Office of Government Ethics under this section shall be retained by the agency, and by the Office of Government Ethics when it receives a copy. The report shall be made available to the public for a period of six years after receipt. After the six-year period, the report shall be destroyed unless needed in an ongoing investigation, except that in the case of an individual who filed the report pursuant to
(2) For purposes of paragraph (g)(1) of this section, in the case of a reporting individual with respect to whom a trust has been certified under subpart D of this part, a copy of the qualified trust agreement, the list of assets initially placed in the trust, and all other publicly available documents relating to the trust shall be retained and made available to the public until the periods for retention of all other reports of the individual have lapsed under paragraph (g)(1) of this section.
(a) Any report filed with an agency under subpart I of this part shall be retained by the agency for a period of six years after receipt. After the six-year period, the report shall be destroyed unless needed in an ongoing investigation. See also the OGE/GOVT-2 Governmentwide executive branch Privacy Act system of records (available for inspection at the Office of Government Ethics), as well as any applicable agency system of records.
(b) The reports filed pursuant to subpart I of this part are confidential. No member of the public shall have access to such reports, except pursuant to the order of a Federal court or as otherwise provided under the Privacy Act. See 5 U.S.C. 552a and the OGE/GOVT-2 Privacy Act system of records (and any applicable agency system); 5 U.S.C. app. (Ethics in Government Act of 1978, section 107(a)); sections 201(d) and 502(b) of Executive Order 12674, as modified by Executive Order 12731; and § 2634.901(d).
(a)
(b)
(i) Each required item is completed; and
(ii) No interest or position disclosed on the form violates or appears to violate:
(A) Any applicable provision of chapter 11 of title 18, United States Code;
(B) The Act, as amended, and the implementing regulations;
(C) Executive Order 12674, as modified by Executive Order 12731, and the implementing regulations; or
(D) Any other agency-specific statute or regulation which governs the filer.
(2)
(3)
(4)
(i) Notify the filer of that conclusion;
(ii) Afford the filer a reasonable opportunity for an oral or written response; and
(iii) Determine, after considering any response, whether or not the filer is then in compliance with applicable laws and regulations specified in paragraph (b)(1)(ii) of this section. If the reviewing official concludes that the report does fulfill the requirements, he shall sign and date the report. If he determines that it does not, he shall:
(A) Notify the filer of the conclusion;
(B) Afford the filer an opportunity for personal consultation if practicable;
(C) Determine what remedial action under paragraph (b)(5) of this section should be taken to bring the report into compliance with the requirements of paragraph (b)(1)(ii) of this section; and
(D) Notify the filer in writing of the remedial action which is needed, and the date by which such action should be taken.
(5)
(ii) Remedial action may include, as appropriate:
(A) Divestiture of a conflicting interest (see subpart J of this part);
(B) Resignation from a position with a non-Federal business or other entity;
(C) Restitution;
(D) Establishment of a qualified blind or diversified trust under the Act and subpart D of this part;
(E) Procurement of a waiver under 18 U.S.C. 208(b)(1) or (b)(3);
(F) Preparation of a written instrument of recusal (disqualification); or
(G) Voluntary request by the filer for transfer, reassignment, limitation of duties, or resignation.
(6)
(ii) If the filer does not comply by the designated date with the written request for remedial action transmitted under paragraph (b)(4) of this section, the reviewing official shall, in the case of a public filer under subpart B of this part, notify the head of the agency and the Office of Government Ethics, for appropriate action. Where the filer is in a position in the executive branch
(c)
(1) The Executive Office of the President shall furnish the applicable financial disclosure report form to the nominee. It shall forward the completed report to the designated agency ethics official at the agency where the nominee is serving or will serve, or it may direct the nominee to file the completed report directly with the designated agency ethics official.
(2) The designated agency ethics official shall complete an accelerated review of the report, in accordance with the standards and procedures in paragraph (b) of this section. If that official concludes that the report reveals no conflict of interest under applicable laws and regulations, the official shall:
(i) Attach to the report a description (when available) of the position to be filled by the nominee;
(ii) Personally certify the report by signature, and date the certification;
(iii) Write an opinion letter to the Director of the Office of Government Ethics, personally certifying that there is no unresolved conflict of interest under applicable laws and regulations, and discussing:
(A) Any actual or apparent conflicts of interest that were detected during the review process; and
(B) The resolution of those real or apparent conflicts, including any specific commitment, ethics agreement entered under the provisions of subpart H of this part, or other undertaking by the nominee to resolve any such conflicts. A copy of any commitment, agreement, or other undertaking which is reduced to writing shall be sent to the Director, in accordance with subpart H of this part; and
(iv) Deliver the letter and the report to the Director of the Office of Government Ethics, within three working days after the designated agency ethics official receives the report.
The designated agency ethics official's certification responsibilities in § 2634.605(c) are nondelegable and must be accomplished by him personally, or by the agency's alternate designated agency ethics official, in his absence. See § 2638.203 of this chapter.
(3) The Director of the Office of Government Ethics shall review the report and the letter from the designated agency ethics official. If the Director is satisfied that no unresolved conflicts of interest exist, then the Director shall sign and date the report form. The Director shall then submit the report with a letter to the appropriate Senate committee, expressing the Director's opinion whether, on the basis of information contained in the report, the nominee has complied with all applicable conflict laws and regulations.
(4) If, in the case of any nominee or class of nominees, the expedited procedure specified in this paragraph cannot be completed within the time set forth in paragraph (c)(2)(iv) of this section, the designated agency ethics official shall inform the Director. When necessary and appropriate, the Director may modify the rule of that paragraph for a nominee or a class of nominees with respect to a particular department or agency.
(a)
(1) Outside earned income; and
(2) Honoraria, as defined in § 2634.105(i).
(b)
To assist employees in avoiding situations in which they might violate applicable financial disclosure laws and regulations:
(a) The Director of the Office of Government Ethics shall render formal advisory opinions and informal advisory letters on generally applicable matters, or on important matters of first impression. See also subpart C of part 2638 of this chapter. The Director shall insure that these advisory opinions and letters are compiled, published, and made available to agency ethics officials and the public. Good faith reliance on such opinions shall provide a defense to any penalty or sanction provided by this part for fact situations indistinguishable in all material aspects from those in the opinion.
(b) Designated agency ethics officials will offer advice and guidance to employees as needed, to assist them in complying with the requirements of the Act and this part on financial disclosure.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(a) The Attorney General may bring a civil action in any appropriate United States district court against any individual who knowingly and willfully violates the provisions of § 2634.407 of this part. The court in which the action is brought may assess against the individual a civil monetary penalty in any amount, not to exceed $10,000, as provided by section 102(f)(6)(C)(i) of the Act, for such violation occurring before September 29, 1999, as adjusted effective September 29, 1999 to $11,000 for any such violation occurring on or after that date, in accordance with the inflation adjustment procedures prescribed in the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990, as amended.
(b) The Attorney General may bring a civil action in any appropriate United States district court against any individual who negligently violates the provisions of § 2634.407. The court in which the action is brought may assess against the individual a civil monetary penalty in any amount, not to exceed $5,000, as provided by section 102(f)(6)(C)(ii) of the Act, for any such violation occurring before September 29, 1999, as adjusted effective September 29, 1999 to $5,500 for any such violation occurring on or after that date, in accordance with the inflation adjustment procedures prescribed in the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990, as amended.
The Attorney General may bring a civil action against any person who obtains or uses a report filed under this part for any purpose prohibited by section 105(c)(1) of the Act, as incorporated in § 2634.603(f). The court in which the action is brought may assess against the person a civil monetary penalty in any amount, not to exceed $10,000, as provided by section 105(c)(2) of the Act, for any such violation occurring before September 29, 1999, as adjusted effective September 29, 1999 to $11,000 for any such violation occurring on or after that date, in accordance with the inflation adjustment procedures prescribed in the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990, as amended. This remedy shall be in addition to any other remedy available under statutory or common law.
(a)
(1) The date such report is required to be filed pursuant to the provisions of this part; or
(2) The last day of any filing extension period granted pursuant to § 2634.201(f).
(b)
(2) Any request for a waiver of this filing fee provision must be made in writing and submitted with supporting documentation to the designated agency ethics official. That official shall review the request, and then forward it, with an opinion on the merits, to the Office of Government Ethics.
(c)
(i) Because his financial disclosure report is more than thirty days overdue, a $200 late filing fee will become due at the time of filing, by reason of section 104(d) of the Act and § 2634.704;
(ii) The filer is directed to remit to the agency, with the completed report, the $200 fee, payable to the United States Treasury;
(iii) If the filer fails to remit the $200 fee when filing his late report, it shall be subject to agency debt collection procedures; and
(iv) If extraordinary circumstances exist that would justify a request for a fee waiver, pursuant to paragraph (b) of this section, such request and supporting documentation must be submitted immediately.
(2) Upon receipt from the reporting individual of the $200 late filing fee, the collecting agency shall note the payment in its records, and shall then forward the money to the U.S. Treasury for deposit as miscellaneous receipts, in accordance with 31 U.S.C. 3302 and section 8030.30 of Volume 1 of the Treasury Financial Manual. If payment is not forthcoming, agency debt collection procedures shall be utilized, which may include salary or administrative offset, initiation of a tax refund offset, or other authorized action.
(d)
(e)
(f)
This subpart applies to ethics agreements made by any reporting individual under either subpart B or I of this part, to resolve potential or actual conflicts of interest.
(a)
(1) Preparation of a written instrument for recusing (disqualifying) the individual from one or more particular matters or categories of official action;
(2) Divestiture of a financial interest;
(3) Resignation from a position with a non-Federal business or other entity;
(4) Procurement of a waiver pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 208(b)(1) or (b)(3); or
(5) Establishment of a qualified blind or diversified trust under the Act and subpart D of this part.
(b)
An official of the ABC Aircraft Company is nominated to a Department of Defense position requiring the advice and consent of the Senate. As a condition of assuming the position, the individual has agreed to divest himself of his ABC Aircraft stock which he recently acquired while he was an officer with the company. However, the Securities and Exchange Commission prohibits officers of public corporations from deriving a profit from the sale of stock in the corporation in which they hold office within six months of acquiring the stock, and directs that any such profit must be returned to the issuing corporation or its stock holders. Since meeting the usual three-month
(a)
(2) A designated agency ethics official shall immediately notify the Office of Government Ethics of any ethics agreement of a nominee which is made or becomes known to the designated agency ethics official after the submission of the nominee's report to the Office of Government Ethics. This requirement includes an ethics agreement made between a nominee and the Senate confirmation committee. The nominee shall immediately report to the designated agency ethics official any ethics agreement made with the committee.
(3) The Office of Government Ethics shall immediately apprise the designated agency ethics official and the Senate confirmation committee of any ethics agreements made directly between the nominee and the Office of Government Ethics.
(b)
(c)
(d)
(a)
(2) For ethics agreements of incumbents in positions which required the advice and consent of the Senate, evidence of any action taken to comply with the terms of such ethics agreements shall be submitted promptly by the designated agency ethics official to the Office of Government Ethics. A designated agency ethics official or an employee referred to in § 2634.803(c) of this subpart who is neither a nominee to, nor an incumbent in, an advice-and-consent position, must also promptly send evidence of any action taken to comply with the terms of an ethics agreement to the Office of Government Ethics.
(3) In the case of all other reporting individuals, evidence of any action taken to comply with the terms of an
(b) The following materials and any other appropriate information constitute evidence of the action taken:
(1)
A new employee of a Federal safety board owns stock in Nationwide Airlines. She has entered into an ethics agreement to recuse herself from participating in any accident investigations involving that company's aircraft until such time as she can complete a divestiture of the asset. She must give a copy of the recusal instrument to her immediate subordinates and supervisors, and to the designated agency ethics official. The employee has also agreed to recuse herself from any particular matter (as that term is used in 18 U.S.C. 208) that might arise with respect to any of her present or future holdings. There is no requirement to execute a recusal instrument for this type of general recusal, because it is simply a promise to abide by the terms of the statute.
(2)
(3)
(4)
Records of ethics agreements and actions described in this subpart shall be maintained with the individual's financial disclosure report at the agency and additionally, in the case of filers described in paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) of § 2634.803 of this subpart, at the Office of Government Ethics.
(a) The confidential financial reporting system set forth in this subpart is designed to complement the public reporting system established by title I of the Act. High-level officials in the executive branch are required to report certain financial interests publicly to ensure that every citizen can have confidence in the integrity of the Federal Government. It is equally important in order to guarantee the efficient and honest operation of the Government that other, less senior, executive branch employees, whose Government duties involve the exercise of significant discretion in certain sensitive areas, report their financial interests and outside business activities to their employing agencies, to facilitate the review of possible conflicts of interest. These reports assist an agency in administering its ethics program and counseling its employees. Such reports are filed on a confidential basis.
(b) The confidential reporting system seeks from employees only that information which is relevant to the administration and application of criminal conflict of interest laws, administrative standards of conduct, and agency-specific statutory and program-related restrictions. The basic content of the reports required by § 2634.907 of this subpart reflects that certain information is generally relevant to all agencies. However, depending upon an agency's authorized activities and any special or unique circumstances, additional information may be necessary. In these situations, and subject to the prior written approval of the Director of the Office of Government Ethics, agencies may formulate supplemental reporting requirements by following
(c) This subpart also allows an agency to request, on a confidential basis, additional information from persons who are already subject to the public reporting requirements of this part. The public reporting requirements of the Act address Governmentwide concerns. The reporting requirements of this subpart allow agencies to confront special or unique agency concerns. If those concerns prompt an agency to seek more extensive reporting from employees who file public reports, it may proceed on a confidential, nonpublic basis, with prior written approval from the Director of the Office of Government Ethics, under the procedures of §§ 2634.103 and 2634.601(b).
(d) The reports filed pursuant to this subpart are specifically characterized as “confidential,” and are required to be withheld from the public, pursuant to section 107(a) of the Act. Section 107(a) leaves no discretion on this issue with the agencies. See also § 2634.604. Further, Executive Order 12674 as modified by Executive Order 12731 provides, in section 201(d), for a system of nonpublic (confidential) executive branch financial disclosure to complement the Act's system of public disclosure. The confidential reports provided for by this subpart contain sensitive commercial and financial information, as well as personal privacy-protected information. These reports and the information which they contain are, accordingly, exempt from being released to the public, under exemptions 3 (A) and (B), 4, and 6 of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(b)(3) (A) and (B), (b)(4), and (b)(6). Additional FOIA exemptions may apply to particular reports or portions of reports. Agency personnel shall not publicly release the reports or the information which these reports contain, except pursuant to an order issued by a Federal court, or as otherwise provided under applicable provisions of the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a), and in the OGE/GOVT-2 Governmentwide executive branch Privacy Act system of records, as well as any applicable agency records system. If an agency statute requires the public reporting of certain information and, for purposes of convenience, an agency chooses to collect that information on the confidential report form filed under this subpart, only the special statutory information may be released to the public, pursuant to the terms of the statute under which it was collected.
(e) Executive branch agencies hire or use the paid and unpaid services of many individuals on an advisory or other less than full-time basis as special Government employees. These employees may include experts and consultants to the Government, as well as members of Government advisory committees. It is important for those agencies that utilize such services, and for the individuals who provide the services, to anticipate and avoid real or apparent conflicts of interest. The confidential financial disclosure system promotes that goal, with special Government employees among those required to file confidential reports.
(f) For additional policies and definitions of terms applicable to both the public and confidential reporting systems, see §§ 2634.104 and 2634.105.
(a)
(b)
(2) However, no report shall be required if the individual:
(i) Has, within 30 days prior to assuming his position, left another position or office referred to in § 2634.904 of this subpart or in § 2634.202, and has previously satisfied the reporting requirements applicable to that former position, but a copy of the report filed by the individual while in that position should be made available to the appointing agency, and the individual must comply with any agency requirement for a supplementary report for the new position;
(ii) Has already filed such a report in connection with consideration for appointment to the position. The agency may request that the individual update such a report if more than six months has expired since it was filed; or
(iii) Is not reasonably expected to perform the duties of an office or position referred to in § 2634.904 of this subpart for more than 60 days in the following twelve-month period, as determined by the designated agency ethics official or delegate. That may occur most commonly in the case of an employee who temporarily serves in an acting capacity in a position described by § 2634.904(a) of this subpart. If the individual actually performs the duties of such position for more than 60 days in the twelve-month period, then a confidential financial disclosure report must be filed within 15 calendar days after the sixtieth day of such service in the position. Paragraph (b)(2)(iii) of § 2634.903 does not apply to new entrants filing as special Government employees under § 2634.904(b) of this subpart.
(3) Notwithstanding the filing deadline prescribed in paragraph (b)(1) of this section, agencies may at their discretion, require that prospective entrants into positions described in § 2634.904 of this subpart file their new entrant confidential financial disclosure reports prior to serving in such positions, to insure that there are no insurmountable ethics concerns. Additionally, a special Government employee who has been appointed to serve on an advisory committee shall file the required report before any advice is rendered by the employee to the agency, or in no event, later than the first committee meeting.
(c)
(d)
(2)
(i) The individual's service in the combat zone or away from his permanent duty station; or
(ii) The individual's hospitalization as a result of injury received or disease contracted while serving during the national emergency.
(3)
The term
(a) Each officer or employee in the executive branch whose position is classified at GS-15 or below of the General Schedule prescribed by 5 U.S.C. 5332, or the rate of basic pay for which is fixed, other than under the General Schedule, at a rate which is less than 120% of the minimum rate of basic pay for GS-15 of the General Schedule; each officer or employee of the United States Postal Service or Postal Rate Commission whose basic rate of pay is less than 120% of the minimum rate of basic pay for GS-15 of the General Schedule; each member of a uniformed service whose pay grade is less than O-7 under 37 U.S.C. 201; and each officer or employee in any other position determined by the designated agency ethics official to be of equal classification; if:
(1) The agency concludes that the duties and responsibilities of the employee's position require that employee to participate personally and substantially (as defined in § 2635.402(b)(4) of this chapter) through decision or the exercise of significant judgment, in taking a Government action regarding:
(i) Contracting or procurement;
(ii) Administering or monitoring grants, subsidies, licenses, or other federally conferred financial or operational benefits;
(iii) Regulating or auditing any non-Federal entity; or
(iv) Other activities in which the final decision or action will have a direct and substantial economic effect on the interests of any non-Federal entity; or
(2) The agency concludes that the duties and responsibilities of the employee's position require the employee to file such a report to avoid involvement in a real or apparent conflict of interest, and to carry out the purposes behind any statute, Executive order, rule, or regulation applicable to or administered by that employee. Positions which might be subject to a reporting requirement under this subparagraph include those with duties which involve investigating or prosecuting violations of criminal or civil law.
A contracting officer drafts the requests for proposals for data processing equipment of significant value which is to be purchased by his agency. He works with substantial independence of action. The contracting officer should be required to file a confidential financial disclosure report.
An agency environmental engineer inspects a manufacturing plant to ascertain whether the plant complies with a permit to release a certain effluent into a nearby stream. Any violation of the permit standards may result in civil penalties for the plant, and in criminal penalties for the plant's management based upon any action which they took to create the violation. If the agency engineer determines that the plant does not meet the permit requirements, he can require the plant to terminate release of the effluent until the plant satisfies the permit standards. Because the engineer exercises substantial discretion in regulating the plant's activities, and because his final decisions will have a substantial economic effect on the plant's interests, the engineer should be required to file a confidential financial disclosure report.
(b) Unless required to file public financial disclosure reports by subpart B of this part, all executive branch special Government employees as defined in 18 U.S.C 202(a) and § 2634.105(s), including those who serve on advisory committees. The term special Government employees does not include an advisory committee member who serves only as a representative of an industry or other outside entity or who is already a Federal employee.
A consultant to an agency periodically advises the agency regarding important foreign policy matters. The consultant
An advisory committee member (who is not a private group representative) attends four committee meetings every year to provide advice to an agency about pharmaceutical matters. No compensation is received by the committee member, other than travel expenses. The advisory committee member must file a confidential disclosure report, since she is a special Government employee.
(c) Each public filer referred to in § 2634.202 on public disclosure who is required by agency regulations issued in accordance with § 2634.907(b) of this subpart to file a supplemental confidential financial disclosure report which contains information that is more extensive than the information required in the reporting individual's public financial disclosure report under this part.
(d) Any employee who, notwithstanding his exclusion from the public financial reporting requirements of this part by virtue of a determination under § 2634.203, is covered by the criteria of paragraph (a) of this section.
Any individual or class of individuals described in § 2634.904 of this subpart, including special Government employees unless otherwise noted, may be excluded from all or a portion of the confidential reporting requirements of this subpart, when the agency head or designee determines that:
(a) The duties of a position make remote the possibility that the incumbent will be involved in a real or apparent conflict of interest;
(b) The duties of a position involve such a low level of responsibility that the submission of a confidential financial disclosure report is unnecessary because of:
(1) The substantial degree of supervision and review over the position; or
(2) The inconsequential effect of any potential conflict on the integrity of the Government;
(c) The use of an alternative procedure approved in writing by the Office of Government Ethics is adequate to prevent possible conflicts of interest; or
(d) The use of OGE Optional Form 450-A (Confidential Certificate of No New Interests) is adequate to prevent possible conflicts of interest. This form may be used by eligible filers, as described in this paragraph, who can certify, after reexamining their most recent previous OGE Form 450, that they (and their spouse and dependent children) have acquired no new interests required to be reported on OGE Form 450, and that they have not changed jobs (no new position description or other significant change in duties) at their agency since filing that previous report. OGE Optional Form 450-A will be used under the following conditions:
(1) OGE Optional Form 450-A will only be made available for use by current employees who are not special Government employees.
(2) OGE Optional Form 450-A will only be used by incumbent filers, as described in § 2634.903(a) of this subpart, in lieu of filing an annual OGE Form 450, who have a previous OGE Form 450 on file with their agency for the position they currently hold. Its due date is as specified in § 2634.903(a), unless extended under § 2634.903(d).
(3) As indicated on the OGE Optional Form 450-A, eligible filers may use OGE Optional Form 450-A, if applicable to their circumstances, or they may file a new OGE Form 450, at their option. Therefore, a blank OGE Form 450 and its accompanying written instructions should ordinarily be distributed to them, along with the blank OGE Optional Form 450-A. The instructions to OGE Form 450 will also provide guidance on what is meant by “reportable” interests on OGE Optional Form 450-A. In lieu of distributing a blank OGE Form 450 and its instructions, agencies may choose to develop separate guidance on the meaning of “reportable” interests, or they may refer certificate users to guidance contained in any available source, such as the Office of Government Ethics’ Web site on the Internet or agency-approved electronic software for OGE Form 450. Filers would then also have to be advised of where to obtain a blank OGE Form 450, if needed.
(4) OGE Optional Form 450-A may be used by eligible filers for a maximum of three consecutive years before they are required to complete a new OGE Form 450 every fourth year, on a uniform basis for all incumbent (annual) filers, as provided in paragraph (d)(5) of this section. Agencies may, however, elect to permit use of the OGE Optional Form 450-A for only one year (or two years), and to require a new OGE Form 450 every second (or third) year, on a uniform basis for all incumbent filers, as provided in paragraph (d)(5) of this section.
(5) In each year divisible by four, beginning in 2000 (or divisible by two or three, beginning in 1998, for agencies that choose one of the more frequent options described in the second sentence of paragraph (d)(4) of this section), all incumbent filers, as described in § 2634.903(a) of this subpart, must file a new OGE Form 450 rather than OGE Optional Form 450-A, regardless of how recently they may have filed an OGE Form 450 (either as a new entrant or as an annual filer who was not eligible to use, or chose not to use, the optional certificate).
(6) When submitting OGE Optional Form 450-A, filers are not required to attach a copy of their previous OGE Form 450, unless their agency determines that it is necessary. Filers should be encouraged, however, to retain a copy of their previous OGE Form 450, so that it will be readily available for their examination prior to completing an OGE Optional Form 450-A.
An agency special Government employee who is a draftsman prepares the drawings to be used by an agency in soliciting bids for construction work on a bridge. Because he is not involved in the contracting process associated with the construction, the likelihood that his actions will create a conflict of interest is remote. The draftsman need not be required by the agency to file a confidential financial disclosure report.
An investigator is principally assigned as the field agent to investigate alleged violations of conflict of interest laws. The investigator works under the direct supervision of an agent-in-charge. The agent-in-charge reviews all of the investigator's work product and then uses those materials to prepare the agency's report which is submitted under his own name. The agency may decide not to require the investigator to file a confidential disclosure report.
A nonsupervisory auditor at an agency is regularly assigned to cases involving possible loan improprieties by financial institutions. Prior to undertaking each enforcement review, the auditor reviews the file to determine if she, her spouse, minor or dependent child, or any general partner, organization in which she serves as an officer, director, trustee, employee, or general partner, or organization with which she is negotiating or has an agreement or an arrangement for future employment, or a close friend or relative is a subject of the investigation, or will be in any way affected by the investigation. Once she determines that there is no such relationship, she signs and dates a certification which verifies that she has reviewed the file and has determined that no conflict of interest exists. She then files the certification with the head of her auditing division at the agency. On the other hand, if she cannot execute the certification, she informs the head of her auditing division. In response, the division will either reassign the case or review the conflicting interest to determine whether a waiver would be appropriate. This alternate procedure, if approved by the Office of Government Ethics in writing, will suffice for a conflict of interest review. Therefore, the agency may exclude the auditor from filing a confidential disclosure report under this subpart.
The head of each agency, or an officer designated by the head of the agency for that purpose, shall review any complaint by an individual that his position has been improperly determined by the agency to be one which requires the submission of a confidential financial disclosure report pursuant to this subpart. A decision by the agency head or designee regarding the complaint shall be final and conclusive for all purposes, notwithstanding any other provision of law or regulation. This procedure is the sole and exclusive means of seeking review of an agency's decision to designate positions and the employees therein for filing confidential financial disclosure reports.
The provision in this section for a final decision by the agency head or designee is intended to preclude administrative or negotiated grievances, arbitration procedures, and any other review or appeal, either within or outside the agency. This finality of the agency head's (or designee's) decision is necessary in order to maintain the prompt and
(a) Other than the reports of confidential filers described in § 2634.904(c), each confidential financial disclosure report filed pursuant to § 2634.903 of this subpart shall include on the standard form prescribed by the Office of Government Ethics (see § 2634.601 of subpart F of this part) and in accordance with instructions issued by the Office, a full and complete statement of information about himself, his spouse and his dependent children, required to be reported according to the provisions of subpart C of this part, (except for those provisions in subpart C requiring the reporting of the amounts or values of any item), with respect to the following:
(1)
(i) Accounts (including both demand and time deposits) in depository institutions, including banks, savings and loan associations, credit unions, and similar depository financial institutions;
(ii) Money market mutual funds and accounts;
(iii) U.S. Government obligations, including Treasury bonds, bills, notes, and savings bonds; and
(iv) Government securities issued by U.S. Government agencies;
(2)
(i) Accounts (including both demand and time deposits) in depository institutions, including banks, savings and loan associations, credit unions, and similar depository financial institutions;
(ii) Money market mutual funds and accounts;
(iii) U.S. Government obligations, including Treasury bonds, bills, notes, and savings bonds; and
(iv) Government securities issued by U.S. Government agencies;
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(b) For reports of confidential filers described in § 2634.904(c) of this subpart, each supplemental confidential financial disclosure report shall include only the supplemental information:
(1) Which is more extensive than that required in the reporting individual's public financial disclosure report under this part; and
(2) Which has been approved by the Office of Government Ethics for collection by the agency concerned, as set forth in supplemental agency regulations and forms, issued under §§ 2634.103 and 2634.601(b) (see § 2634.901 (b) and (c) of this subpart).
(a)
(b)
(a) The provisions of subpart F of this part govern the filing procedures and forms for, and the custody and review of, confidential disclosure reports filed under this subpart.
(b) For penalties and remedial action which apply in the event that the reporting individual fails to file, falsifies information, or files late with respect to confidential financial disclosure reports, see subpart G of this part.
(c) Subpart H of this part on ethics agreements applies to both the public and confidential reporting systems under this part.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(a)
(b)
(i) A copy of a written request from the eligible person who is to divest the
(A) A commitment to complete the divestiture on or before a specified date which is no later than the end of the three-month period referred to by § 2634.802(b) (or a similarly structured agreement in any case to which paragraph (b)(1)(ii)(B) of this section applies), or any extension thereof granted, or concurred with in writing, by the Office of Government Ethics; and
(B) Full and complete information concerning the facts and circumstances relating to the acquisition of such property and its contemplated divestiture;
(ii) In the case of an individual referred to in paragraph (c)(1) of this section who:
(A) Is required by the rules of this part or this title, to file a financial disclosure report, a copy of the latest report which has been filed; or
(B) Is not required to file a report referred to in paragraph (b)(1)(ii)(A) of this section, a memorandum from such individual which discloses the information with respect to the specification of interests in property, income, liabilities, agreements and arrangements, and outside positions which are required to be disclosed on such a report;
(iii) A detailed description of the specific property as to which divestiture is contemplated;
(iv) Complete statements of: (A) The facts and circumstances relevant to whether there is a reasonable necessity for divestiture (including a description of the position or applicable statutory citation setting forth the duties of the subject position); and
(B) Analysis and opinion from such designated agency ethics official concerning the application of the rules of this part in the case of the proposed certification, including specification of the date on which the three-month period referred to by § 2634.802(b) (or a similarly structured agreement in any case to which paragraph (b)(1)(ii)(B) of this section applies), or any extension thereof granted, or concurred with in writing, by the Office of Government Ethics, will lapse; and
(v) In lieu of the materials described in paragraph (b)(1)(iv) of this section, in the case of the contemplated divestiture of specific property pursuant to the request of a congressional committee as a condition of confirmation, such materials shall include the written acknowledgement of the Chairman of such committee of such request, a letter to the committee containing a promise from the nominee to divest specified property in accordance with such request, or a transcript of congressional testimony containing such a commitment by the nominee pursuant to such request.
(2)
(3)
(c)
(1) Any officer or employee of the executive branch of the Federal Government, except a person who is a special Government employee as defined in 18 U.S.C. 202;
(2) The spouse and any minor or dependent child of an individual referred to in paragraph (c)(1) of this section whose ownership of property required to be divested is attributable to such person by 18 U.S.C. 208, or any other Federal conflict of interest statute, regulation, rule, or executive order; and
(3) Any trustee holding property in trust required to be divested in which:
(i) An individual referred to in paragraph (c)(1) of this section has a beneficial interest in principal or income; or
(ii) A spouse or any minor or dependent child of an individual referred to in paragraph (c)(2) of this section has a beneficial interest in principal or income which is attributable to a person referred to in paragraph (c)(1) of this section by 18 U.S.C. 208, or any other Federal conflict of interest statute, regulation, rule, or executive order.
(d)
(2) In view of the further analysis which must be undertaken by the Office of Government Ethics in the case of a Certificate of Divestiture request with respect to a trustee, the required submissions in such a case shall include in addition to the materials described in paragraph (b)(1) of this section, a copy of the trust instrument, full details as to its current portfolio, and a memorandum analyzing all beneficial interests in principal and income. To the extent that there may be additional parties with beneficial interests, the staff of the Office of Government Ethics may consult with representatives of the Government official, trustee, and other concerned parties, as appropriate, in order to resolve the issues presented in light of the principles described in paragraph (d)(1) of this section.
(e)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(a)
(b)
(1) Any obligation of the United States; and
(2) Any “diversified investment fund”, as defined in paragraph (c) of this section.
(c)
(2)
The Alpha Group is a family of funds which markets numerous open-end mutual funds which are typical of those generally available to the general public:
(i) The following funds of the Alpha Group would be presumed to be diversified investment funds for purposes of paragraph (c)(1) of this section, unless their prospectuses indicated an objective or practice of devoting their investments to particular or limited industrial, economic, or geographic sectors: the Common Stock Fund, the Growth Stock Fund, the S&P Index Fund, the Global Fund (investing in common stocks world-wide), the Blue Chip Fund, the Corporate Bond Fund, the Municipal Bond Fund, and the Government Bond Fund (which invests exclusively in obligations of the United States).
(ii) The following funds of the Alpha Group would not be presumed to qualify as diversified investment funds, unless their prospectuses indicated that they do not have an objective or practice of devoting their investments to particular or limited industrial, economic, or geographic sectors for purposes of paragraph (c)(1) of this section: The Pacific fund, the Mexico Fund, the New England Fund, the Gold Fund, the Commodity Futures Fund, the Venture Capital Fund, and the Drug Industry Sector Fund.
The Omega Fund is a closed-end mutual fund which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The Omega Fund is not a diversified investment fund, as only open-end mutual funds are within the definition of that term pursuant to paragraph (c)(1) of this section.
The Certificate of Independence required by § 2634.406(b) shall be executed as follows:
With respect to the trust of
FIRST: The undersigned is (check one)—
() a bank, as defined in 12 U.S.C. 1841(c), or
() an investment adviser, as defined in 15 U.S.C. 80b-2(a)(11),
not more than 10 percent of which is owned or controlled by a single individual.
SECOND: The undersigned—
(1) Is independent of and unassociated with any interested party so that the undersigned cannot be controlled or influenced in the administration of the trust by any interested party; and
(2) is not and has not been affiliated with any interested party, and is not a partner of, or involved in any joint venture or other investment or business with any interested party.
THIRD: Any director, officer, or employee of the undersigned—
(1) Is independent of and unassociated with any interested party so that such director, officer, or employee cannot be controlled or influenced in the administration of the trust by any interested party;
(2) Is not and has not been employed by any interested party, nor a director, officer, or employee of any organization affiliated with any interested party, and is not and has not been a partner of, or involved in any joint venture or other investment or business with, any interested party; and
(3) Is not a relative of any interested party.
FOURTH: The undersigned certifies that the statements contained herein are true, complete and correct to the best of such undersigned's knowledge and belief.
Date
(firm)
By:
(title)
See Appendix C of this part for Privacy Act and Paperwork Reduction Act notices.
The Certificate of Compliance required by § 2634.408(b) shall be executed as follows:
With respect to the qualified blind trust (qualified diversified trust) of
FIRST: The undersigned (and any director, officer, or employee) has not knowingly or negligently, and will not—
(A) disclose any information to an interested party with respect to the trust that may not be disclosed pursuant to title I of the Act, the implementing regulations (including 5 CFR 2634.403(b)(12)(i) for a qualified blind trust, and 5 CFR 2634.404(c)(12)(i) for a qualified diversified trust), or the trust instrument;
(B) acquire any holding the ownership of which is prohibited by, or not in accordance with, applicable statute, regulation, or the terms of the trust instrument;
(C) solicit advice from any interested party with respect to such trust, which solicitation is prohibited by title I of the Act, the implementing regulations (including 5 CFR 2634.403(b)(12)(iii) for a qualified blind trust and 5 CFR 2634.404(c)(12)(iii), for a qualified diversified trust), or the trust instrument;
(D) fail to file any document required by title I of the Act, the implementing regulations (including 5 CFR 2634.408(b) and (c)), or the trust instrument; or
(E) violate or fail to comply with any provision or requirement of title I of the Act, the implementing regulations, or the trust instrument.
SECOND: The undersigned (and any director, officer, or employee) will not knowingly or negligently engage in the above-mentioned activities.
THIRD: The undersigned certifies that the statements contained herein are true, complete and correct to the best of such undersigned's knowledge and belief.
Date
(firm)
By:
(title)
See appendix C of this part for Privacy Act and Paperwork Reduction Act notices.
Section 102(f) of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 as amended (the “Ethics Act”) (5 U.S.C. App.) and subpart D of 5 CFR part 2634 of the regulations of the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) require the reporting of this information for the administration of qualified trusts under the Ethics Act. The primary use of the information on this certificate is for review by Government officials of OGE and the agency of the Government employee for whom the trust is established to determine compliance with applicable Federal laws and regulations as regards qualified trusts. Additional disclosures of the information on this certificate may be made:
(1) to any requesting person in accordance with the access provisions of section 105 of the Ethics Act;
(2) to a Federal, State or local law enforcement agency if the disclosing agency becomes aware of a violation or potential violation of law or regulation;
(3) to a court or party in a court or Federal administrative proceeding if the Government is a party or in order to comply with a subpoena;
(4) to a source when necessary to obtain information relevant to a conflict of interest issue;
(5) to the National Archives and Records Administration or the General Services Administration in records management inspections;
(6) to the Office of Management and Budget during legislative coordination on private relief legislation; and
(7) in response to a discovery request or for the appearance of a witness in a pending judicial or administrative proceeding, if the information is relevant to the subject matter.
This collection of information is estimated to take an average of twenty minutes per response. You can send comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of
Pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act, as amended, an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and no person is required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number (that number, 3209-0007, is displayed here and in the headings of the OGE model qualified trust certificates of independence and compliance, appendixes A and B to this part 2634).
5 U.S.C. 7301, 7351, 7353; 5 U.S.C. App. (Ethics in Government Act of 1978); E.O. 12674, 54 FR 15159, 3 CFR, 1989 Comp., p. 215, as modified by E.O. 12731, 55 FR 42547, 3 CFR, 1990 Comp., p. 306.
(a)
(b)
(1) Public service is a public trust, requiring employees to place loyalty to the Constitution, the laws and ethical principles above private gain.
(2) Employees shall not hold financial interests that conflict with the conscientious performance of duty.
(3) Employees shall not engage in financial transactions using nonpublic Government information or allow the improper use of such information to further any private interest.
(4) An employee shall not, except as permitted by subpart B of this part, solicit or accept any gift or other item of monetary value from any person or entity seeking official action from, doing business with, or conducting activities regulated by the employee's agency, or whose interests may be substantially affected by the performance or nonperformance of the employee's duties.
(5) Employees shall put forth honest effort in the performance of their duties.
(6) Employees shall not knowingly make unauthorized commitments or promises of any kind purporting to bind the Government.
(7) Employees shall not use public office for private gain.
(8) Employees shall act impartially and not give preferential treatment to any private organization or individual.
(9) Employees shall protect and conserve Federal property and shall not use it for other than authorized activities.
(10) Employees shall not engage in outside employment or activities, including seeking or negotiating for employment, that conflict with official Government duties and responsibilities.
(11) Employees shall disclose waste, fraud, abuse, and corruption to appropriate authorities.
(12) Employees shall satisfy in good faith their obligations as citizens, including all just financial obligations, especially those—such as Federal, State, or local taxes—that are imposed by law.
(13) Employees shall adhere to all laws and regulations that provide equal opportunity for all Americans regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or handicap.
(14) Employees shall endeavor to avoid any actions creating the appearance that they are violating the law or the ethical standards set forth in this part. Whether particular circumstances create an appearance that the law or these standards have been violated shall be determined from the perspective of a reasonable person with knowledge of the relevant facts.
(c)
The definitions listed below are used throughout this part. Additional definitions appear in the subparts or sections of subparts to which they apply. For purposes of this part:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
(i)
(j)
(k)
(l)
(m)
The provisions of this part, except this section, are not applicable to enlisted members of the uniformed services. Each agency with jurisdiction over enlisted members of the uniformed services shall issue regulations defining the ethical conduct obligations of enlisted members under its jurisdiction. Those regulations shall be consistent with Executive Order 12674, April 12, 1989, as modified, and may prescribe the full range of statutory and regulatory sanctions, including those available under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, for failure to comply with such regulations.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
In addition to the regulations set forth in this part, an employee shall comply with any supplemental agency regulations issued by his employing agency under this section.
(a) An agency that wishes to supplement this part shall prepare and submit to the Office of Government Ethics, for its concurrence and joint issuance, any agency regulations that supplement the regulations contained in this part. Supplemental agency regulations which the agency determines are necessary and appropriate, in view of its programs and operations, to fulfill the purposes of this part shall be:
(1) In the form of a supplement to the regulations in this part; and
(2) In addition to the substantive provisions of this part.
(b) After concurrence and co-signature by the Office of Government Ethics, the agency shall submit its supplemental agency regulations to the
(c) This section applies to any supplemental agency regulations or amendments thereof issued under this part. It does not apply to:
(1) A handbook or other issuance intended merely as an explanation of the standards contained in this part or in supplemental agency regulations;
(2) An instruction or other issuance the purpose of which is to:
(i) Delegate to an agency designee authority to make any determination, give any approval or take any other action required or permitted by this part or by supplemental agency regulations; or
(ii) Establish internal agency procedures for documenting or processing any determination, approval or other action required or permitted by this part or by supplemental agency regulations, or for retaining any such documentation; or
(3) Regulations or instructions that an agency has authority, independent of this part, to issue, such as regulations implementing an agency's gift acceptance statute, protecting categories of nonpublic information or establishing standards for use of Government vehicles. Where the content of any such regulations or instructions was included in the agency's standards of conduct regulations issued pursuant to Executive Order 11222 and the Office of Government Ethics concurs that they need not be issued as part of an agency's supplemental agency regulations, those regulations or instructions may be promulgated separately from the agency's supplemental agency regulations.
(a) Except as provided in § 2635.107, a violation of this part or of supplemental agency regulations may be cause for appropriate corrective or disciplinary action to be taken under applicable Governmentwide regulations or agency procedures. Such action may be in addition to any action or penalty prescribed by law.
(b) It is the responsibility of the employing agency to initiate appropriate disciplinary or corrective action in individual cases. However, corrective action may be ordered or disciplinary action recommended by the Director of the Office of Government Ethics under the procedures at part 2638 of this chapter.
(c) A violation of this part or of supplemental agency regulations, as such, does not create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law by any person against the United States, its agencies, its officers or employees, or any other person. Thus, for example, an individual who alleges that an employee has failed to adhere to laws and regulations that provide equal opportunity regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or handicap is required to follow applicable statutory and regulatory procedures, including those of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
(a) As required by §§ 2638.201 and 2638.202(b) of this chapter, each agency has a designated agency ethics official who, on the agency's behalf, is responsible for coordinating and managing the agency's ethics program, as well as an alternate. The designated agency ethics official has authority under § 2638.204 of this chapter to delegate certain responsibilities, including that of providing ethics counseling regarding the application of this part, to one or more deputy ethics officials.
(b) Employees who have questions about the application of this part or any supplemental agency regulations to particular situations should seek advice from an agency ethics official.
This subpart contains standards that prohibit an employee from soliciting or accepting any gift from a prohibited source or given because of the employee's official position unless the item is excluded from the definition of a gift or falls within one of the exceptions set forth in this subpart.
(a)
(1) From a prohibited source; or
(2) Given because of the employee's official position.
(b)
(c)
(1) Accept a gift in return for being influenced in the performance of an official act;
(2) Solicit or coerce the offering of a gift;
(3) Accept gifts from the same or different sources on a basis so frequent that a reasonable person would be led to believe the employee is using his public office for private gain;
A purchasing agent for a Veterans Administration hospital routinely deals with representatives of pharmaceutical manufacturers who provide information about new company products. Because of his crowded calendar, the purchasing agent has offered to meet with manufacturer representatives during his lunch hours Tuesdays through Thursdays and the representatives routinely arrive at the employee's office bringing a sandwich and a soft drink for the employee. Even though the market value of each of the lunches is less than $6 and the aggregate value from any one manufacturer does not exceed the $50 aggregate limitation in § 2635.204(a) on de minimis gifts of $20 or less, the practice of accepting even these modest gifts on a recurring basis is improper.
(4) Accept a gift in violation of any statute. Relevant statutes applicable to all employees include:
(i) 18 U.S.C. 201(b), which prohibits a public official from seeking, accepting, or agreeing to receive or accept anything of value in return for being influenced in the performance of an official act or for being induced to take or omit to take any action in violation of his official duty. As used in 18 U.S.C. 201(b), the term “public official” is broadly construed and includes regular and special Government employees as well as all other Government officials; and
(ii) 18 U.S.C. 209, which prohibits an employee, other than a special Government employee, from receiving any salary or any contribution to or supplementation of salary from any source other than the United States as compensation for services as a Government employee. The statute contains several specific exceptions to this general prohibition, including an exception for contributions made from the treasury of a State, county, or municipality; or
(5) Accept vendor promotional training contrary to applicable regulations, policies or guidance relating to the
For purposes of this subpart, the following definitions shall apply:
(a)
(b)
(1) Modest items of food and refreshments, such as soft drinks, coffee and donuts, offered other than as part of a meal;
(2) Greeting cards and items with little intrinsic value, such as plaques, certificates, and trophies, which are intended solely for presentation;
(3) Loans from banks and other financial institutions on terms generally available to the public;
(4) Opportunities and benefits, including favorable rates and commercial discounts, available to the public or to a class consisting of all Government employees or all uniformed military personnel, whether or not restricted on the basis of geographic considerations;
(5) Rewards and prizes given to competitors in contests or events, including random drawings, open to the public unless the employee's entry into the contest or event is required as part of his official duties;
(6) Pension and other benefits resulting from continued participation in an employee welfare and benefits plan maintained by a former employer;
(7) Anything which is paid for by the Government or secured by the Government under Government contract;
Some airlines encourage those purchasing tickets to join programs that award free flights and other benefits to frequent fliers. Any such benefit earned on the basis of Government-financed travel belongs to the agency rather than to the employee and may be accepted only insofar as provided under 41 CFR 301-53.
(8) Any gift accepted by the Government under specific statutory authority, including:
(i) Travel, subsistence, and related expenses accepted by an agency under the authority of 31 U.S.C. 1353 in connection with an employee's attendance at a meeting or similar function relating to his official duties which takes place away from his duty station. The agency's acceptance must be in accordance with the implementing regulations at 41 CFR part 304-1; and
(ii) Other gifts provided in-kind which have been accepted by an agency under its agency gift acceptance statute; or
(9) Anything for which market value is paid by the employee.
(c)
An employee who has been given an acrylic paperweight embedded with the corporate logo of a prohibited source may determine its market value based on her observation that a comparable acrylic paperweight, not embedded with a logo, generally sells for about $20.
A prohibited source has offered an employee a ticket to a charitable event consisting of a cocktail reception to be followed by an evening of chamber music. Even though the food, refreshments, and entertainment provided at the event may be worth only $20, the market value of the ticket is its $250 face value.
(d)
(1) Is seeking official action by the employee's agency;
(2) Does business or seeks to do business with the employee's agency;
(3) Conducts activities regulated by the employee's agency;
(4) Has interests that may be substantially affected by performance or nonperformance of the employee's official duties; or
(5) Is an organization a majority of whose members are described in paragraphs (d) (1) through (4) of this section.
(e) A gift is solicited or accepted because of the employee's official position if it is from a person other than an employee and would not have been solicited, offered, or given had the employee not held the status, authority or duties associated with his Federal position.
Gifts between employees are subject to the limitations set forth in subpart C of this part.
Where free season tickets are offered by an opera guild to all members of the Cabinet, the gift is offered because of their official positions.
Employees at a regional office of the Department of Justice (DOJ) work in Government-leased space at a private office building, along with various private business tenants. A major fire in the building during normal office hours causes a traumatic experience for all occupants of the building in making their escape, and it is the subject of widespread news coverage. A corporate hotel chain, which does not meet the definition of a prohibited source for DOJ, seizes the moment and announces that it will give a free night's lodging to all building occupants and their families, as a public goodwill gesture. Employees of DOJ may accept, as this gift is not being given because of their Government positions. The donor's motivation for offering this gift is unrelated to the DOJ employees’ status, authority or duties associated with their Federal position, but instead is based on their mere presence in the building as occupants at the time of the fire.
(f) A gift which is solicited or accepted indirectly includes a gift:
(1) Given with the employee's knowledge and acquiescence to his parent, sibling, spouse, child, or dependent relative because of that person's relationship to the employee, or
(2) Given to any other person, including any charitable organization, on the basis of designation, recommendation, or other specification by the employee, except as permitted for the disposition of perishable items by § 2635.205(a)(2) or for payments made to charitable organizations in lieu of honoraria under § 2636.204 of this chapter.
An employee who must decline a gift of a personal computer pursuant to this subpart may not suggest that the gift be given instead to one of five charitable organizations whose names are provided by the employee.
(g)
The prohibitions set forth in § 2635.202(a) do not apply to a gift accepted under the circumstances described in paragraphs (a) through (l) of this section, and an employee's acceptance of a gift in accordance with one of those paragraphs will be deemed not to violate the principles set forth in § 2635.101(b), including appearances. Even though acceptance of a gift may be permitted by one of the exceptions contained in paragraphs (a) through (l) of this section, it is never inappropriate and frequently prudent for an employee to decline a gift offered by a prohibited source or because of his official position.
(a)
An employee of the Securities and Exchange Commission and his spouse have been invited by a representative of a regulated entity to a Broadway play, tickets to which have a face value of $30 each. The aggregate market value of the gifts offered on this single occasion is $60, $40 more than the $20 amount that may be accepted for a single event or presentation. The employee may not accept the gift of the evening of entertainment. He and his spouse may attend the play only if he pays the full $60 value of the two tickets.
An employee of the Defense Mapping Agency has been invited by an association of cartographers to speak about his agency's role in the evolution of missile technology. At the conclusion of his speech, the association presents the employee a framed map with a market value of $18 and a book about the history of cartography with a market value of $15. The employee may accept the map or the book, but not both, since the aggregate value of these two tangible items exceeds $20.
On four occasions during the calendar year, an employee of the Defense Logistics Agency was given gifts worth $10 each by four employees of a corporation that is a DLA contractor. For purposes of applying the yearly $50 limitation on gifts of $20 or less from any one person, the four gifts must be aggregated because a person is defined at § 2635.102(k) to mean not only the corporate entity, but its officers and employees as well. However, for purposes of applying the $50 aggregate limitation, the employee would not have to include the value of a birthday present received from his cousin, who is employed by the same corporation, if he can accept the birthday present under the exception at § 2635.204(b) for gifts based on a personal relationship.
Under the authority of 31 U.S.C. 1353 for agencies to accept payments from non-Federal sources in connection with attendance at certain meetings or similar functions, the Environmental Protection Agency has accepted an association's gift of travel expenses and conference fees for an employee of its Office of Radiation Programs to attend an international conference on “The Chernobyl Experience.” While at the conference, the employee may accept a gift of $20 or less from the association or from another person attending the conference even though it was not approved in advance by the EPA. Although 31 U.S.C. 1353 is the only authority under which an agency may accept gifts from certain non-Federal sources in connection with its employees’ attendance at such functions, a gift of $20 or less accepted under § 2635.204(a) is a gift to the employee rather than to his employing agency.
During off-duty time, an employee of the Department of Defense (DOD) attends a trade show involving companies that are DOD contractors. He is offered a $15 computer program disk at X Company's booth, a $12 appointments calendar at Y Company's booth, and a deli lunch worth $8 from Z Company. The employee may accept all three of these items because they do not exceed $20 per source, even though they total more than $20 at this single occasion.
(b)
An employee of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation has been dating a secretary employed by a member bank. For Secretary's Week, the bank has given each secretary 2 tickets to an off-Broadway musical review and has urged each to invite a family member or friend to share the evening of entertainment. Under the circumstances, the FDIC employee may accept his girlfriend's invitation to the theater. Even though the tickets were initially purchased by the member bank, they were given without reservation to the secretary to use as she wished, and her invitation to the employee was motivated by their personal friendship.
Three partners in a law firm that handles corporate mergers have invited an employee of the Federal Trade Commission to join them in a golf tournament at a private club at the firm's expense. The entry fee is $500 per foursome. The employee cannot accept the gift of one-quarter of the entry fee even though he and the three partners have developed an amicable relationship as a result of the firm's dealings with the FTC. As evidenced in part by the fact that the fees are to be paid by the firm, it is not a personal friendship but a business relationship that is the motivation behind the partners’ gift.
(c)
(1) Reduced membership or other fees for participation in organization activities offered to all Government employees or all uniformed military personnel by professional organizations if the only restrictions on membership relate to professional qualifications; and
(2) Opportunities and benefits, including favorable rates and commercial discounts not precluded by paragraph (c)(3) of this section:
(i) Offered to members of a group or class in which membership is unrelated to Government employment;
(ii) Offered to members of an organization, such as an employees’ association or agency credit union, in which membership is related to Government employment if the same offer is broadly available to large segments of the public through organizations of similar size; or
(iii) Offered by a person who is not a prohibited source to any group or class that is not defined in a manner that specifically discriminates among Government employees on the basis of type of official responsibility or on a basis that favors those of higher rank or rate of pay; provided, however, that
(3) An employee may not accept for personal use any benefit to which the Government is entitled as the result of an expenditure of Government funds.
An employee of the Consumer Product Safety Commission may accept a discount of $50 on a microwave oven offered by the manufacturer to all members of the CPSC employees’ association. Even though the CPSC is currently conducting studies on the safety of microwave ovens, the $50 discount is a standard offer that the manufacturer has made broadly available through a number of similar organizations to large segments of the public.
An Assistant Secretary may not accept a local country club's offer of membership to all members of Department Secretariats which includes a waiver of its $5,000 membership initiation fee. Even though the country club is not a prohibited source, the offer discriminates in favor of higher ranking officials.
The administrative officer for a district office of the Immigration and Naturalization Service has signed an INS order to purchase 50 boxes of photocopy paper from a supplier whose literature advertises that it will give a free briefcase to anyone who purchases 50 or more boxes. Because the paper was purchased with INS funds, the administrative officer cannot keep the briefcase which, if claimed and received, is Government property.
(d)
(i) Under which awards have been made on a regular basis or which is funded, wholly or in part, to ensure its continuation on a regular basis; and
(ii) Under which selection of award recipients is made pursuant to written standards.
(2) An employee may accept an honorary degree from an institution of higher education as defined at 20 U.S.C. 1141(a) based on a written determination by an agency ethics official that the timing of the award of the degree would not cause a reasonable person to question the employee's impartiality in a matter affecting the institution.
(3) An employee who may accept an award or honorary degree pursuant to paragraph (d)(1) or (2) of this section may also accept meals and entertainment given to him and to members of his family at the event at which the presentation takes place.
Based on a determination by an agency ethics official that the prize meets the criteria set forth in § 2635.204(d)(1), an employee of the National Institutes of Health may accept the Nobel Prize for Medicine, including the cash award which accompanies the prize, even though the prize was conferred on the basis of laboratory work performed at NIH.
Prestigious University wishes to give an honorary degree to the Secretary of
An ambassador selected by a nonprofit organization as recipient of its annual award for distinguished service in the interest of world peace may, together with his wife, and children, attend the awards ceremony dinner and accept a crystal bowl worth $200 presented during the ceremony. However, where the organization has also offered airline tickets for the ambassador and his family to travel to the city where the awards ceremony is to be held, the aggregate value of the tickets and the crystal bowl exceeds $200 and he may accept only upon a written determination by the agency ethics official that the award is made as part of an established program of recognition.
(e)
(1) Resulting from the business or employment activities of an employee's spouse when it is clear that such benefits have not been offered or enhanced because of the employee's official position;
A Department of Agriculture employee whose husband is a computer programmer employed by an Agriculture Department contractor may attend the company's annual retreat for all of its employees and their families held at a resort facility. However, under § 2635.502, the employee may be disqualified from performing official duties affecting her husband's employer.
Where the spouses of other clerical personnel have not been invited, an employee of the Defense Contract Audit Agency whose wife is a clerical worker at a defense contractor may not attend the contractor's annual retreat in Hawaii for corporate officers and members of the board of directors, even though his wife received a special invitation for herself and her spouse.
(2) Resulting from his outside business or employment activities when it is clear that such benefits have not been offered or enhanced because of his official status; or
The members of an Army Corps of Engineers environmental advisory committee that meets 6 times per year are special Government employees. A member who has a consulting business may accept an invitation to a $50 dinner from her corporate client, an Army construction contractor, unless, for example, the invitation was extended in order to discuss the activities of the committee.
(3) Customarily provided by a prospective employer in connection with bona fide employment discussions. If the prospective employer has interests that could be affected by performance or nonperformance of the employee's duties, acceptance is permitted only if the employee first has complied with the disqualification requirements of subpart F of this part applicable when seeking employment.
An employee of the Federal Communications Commission with responsibility for drafting regulations affecting all cable television companies wishes to apply for a job opening with a cable television holding company. Once she has properly disqualified herself from further work on the regulations as required by subpart F of this part, she may enter into employment discussions with the company and may accept the company's offer to pay for her airfare, hotel and meals in connection with an interview trip.
(4) For purposes of paragraphs (e)(1) through (3) of this section, employment shall have the meaning set forth in § 2635.603(a).
(f)
The Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services may accept an airline ticket and hotel accommodations furnished by the campaign committee of a candidate for the United States Senate in order to give a speech in support of the candidate.
(g)
(2)
(3)
(i) If the person who has extended the invitation has interests that may be substantially affected by the performance or nonperformance of an employee's official duties or is an association or organization the majority of whose members have such interests, the employee's participation may be determined to be in the interest of the agency only where there is a written finding by the agency designee that the agency's interest in the employee's participation in the event outweighs the concern that acceptance of the gift of free attendance may or may appear to improperly influence the employee in the performance of his official duties. Relevant factors that should be considered by the agency designee include the importance of the event to the agency, the nature and sensitivity of any pending matter affecting the interests of the person who has extended the invitation, the significance of the employee's role in any such matter, the purpose of the event, the identity of other expected participants and the market value of the gift of free attendance.
(ii) A blanket determination of agency interest may be issued to cover all or any category of invitees other than those as to whom the finding is required by paragraph (g)(3)(i) of this section. Where a finding under paragraph (g)(3)(i) of this section is required, a written determination of agency interest, including the necessary finding, may be issued to cover two or more employees whose duties similarly affect the interests of the person who has extended the invitation or, where that person is an association or organization, of its members.
(4)
There are statutory authorities implemented other than by part 2635 under which an agency or an employee may be able to accept free attendance or other items not included in the definition of free attendance, such as travel expenses.
(5)
(6)
An aerospace industry association that is a prohibited source sponsors an industrywide, two-day seminar for which it charges a fee of $400 and anticipates attendance of approximately 400. An Air Force contractor pays $2,000 to the association so that the association can extend free invitations to five Air Force officials designated by the contractor. The Air Force officials may not accept the gifts of free attendance. Because the contractor specified the invitees and bore the cost of their attendance, the gift of free attendance is considered to be provided by the company and not by the sponsoring association. Had the contractor paid $2,000 to the association in order that the association might invite any five Federal employees, an Air Force official to whom the sponsoring association extended one of the five invitations could attend if his participation were determined to be in the interest of the agency. The Air Force official could not in any case accept an invitation directly from the nonsponsor contractor because the market value of the gift exceeds $260.
An employee of the Department of Transportation is invited by a news organization to an annual press dinner sponsored by an association of press organizations. Tickets for the event cost $260 per person and attendance is limited to 400 representatives of press organizations and their guests. If the employee's attendance is determined to be in the interest of the agency, she may accept the invitation from the news organization because more than 100 persons will attend and the cost of the ticket does not exceed $260. However, if the invitation were extended to the employee and an accompanying guest, her guest could not be authorized to attend for free since the market value of the gift of free attendance would be $520 and the invitation is from a person other than the sponsor of the event.
An employee of the Department of Energy (DOE) and his wife have been invited by a major utility executive to a small dinner party. A few other officials of the utility and their spouses or other guests are also invited, as is a representative of a consumer group concerned with utility rates and her husband. The DOE official believes the dinner party will provide him an opportunity to socialize with and get to know those in attendance. The employee may not accept the free invitation under this exception, even if his attendance could be determined to be in the interest of the agency. The small dinner party is not a widely attended gathering. Nor could the employee be authorized to accept even if the event were instead a corporate banquet to which forty company officials and their spouses or other guests were invited. In this second case, notwithstanding the larger number of persons expected (as opposed to the small dinner party just noted) and despite the presence of the consumer group representative and her husband who are not officials of the utility, those in attendance would still not represent a diversity of views or interests. Thus, the company banquet would not qualify as a widely attended gathering under those circumstances either.
An employee of the Department of the Treasury authorized to participate in a panel discussion of economic issues as part of a one-day conference may accept the sponsor's waiver of the conference fee. Under the separate authority of § 2635.204(a), he may accept a token of appreciation for his speech having a market value of $20 or less.
An Assistant U.S. Attorney is invited to attend a luncheon meeting of a local bar association to hear a distinguished judge lecture on cross-examining expert witnesses. Although members of the bar association are assessed a $15 fee for the meeting, the Assistant U.S. Attorney may accept the bar association's offer to attend for free,
An employee of the Department of the Interior authorized to speak on the first day of a four-day conference on endangered species may accept the sponsor's waiver of the conference fee for the first day of the conference. If the conference is widely attended, he may be authorized, based on a determination that his attendance is in the agency's interest, to accept the sponsor's offer to waive the attendance fee for the remainder of the conference.
(h)
(1) The invitation is from a person who is not a prohibited source; and
(2) No fee is charged to any person in attendance.
Along with several other Government officials and a number of individuals from the private sector, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency has been invited to the premier showing of a new adventure movie about industrial espionage. The producer is paying all costs of the showing. The Administrator may accept the invitation since the producer is not a prohibited source and no attendance fee is being charged to anyone who has been invited.
An employee of the White House Press Office has been invited to a cocktail party given by a noted Washington hostess who is not a prohibited source. The employee may attend even though he has only recently been introduced to the hostess and suspects that he may have been invited because of his official position.
(i)
(1) The market value in the foreign area of the food, refreshments or entertainment provided at the meeting or event, as converted to U.S. dollars, does not exceed the per diem rate for the foreign area specified in the U.S. Department of State's Maximum Per Diem Allowances for Foreign Areas, Per Diem Supplement Section 925 to the Standardized Regulations (GC,FA) available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402;
(2) There is participation in the meeting or event by non-U.S. citizens or by representatives of foreign governments or other foreign entities;
(3) Attendance at the meeting or event is part of the employee's official duties to obtain information, disseminate information, promote the export of U.S. goods and services, represent the United States or otherwise further programs or operations of the agency or the U.S. mission in the foreign area; and
(4) The gift of meals, refreshments or entertainment is from a person other than a foreign government as defined in 5 U.S.C. 7342(a)(2).
A number of local businessmen in a developing country are anxious for a U.S. company to locate a manufacturing facility in their province. An official of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation may accompany the visiting vice president of the U.S. company to a dinner meeting hosted by the businessmen at a province restaurant where the market value of the food and refreshments does not exceed the per diem rate for that country.
(j)
(k)
(l)
(1) Free attendance, course or meeting materials, transportation, lodgings,
26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) is authority for tax-exempt treatment of a limited class of nonprofit organizations, including those organized and operated for charitable, religious or educational purposes. Many nonprofit organizations are not exempt from taxation under this section.
(2) Gifts from a foreign government or international or multinational organization, or its representative, when accepted by the employee under the authority of the Foreign Gifts and Decorations Act, 5 U.S.C. 7342. As a condition of acceptance, an employee must comply with requirements imposed by the agency's regulations or procedures implementing that Act.
(a) An employee who has received a gift that cannot be accepted under this subpart shall, unless the gift is accepted by an agency acting under specific statutory authority:
(1) Return any tangible item to the donor or pay the donor its market value. An employee who cannot ascertain the actual market value of an item may estimate its market value by reference to the retail cost of similar items of like quality. See § 2635.203(c).
To avoid public embarrassment to the seminar sponsor, an employee of the National Park Service did not decline a barometer worth $200 given at the conclusion of his speech on Federal lands policy. The employee must either return the barometer or promptly reimburse the sponsor $200.
(2) When it is not practical to return a tangible item because it is perishable, the item may, at the discretion of the employee's supervisor or an agency ethics official, be given to an appropriate charity, shared within the recipient's office, or destroyed.
With approval by the recipient's supervisor, a floral arrangement sent by a disability claimant to a helpful employee of the Social Security Administration may be placed in the office's reception area.
(3) For any entertainment, favor, service, benefit or other intangible, reimburse the donor the market value. Subsequent reciprocation by the employee does not constitute reimbursement.
A Department of Defense employee wishes to attend a charitable event to which he has been offered a $300 ticket by a prohibited source. Although his attendance is not in the interest of the agency under § 2635.204(g), he may attend if he reimburses the donor the $300 face value of the ticket.
(4) Dispose of gifts from foreign governments or international organizations in accordance with 41 CFR part 101-49, and dispose of materials received in conjunction with official travel in accordance with 41 CFR 101-25.103.
(b) An agency may authorize disposition or return of gifts at Government expense. Employees may use penalty mail to forward reimbursements required or permitted by this section.
(c) An employee who, on his own initiative, promptly complies with the requirements of this section will not be deemed to have improperly accepted an unsolicited gift. An employee who promptly consults his agency ethics official to determine whether acceptance of an unsolicited gift is proper and who, upon the advice of the ethics official, returns the gift or otherwise disposes of the gift in accordance with this section, will be considered to have complied with the requirements of this section on his own initiative.
This subpart contains standards that prohibit an employee from giving, donating to, or soliciting contributions for, a gift to an official superior and from accepting a gift from an employee receiving less pay than himself, unless
(a)
(1) Directly or indirectly, give a gift to or make a donation toward a gift for an official superior; or
(2) Solicit a contribution from another employee for a gift to either his own or the other employee's official superior.
(b)
(1) The two employees are not in a subordinate-official superior relationship; and
(2) There is a personal relationship between the two employees that would justify the gift.
(c)
For purposes of this subpart, the following definitions shall apply:
(a)
(b)
(1) Given with the employee's knowledge and acquiescence by his parent, sibling, spouse, child, or dependent relative; or
(2) Given by a person other than the employee under circumstances where the employee has promised or agreed to reimburse that person or to give that person something of value in exchange for giving the gift.
(c) Subject to paragraph (a) of this section, market value has the meaning set forth in § 2635.203(c).
(d)
(e)
(f)
A supervisory employee of the Agency for International Development has just been reassigned from Washington, DC to Kabul, Afghanistan. As a farewell party, 12 of her subordinates have decided to take her out to lunch at the Khyber Repast. It is understood that each will pay for his own meal and that the cost of the supervisor's lunch will be divided equally among the twelve. Even though the amount they will contribute is not determined until the supervisor orders lunch, the contribution made by those who choose to participate in the farewell lunch is voluntary.
The prohibitions set forth in § 2635.302(a) and (b) do not apply to a gift given or accepted under the circumstances described in paragraph (a) or (b) of this section. A contribution or the solicitation of a contribution that
(a)
(1) Items, other than cash, with an aggregate market value of $10 or less per occasion;
(2) Items such as food and refreshments to be shared in the office among several employees;
(3) Personal hospitality provided at a residence which is of a type and value customarily provided by the employee to personal friends;
(4) Items given in connection with the receipt of personal hospitality if of a type and value customarily given on such occasions; and
(5) Leave transferred under subpart I of part 630 of this title to an employee who is not an immediate supervisor, unless obtained in violation of § 630.912 of this title.
Upon returning to work following a vacation at the beach, a claims examiner with the Department of Veterans Affairs may give his supervisor, and his supervisor may accept, a bag of saltwater taffy purchased on the boardwalk for $8.
An employee of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation whose bank examination responsibilities require frequent travel may not bring her supervisor, and her supervisor may not accept, souvenir coffee mugs from each of the cities she visits in the course of performing her duties, even though each of the mugs costs less than $5. Gifts given on this basis are not occasional.
The Secretary of Labor has invited the agency's General Counsel to a dinner party at his home. The General Counsel may bring a $15 bottle of wine to the dinner party and the Secretary may accept this customary hostess gift from his subordinate, even though its cost is in excess of $10.
For Christmas, a secretary may give his supervisor, and the supervisor may accept, a poinsettia plant purchased for $10 or less. The secretary may also invite his supervisor to a Christmas party in his home and the supervisor may attend.
(b)
(1) In recognition of infrequently occurring occasions of personal significance such as marriage, illness, or the birth or adoption of a child; or
(2) Upon occasions that terminate a subordinate-official superior relationship, such as retirement, resignation, or transfer.
The administrative assistant to the personnel director of the Tennessee Valley Authority may send a $30 floral arrangement to the personnel director who is in the hospital recovering from surgery. The personnel director may accept the gift.
A chemist employed by the Food and Drug Administration has been invited to the wedding of the lab director who is his official superior. He may give the lab director and his bride, and they may accept, a place setting in the couple's selected china pattern purchased for $70.
Upon the occasion of the supervisor's retirement from Federal service, an employee of the Fish and Wildlife Service may give her supervisor a book of wildlife photographs which she purchased for $19. The retiring supervisor may accept the book.
(c)
(1) On a special, infrequent occasion as described in paragraph (b) of this section; or
(2) On an occasional basis, for items such as food and refreshments to be shared in the office among several employees.
An employee may accept such gifts to which a subordinate or other employee receiving less pay than himself has contributed.
To mark the occasion of his retirement, members of the immediate staff of the Under Secretary of the Army would like to give him a party and provide him with a gift certificate. They may distribute an announcement of the party and include a nominal amount for a retirement gift in the fee for the party.
The General Counsel of the National Endowment for the Arts may not collect contributions for a Christmas gift for the Chairman. Christmas occurs annually
Subordinates may not take up a collection for a gift to an official superior on the occasion of the superior's swearing in or promotion to a higher grade position within the supervisory chain of that organization. These are not events that mark the termination of the subordinate-official superior relationship, nor are they events of personal significance within the meaning of § 2635.304(b). However, subordinates may take up a collection and employees may contribute $3 each to buy refreshments to be consumed by everyone in the immediate office to mark either such occasion.
Subordinates may each contribute a nominal amount to a fund to give a gift to an official superior upon the occasion of that superior's transfer or promotion to a position outside the organization.
An Assistant Secretary at the Department of the Interior is getting married. His secretary has decided that a microwave oven would be a nice gift from his staff and has informed each of the Assistant Secretary's subordinates that they should contribute $5 for the gift. Her method of collection is improper. Although she may recommend a $5 contribution, the recommendation must be coupled with a statement that the employee whose contribution is solicited is free to contribute less or nothing at all.
This subpart contains two provisions relating to financial interests. One is a disqualification requirement and the other is a prohibition on acquiring or continuing to hold specific financial interests. An employee may acquire or hold any financial interest not prohibited by § 2635.403. Notwithstanding that his acquisition or holding of a particular interest is proper, an employee is prohibited in accordance with § 2635.402 of this subpart from participating in an official capacity in any particular matter in which, to his knowledge, he or any person whose interests are imputed to him has a financial interest, if the particular matter will have a direct and predictable effect on that interest. See also part 2640 of this chapter, for additional guidance amplifying § 2635.402.
(a)
Standards applicable when seeking non-Federal employment are contained in subpart F of this part and, if followed, will ensure that an employee does not violate 18 U.S.C. 208(a) or this section when he is negotiating for or has an arrangement concerning future employment. In all other cases where the employee's participation would violate 18 U.S.C. 208(a), an employee shall disqualify himself from participation in the matter in accordance with paragraph (c) of this section or obtain a waiver or determine that an exemption applies, as described in paragraph (d) of this section.
(b)
(1)
(ii) A particular matter will have a predictable effect if there is a real, as opposed to a speculative possibility that the matter will affect the financial interest. It is not necessary, however, that the magnitude of the gain or loss be known, and the dollar amount of the gain or loss is immaterial.
If a particular matter involves a specific party or parties, generally the matter
An employee of the National Library of Medicine at the National Institutes of Health has just been asked to serve on the technical evaluation panel to review proposals for a new library computer search system. DEF Computer Corporation, a closely held company in which he and his wife own a majority of the stock, has submitted a proposal. Because award of the systems contract to DEF or to any other offeror will have a direct and predictable effect on both his and his wife's financial interests, the employee cannot participate on the technical evaluation team unless his disqualification has been waived.
Upon assignment to the technical evaluation panel, the employee in the preceding example finds that DEF Computer Corporation has not submitted a proposal. Rather, LMN Corp., with which DEF competes for private sector business, is one of the six offerors. The employee is not disqualified from serving on the technical evaluation panel. Any effect on the employee's financial interests as a result of the agency's decision to award or not award the systems contract to LMN would be at most indirect and speculative.
(2)
(i) The employee's spouse;
(ii) The employee's minor child;
(iii) The employee's general partner;
(iv) An organization or entity which the employee serves as officer, director, trustee, general partner or employee; and
(v) A person with whom the employee is negotiating for or has an arrangement concerning prospective employment. (Employees who are seeking other employment should refer to and comply with the standards in subpart F of this part).
An employee of the Department of Education serves without compensation on the board of directors of Kinder World, Inc., a nonprofit corporation that engages in good works. Even though her personal financial interests will not be affected, the employee must disqualify herself from participating in the review of a grant application submitted by Kinder World. Award or denial of the grant will affect the financial interests of Kinder World and its financial interests are imputed to her as a member of its board of directors.
The spouse of an employee of the Food and Drug Administration has obtained a position with a well established biomedical research company. The company has developed an artificial limb for which it is seeking FDA approval and the employee would ordinarily be asked to participate in the FDA's review and approval process. The spouse is a salaried employee of the company and has no direct ownership interest in the company. Nor does she have an indirect ownership interest, as would be the case, for example, if she were participating in a pension plan that held stock in the company. Her position with the company is such that the granting or withholding of FDA approval will not have a direct and predictable effect on her salary or on her continued employment with the company. Since the FDA approval process will not affect his spouse's financial interests, the employee is not disqualified under § 2635.402 from participating in that process. Nevertheless, the financial interests of the spouse's employer may be disqualifying under the impartiality principle, as implemented at § 2635.502.
(3)
The Internal Revenue Service's amendment of its regulations to change the manner in which depreciation is calculated is not a particular matter, nor is the Social Security Administration's consideration of changes to its appeal procedures for disability claimants.
Consideration by the Interstate Commerce Commission of regulations establishing safety standards for trucks on interstate highways involves a particular matter.
(4)
(c)
(1)
(2)
An Assistant Secretary of the Department of the Interior owns recreational property that borders on land which is being considered for annexation to a national park. Annexation would directly and predictably increase the value of her vacation property and, thus, she is disqualified from participating in any way in the Department's deliberations or decisions regarding the annexation. Because she is responsible for determining which matters she will work on, she may accomplish her disqualification merely by ensuring that she does not participate in the matter. Because of the level of her position, however, the Assistant Secretary might be wise to establish a record that she has acted properly by providing a written disqualification statement to an official superior and by providing written notification of the disqualification to subordinates to ensure that they do not raise or discuss with her any issues related to the annexation.
(d)
(1)
(2)
(i) The employee:
(A) Advises the Government official responsible for the employee's appointment (or other Government official to whom authority to issue such a waiver for the employee has been delegated) about the nature and circumstances of the particular matter or matters; and
(B) Makes full disclosure to such official of the nature and extent of the disqualifying financial interest; and
(ii) Such official determines, in writing, that the employee's financial interest in the particular matter or matters is not so substantial as to be deemed likely to affect the integrity of the services which the Government may expect from such employee. See also subpart C of part 2640 of this chapter, for additional guidance.
(3)
(i) Reviews the financial disclosure report filed by the special Government employee pursuant to the Ethics in Government Act of 1978; and
(ii) Certifies in writing that the need for the individual's services outweighs the potential for a conflict of interest created by the otherwise disqualifying financial interest. See also subpart C of part 2640 of this chapter, for additional guidance.
(4)
(e)
(1)
(2)
(3)
(f)
An employee shall not acquire or hold any financial interest that he is prohibited from acquiring or holding by statute, by agency regulation issued in accordance with paragraph (a) of this section or by reason of an agency determination of substantial conflict under paragraph (b) of this section.
There is no statute of Governmentwide applicability prohibiting employees from holding or acquiring any financial interest. Statutory restrictions, if any, are contained in agency statutes which, in some cases, may be implemented by agency regulations issued independent of this part.
(a)
(b)
(1) Require the employee's disqualification from matters so central or critical to the performance of his official duties that the employee's ability to perform the duties of his position would be materially impaired; or
(2) Adversely affect the efficient accomplishment of the agency's mission because another employee cannot be readily assigned to perform work from which the employee would be disqualified by reason of the financial interest.
An Air Force employee who owns stock in a major aircraft engine manufacturer is being considered for promotion to a position that involves responsibility for development of a new fighter airplane. If the agency determined that engineering and other decisions about the Air Force's requirements for the fighter would directly and predictably affect his financial interests, the employee could not, by virtue of 18 U.S.C. 208(a), perform these significant duties of the position while retaining his stock in the company. The agency can require the employee to sell his stock as a condition of being selected for the position rather than allowing him to disqualify himself in particular matters.
(c)
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (c)(2) of this section, the term financial interest is limited to financial interests that are owned by the employee or by the employee's spouse or minor children. However, the term is not limited to only those financial interests that would be disqualifying under 18 U.S.C. 208(a) and § 2635.402. The term includes any current or contingent ownership, equity, or security interest in real or personal property or a business and may include an indebtedness or compensated employment relationship. It thus includes, for example, interests in the nature of stocks, bonds, partnership interests, fee and leasehold interests, mineral and other property rights, deeds of trust, and liens, and extends to any right to purchase or acquire any such interest, such as a stock option or commodity future. It does not include a future interest created by someone other than the employee, his spouse, or dependent child or any right as a beneficiary of an estate that has not been settled.
A regulatory agency has concluded that ownership by its employees of
An agency that insures bank deposits may, by supplemental agency regulation, prohibit its employees who are bank examiners from obtaining loans from banks they examine. Examination of a member bank could have no effect on an employee's fixed obligation to repay a loan from that bank and, thus, would not affect an employee's financial interests so as to require disqualification under § 2635.402. Nevertheless, a loan from a member bank is a discrete financial interest within the meaning of § 2635.403(c) that may, when appropriate, be prohibited by supplemental agency regulation.
(2) The term financial interest includes service, with or without compensation, as an officer, director, trustee, general partner or employee of any person, including a nonprofit entity, whose financial interests are imputed to the employee under § 2635.402(b)(2) (iii) or (iv).
The Foundation for the Preservation of Wild Horses maintains herds of horses that graze on public and private lands. Because its costs are affected by Federal policies regarding grazing permits, the Foundation routinely comments on all proposed rules governing use of Federal grasslands issued by the Bureau of Land Management. BLM may require an employee to resign his uncompensated position as Vice President of the Foundation as a condition of his promotion to a policy-level position within the Bureau rather than allowing him to rely on disqualification in particular cases.
(d)
(e)
(a) This subpart contains two provisions intended to ensure that an employee takes appropriate steps to avoid an appearance of loss of impartiality in the performance of his official duties. Under § 2635.502, unless he receives prior authorization, an employee should not participate in a particular matter involving specific parties which he knows is likely to affect the financial interests of a member of his household, or in which he knows a person with whom he has a covered relationship is or represents a party, if he determines that a reasonable person with knowledge of the relevant facts would question his impartiality in the matter. An employee who is concerned that other circumstances would raise a question regarding his impartiality should use the process described in § 2635.502 to determine whether he should or should not participate in a particular matter.
(b) Under § 2635.503, an employee who has received an extraordinary severance or other payment from a former employer prior to entering Government service is subject, in the absence of a waiver, to a two-year period of disqualification from participation in particular matters in which that former employer is or represents a party.
Questions regarding impartiality necessarily arise when an employee's official duties impact upon the employee's own financial interests or those of certain other persons, such as the employee's spouse or minor child. An employee is prohibited by criminal statute, 18 U.S.C. 208(a), from participating personally and substantially in an official capacity in any particular matter in
(a)
(1) In considering whether a relationship would cause a reasonable person to question his impartiality, an employee may seek the assistance of his supervisor, an agency ethics official or the agency designee.
(2) An employee who is concerned that circumstances other than those specifically described in this section would raise a question regarding his impartiality should use the process described in this section to determine whether he should or should not participate in a particular matter.
(b)
(1) An employee has a
(i) A person, other than a prospective employer described in § 2635.603(c), with whom the employee has or seeks a business, contractual or other financial relationship that involves other than a routine consumer transaction;
An employee who is seeking employment within the meaning of § 2635.603 shall comply with subpart F of this part rather than with this section.
(ii) A person who is a member of the employee's household, or who is a relative with whom the employee has a close personal relationship;
(iii) A person for whom the employee's spouse, parent or dependent child is, to the employee's knowledge, serving or seeking to serve as an officer, director, trustee, general partner, agent, attorney, consultant, contractor or employee;
(iv) Any person for whom the employee has, within the last year, served as officer, director, trustee, general partner, agent, attorney, consultant, contractor or employee; or
(v) An organization, other than a political party described in 26 U.S.C. 527(e), in which the employee is an active participant. Participation is active if, for example, it involves service as an official of the organization or in a capacity similar to that of a committee or subcommittee chairperson or spokesperson, or participation in directing the activities of the organization. In other cases, significant time devoted to promoting specific programs of the organization, including coordination of fundraising efforts, is an indication of active participation.
Nothing in this section shall be construed to suggest that an employee should not participate in a matter because of his political, religious or moral views.
(2)
(3)
An employee of the General Services Administration has made an offer to purchase a restaurant owned by a local developer. The developer has submitted an offer in response to a GSA solicitation for lease of office space. Under the circumstances, she would be correct in concluding that a reasonable person would be likely to question her impartiality if she were to participate in evaluating that developer's or its competitor's lease proposal.
An employee of the Department of Labor is providing technical assistance in drafting occupational safety and health legislation that will affect all employers of five or more persons. His wife is employed as an administrative assistant by a large corporation that will incur additional costs if the proposed legislation is enacted. Because the legislation is not a particular matter involving specific parties, the employee may continue to work on the legislation and need not be concerned that his wife's employment with an affected corporation would raise a question concerning his impartiality.
An employee of the Defense Logistics Agency who has responsibilities for testing avionics being produced by an Air Force contractor has just learned that his sister-in-law has accepted employment as an engineer with the contractor's parent corporation. Where the parent corporation is a conglomerate, the employee could reasonably conclude that, under the circumstances, a reasonable person would not be likely to question his impartiality if he were to continue to perform his test and evaluation responsibilities.
An engineer has just resigned from her position as vice president of an electronics company in order to accept employment with the Federal Aviation Administration in a position involving procurement responsibilities. Although the employee did not receive an extraordinary payment in connection with her resignation and has severed all financial ties with the firm, under the circumstances she would be correct in concluding that her former service as an officer of the company would be likely to cause a reasonable person to question her impartiality if she were to participate in the administration of a DOT contract for which the firm is a first-tier subcontractor.
An employee of the Internal Revenue Service is a member of a private organization whose purpose is to restore a Victorian-era railroad station and she chairs its annual fundraising drive. Under the circumstances, the employee would be correct in concluding that her active membership in the organization would be likely to cause a reasonable person to question her impartiality if she were to participate in an IRS determination regarding the tax-exempt status of the organization.
(c)
(1) If the agency designee determines that the employee's impartiality is likely to be questioned, he shall then determine, in accordance with paragraph (d) of this section, whether the employee should be authorized to participate in the matter. Where the agency designee determines that the employee's participation should not be authorized, the employee will be disqualified from participation in the matter in accordance with paragraph (e) of this section.
(2) If the agency designee determines that the employee's impartiality is not likely to be questioned, he may advise the employee, including an employee who has reached a contrary conclusion under paragraph (a) of this section,
(d)
(1) The nature of the relationship involved;
(2) The effect that resolution of the matter would have upon the financial interests of the person involved in the relationship;
(3) The nature and importance of the employee's role in the matter, including the extent to which the employee is called upon to exercise discretion in the matter;
(4) The sensitivity of the matter;
(5) The difficulty of reassigning the matter to another employee; and
(6) Adjustments that may be made in the employee's duties that would reduce or eliminate the likelihood that a reasonable person would question the employee's impartiality.
Authorization by the agency designee shall be documented in writing at the agency designee's discretion or when requested by the employee. An employee who has been authorized to participate in a particular matter involving specific parties may not thereafter disqualify himself from participation in the matter on the basis of an appearance problem involving the same circumstances that have been considered by the agency designee.
The Deputy Director of Personnel for the Department of the Treasury and an attorney with the Department's Office of General Counsel are general partners in a real estate partnership. The Deputy Director advises his supervisor, the Director of Personnel, of the relationship upon being assigned to a selection panel for a position for which his partner has applied. If selected, the partner would receive a substantial increase in salary. The agency designee cannot authorize the Deputy Director to participate on the panel under the authority of this section since the Deputy Director is prohibited by criminal statute, 18 U.S.C. 208(a), from participating in a particular matter affecting the financial interest of a person who is his general partner. See § 2635.402.
A new employee of the Securities and Exchange Commission is assigned to an investigation of insider trading by the brokerage house where she had recently been employed. Because of the sensitivity of the investigation, the agency designee may be unable to conclude that the Government's interest in the employee's participation in the investigation outweighs the concern that a reasonable person may question the integrity of the investigation, even though the employee has severed all financial ties with the company. Based on consideration of all relevant circumstances, the agency designee might determine, however, that it is in the interest of the Government for the employee to pass on a routine filing by the particular brokerage house.
An Internal Revenue Service employee involved in a long and complex tax audit is advised by her son that he has just accepted an entry-level management position with a corporation whose taxes are the subject of the audit. Because the audit is essentially complete and because the employee is the only one with an intimate knowledge of the case, the agency designee might determine, after considering all relevant circumstances, that it is in the Government's interest for the employee to complete the audit, which is subject to additional levels of review.
(e)
(1)
(2)
(f)
(a)
Following his confirmation hearings and one month before his scheduled swearing in, a nominee to the position of Assistant Secretary of a department received an extraordinary payment from his employer. For one year and 11 months after his swearing in, the Assistant Secretary may not participate in any particular matter to which his former employer is a party.
An employee received an extraordinary payment from her former employer, a coal mine operator, prior to entering on duty with the Department of the Interior. For two years thereafter, she may not participate in a determination regarding her former employer's obligation to reclaim a particular mining site, because her former employer is a party to the matter. However, she may help to draft reclamation legislation affecting all coal mining operations because this legislation does not involve any parties.
(b)
(1)
(i) On the basis of a determination made after it became known to the former employer that the individual was being considered for or had accepted a Government position; and
(ii) Other than pursuant to the former employer's established compensation, partnership, or benefits program. A compensation, partnership, or benefits program will be deemed an established program if it is contained in bylaws, a contract or other written form, or if there is a history of similar payments made to others not entering into Federal service.
The vice president of a small corporation is nominated to be an ambassador. In recognition of his service to the corporation, the board of directors votes to pay him $50,000 upon his confirmation in addition to the regular severance payment provided for by the corporate bylaws. The regular severance payment is not an extraordinary payment. The gratuitous payment of $50,000 is an extraordinary payment, since the corporation had not made similar payments to other departing officers.
(2)
(c)
This subpart contains a disqualification requirement that applies to employees when seeking employment with persons whose financial interests would be directly and predictably affected by particular matters in which the employees participate personally and substantially. Specifically, it addresses the requirement of 18 U.S.C. 208(a) that an employee disqualify himself from participation in any particular matter that will have a direct and predictable effect on the financial interests of a person “with whom he is negotiating or has any arrangement concerning prospective employment.” See § 2635.402 and § 2640.103 of this chapter. Beyond this statutory requirement, it also addresses the issues of lack of impartiality that require disqualification from particular matters affecting the financial interests of a prospective employer when an employee's actions in seeking employment fall short of actual employment negotiations.
To ensure that he does not violate 18 U.S.C. 208(a) or the principles of ethical conduct contained in § 2635.101(b), an employee who is seeking employment or who has an arrangement concerning prospective employment shall comply with the applicable disqualification requirements of §§ 2635.604 and 2635.606 if particular matters in which the employee will be participating personally and substantially would directly and predictably affect the financial interests of a prospective employer or of a person with whom he has an arrangement concerning prospective employment. Compliance with this subpart also will ensure that the employee does not violate subpart D or E of this part.
An employee who is seeking employment with a person whose financial interests are not affected directly and predictably by particular matters in which he participates personally and substantially has no obligation under this subpart. An employee may, however, be subject to other statutes which impose requirements on employment contacts or discussions, such as 41 U.S.C. 423(c), applicable to agency officials involved in certain procurement matters.
(a)
(2)
(b)
For purposes of this subpart:
(a)
An employee of the Bureau of Indian Affairs who has announced her intention to retire is approached by tribal representatives concerning a possible consulting contract with the tribe. The independent contractual relationship the tribe wishes to negotiate is employment for purposes of this subpart.
An employee of the Department of Health and Human Services is invited to a meeting with officials of a nonprofit corporation to discuss the possibility of his serving as a member of the corporation's board of directors. Service, with or without compensation, as a member of the board of directors constitutes employment for purposes of this subpart.
(b) An employee is seeking employment once he has begun seeking employment within the meaning of paragraph (b)(1) of this section and until he is no longer seeking employment within the meaning of paragraph (b)(2) of this section.
(1) An employee has begun seeking employment if he has directly or indirectly:
(i) Engaged in negotiations for employment with any person. For these purposes, as for 18 U.S.C. 208(a), the term negotiations means discussion or communication with another person, or such person's agent or intermediary, mutually conducted with a view toward reaching an agreement regarding possible employment with that person. The term is not limited to discussions of specific terms and conditions of employment in a specific position;
(ii) Made an unsolicited communication to any person, or such person's agent or intermediary, regarding possible employment with that person. However, the employee has not begun seeking employment if that communication was:
(A) For the sole purpose of requesting a job application; or
(B) For the purpose of submitting a resume or other employment proposal to a person affected by the performance or nonperformance of the employee's duties only as part of an industry or other discrete class. The employee will be considered to have begun seeking employment upon receipt of any response indicating an interest in employment discussions; or
(iii) Made a response other than rejection to an unsolicited communication from any person, or such person's agent or intermediary, regarding possible employment with that person.
(2) An employee is no longer seeking employment when:
(i) The employee or the prospective employer rejects the possibility of employment and all discussions of possible employment have terminated; or
(ii) Two months have transpired after the employee's dispatch of an unsolicited resume or employment proposal, provided the employee has received no indication of interest in employment discussions from the prospective employer.
(3) For purposes of this definition, a response that defers discussions until the foreseeable future does not constitute rejection of an unsolicited employment overture, proposal, or resume nor rejection of a prospective employment possibility.
An employee of the Health Care Financing Administration is complimented on her work by an official of a State Health Department who asks her to call if she is ever interested in leaving Federal service. The employee explains to the State official that she is very happy with her job at HCFA and is not interested in another job. She thanks him for his compliment regarding her work and adds that she'll remember his interest if she ever decides to leave the Government. The employee has rejected the unsolicited employment overture and has not begun seeking employment.
The employee in the preceding example responds by stating that she cannot discuss future employment while she is working on a project affecting the State's health care funding but would like to discuss employment with the State when the project is completed. Because the employee has merely deferred employment discussions until the foreseeable future, she has begun seeking employment with the State Health Department.
An employee of the Defense Contract Audit Agency is auditing the overhead accounts of an Army contractor. While at the contractor's headquarters, the head of the contractor's accounting division tells the employee that his division is thinking about
An employee of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration helping to draft safety standards applicable to the textile industry has mailed his resume to 25 textile manufacturers. He has not begun seeking employment with any of the twenty-five. If he receives a response from one of the resume recipients indicating an interest in employment discussions, the employee will have begun seeking employment with the respondent at that time.
A special Government employee of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation is serving on an advisory committee formed for the purpose of reviewing rules applicable to all member banks. She mails an unsolicited letter to a member bank offering her services as a contract consultant. She has not begun seeking employment with the bank until she receives some response indicating an interest in discussing her employment proposal. A letter merely acknowledging receipt of the proposal is not an indication of interest in employment discussions.
A geologist employed by the U.S. Geological Survey has been working as a member of a team preparing the Government's case in an action brought by the Government against six oil companies. The geologist sends her resume to an oil company that is a named defendant in the action. The geologist has begun seeking employment with that oil company and will be seeking employment for two months from the date the resume was mailed. However, if she withdraws her application or is notified within the two-month period that her resume has been rejected, she will no longer be seeking employment with the oil company as of the date she makes such withdrawal or receives such notification.
(c)
(1) A person who uses that agent or other intermediary for the purpose of seeking to establish an employment relationship with the employee if the agent identifies the prospective employer to the employee; and
(2) A person contacted by the employee's agent or other intermediary for the purpose of seeking to establish an employment relationship if the agent identifies the prospective employer to the employee.
An employee of the Federal Aviation Administration has overall responsibility for airport safety inspections in a three-state area. She has retained an employment search firm to help her find another job. The search firm has just reported to the FAA employee that it has given her resume to and had promising discussions with two airport authorities within her jurisdiction. Even though the employee has not personally had employment discussions with either, each airport authority is her prospective employer. She began seeking employment with each upon learning its identity and that it has been given her resume.
(d)
(a)
(b)
(c)
An employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs is participating in the audit of a contract for laboratory support services. Before sending his resume to a lab which is a subcontractor under the VA contract, the employee should disqualify himself from participation in the audit. Since he cannot withdraw from participation in the contract audit without the approval of his supervisor, he should disclose his intentions to his supervisor in order that appropriate adjustments in his work assignments can be made.
An employee of the Food and Drug Administration is contacted in writing by a pharmaceutical company concerning possible employment with the company. The employee is involved in testing a drug for which the company is seeking FDA approval. Before making a response that is not a rejection, the employee should disqualify himself from further participation in the testing. Where he has authority to ask his colleague to assume his testing responsibilities, he may accomplish his disqualification by transferring the work to that coworker. However, to ensure that his colleague and others with whom he had been working on the recommendations do not seek his advice regarding testing or otherwise involve him in the matter, it may be necessary for him to advise those individuals of his disqualification.
The General Counsel of a regulatory agency wishes to engage in discussions regarding possible employment as corporate counsel of a regulated entity. Matters directly affecting the financial interests of the regulated entity are pending within the Office of General Counsel, but the General Counsel will not be called upon to act in any such matter because signature authority for that particular class of matters has been delegated to an Assistant General Counsel. Because the General Counsel is responsible for assigning work within the Office of General Counsel, he can in fact accomplish his disqualification by simply avoiding any involvement in matters affecting the regulated entity. However, because it is likely to be assumed by others that the General Counsel is involved in all matters within the cognizance of the Office of General Counsel, he would be wise to file a written disqualification statement with the Commissioners of the regulatory agency and provide his subordinates with written notification of his disqualification, or he may be specifically asked by an agency ethics official or the Commissioners to file a written disqualification statement.
A scientist is employed by the National Science Foundation as a special Government employee to serve on a panel that reviews grant applications to fund research relating to deterioration of the ozone layer. She is discussing possible employment as a member of the faculty of a university that several years earlier received an NSF grant to study the effect of fluorocarbons, but has no grant application pending. As long as the university does not submit a new application for the panel's review, the employee would not have to take any action to effect disqualification.
(d)
(a)
An employee of the Department of Agriculture has had two telephone conversations with an orange grower regarding possible employment. They have discussed the employee's qualifications for a particular position with the grower, but have not yet discussed salary or other specific terms of employment. The employee is negotiating for employment within the meaning of 18 U.S.C. 208(a) and § 2635.603(b)(1)(i). In the absence of a written waiver issued under 18 U.S.C. 208(b)(1), she may not take official action on a complaint filed by a competitor alleging that the grower has shipped oranges in violation of applicable quotas.
(b)
Within the past month, an employee of the Education Department mailed her resume to a university. She is thus seeking employment with the university within the meaning of § 2635.603(b)(1)(ii) even though she has received no reply. In the absence of specific authorization by the agency designee in accordance with § 2635.502(d), she may not participate in an assignment to review a grant application submitted by the university.
(a)
A military officer has accepted a job with a defense contractor to begin in six months, after his retirement from military service. During the period that he remains with the Government, the officer may not participate in the administration of a contract with that particular defense contractor unless he has received a written waiver under the authority of 18 U.S.C. 208(b)(1).
An accountant has just been offered a job with the Comptroller of the Currency which involves a two-year limited appointment. Her private employer, a large corporation, believes the job will enhance her skills and has agreed to give her a two-year unpaid leave of absence at the end of which she has agreed to return to work for the corporation. During the two-year period she is to be a COC employee, the accountant will have an arrangement concerning future employment with the corporation that will require her disqualification from participation in any particular matter that will have a direct and predictable effect on the corporation's financial interests.
(b)
An employee of the Securities and Exchange Commission was relieved of responsibility for an investigation of a broker-dealer while seeking employment with the law firm representing the broker-dealer in that matter. The firm did not offer her the partnership position she sought. Even though she is no longer seeking employment with the firm, she may continue to be disqualified from participating in the investigation based on a determination by the agency designee that the concern that a reasonable person might question whether, in view of the history of the employment negotiations, she could act impartially in the matter outweighs the Government's interest in her participation.
This subpart contains provisions relating to the proper use of official time and authority, and of information and resources to which an employee has access because of his Federal employment. This subpart sets forth standards relating to:
(a) Use of public office for private gain;
(b) Use of nonpublic information;
(c) Use of Government property; and
(d) Use of official time.
An employee shall not use his public office for his own private gain, for the endorsement of any product, service or enterprise, or for the private gain of friends, relatives, or persons with whom the employee is affiliated in a nongovernmental capacity, including nonprofit organizations of which the employee is an officer or member, and persons with whom the employee has or seeks employment or business relations. The specific prohibitions set forth in paragraphs (a) through (d) of this section apply this general standard, but are not intended to be exclusive or to limit the application of this section.
(a)
Offering to pursue a relative's consumer complaint over a household appliance, an employee of the Securities and Exchange Commission called the general counsel of the manufacturer and, in the course of discussing the problem, stated that he worked at the SEC and was responsible for reviewing the company's filings. The employee violated the prohibition against use of public office for private gain by invoking his official authority in an attempt to influence action to benefit his relative.
An employee of the Department of Commerce was asked by a friend to determine why his firm's export license had not yet been granted by another office within the Department of Commerce. At a department-level staff meeting, the employee raised as a matter for official inquiry the delay in approval of the particular license and asked that the particular license be expedited. The official used her public office in an attempt to benefit her friend and, in acting as her friend's agent for the purpose of pursuing the export license with the Department of Commerce, may also have violated 18 U.S.C. 205.
(b)
An employee of the Department of the Treasury who is asked to provide a letter of recommendation for a former subordinate on his staff may provide the recommendation using official stationery and may sign the letter using his official title. If, however, the request is for the recommendation of a personal friend with whom he has not dealt in the Government, the employee should not use official stationery or sign the letter of recommendation using his official title, unless the recommendation is for Federal employment. In writing the letter of recommendation for his personal friend, it may be appropriate for the employee to refer to his official position in the body of the letter.
(c)
(1) In furtherance of statutory authority to promote products, services or enterprises; or
(2) As a result of documentation of compliance with agency requirements or standards or as the result of recognition for achievement given under an agency program of recognition for accomplishment in support of the agency's mission.
A Commissioner of the Consumer Product Safety Commission may not appear in a television commercial in which she endorses an electrical appliance produced by her former employer, stating that it has been found by the CPSC to be safe for residential use.
A Foreign Commercial Service officer from the Department of Commerce is asked by a United States telecommunications company to meet with representatives of the Government of Spain, which is in the process of procuring telecommunications services and equipment. The company is bidding against five European companies and the statutory mission of the Department of Commerce includes assisting the export activities of U.S. companies. As part of his official duties, the Foreign Commercial Service officer may meet with Spanish officials and explain the advantages of procurement from the United States company.
The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency may sign a letter to an oil company indicating that its refining operations are in compliance with Federal air quality standards even though he knows that the company has routinely displayed letters of this type in television commercials portraying it as a “trustee of the environment for future generations.”
An Assistant Attorney General may not use his official title or refer to his Government position in a book jacket endorsement of a novel about organized crime written by an author whose work he admires. Nor may he do so in a book review published in a newspaper.
(d)
(e)
(a)
(b)
(1) Is routinely exempt from disclosure under 5 U.S.C. 552 or otherwise protected from disclosure by statute, Executive order or regulation;
(2) Is designated as confidential by an agency; or
(3) Has not actually been disseminated to the general public and is not authorized to be made available to the public on request.
A Navy employee learns in the course of her duties that a small corporation will be awarded a Navy contract for electrical test equipment. She may not take any action to purchase stock in the corporation or its suppliers and she may not advise friends or relatives to do so until after public announcement of the award. Such actions could violate Federal securities statutes as well as this section.
A General Services Administration employee involved in evaluating proposals for a construction contract cannot disclose the terms of a competing proposal to a friend employed by a company bidding on the work. Prior to award of the contract, bid or proposal information is nonpublic information specifically protected by 41 U.S.C. 423.
An employee is a member of a source selection team assigned to review the proposals submitted by several companies in response to an Army solicitation for spare parts. As a member of the evaluation team, the employee has access to proprietary information regarding the production methods of Alpha Corporation, one of the competitors. He may not use that information to assist Beta Company in drafting a proposal to compete for a Navy spare parts contract. The Federal Acquisition Regulation in 48 CFR parts 3, 14 and 15 restricts the release of information related to procurements and other contractor information that must be protected under 18 U.S.C. 1905 and 41 U.S.C. 423.
An employee of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission inadvertently includes a document that is exempt from disclosure with a group of documents released in response to a Freedom of Information Act request. Regardless of whether the document is used improperly, the employee's disclosure does not violate this section because it was not a knowing unauthorized disclosure made for the purpose of furthering a private interest.
An employee of the Army Corps of Engineers is actively involved in the activities of an organization whose goals relate to protection of the environment. The employee may not, other than as permitted by agency procedures, give the organization or a newspaper reporter nonpublic information about long-range plans to build a particular dam.
(a)
(b)
(1)
(2)
Under regulations of the General Services Administration at 41 CFR 101-35.201, an employee may make a personal long distance call charged to her personal calling card.
An employee of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission whose office computer gives him access to a commercial service providing information for investors may not use that service for personal investment research.
In accordance with Office of Personnel Management regulations at part 251 of this title, an attorney employed by the Department of Justice may be permitted to use her office word processor and agency photocopy equipment to prepare a paper to be presented at a conference sponsored by a professional association of which she is a member.
(a)
An employee of the Social Security Administration may use official time to engage in certain representational activities on behalf of the employee union of which she is a member. Under 5 U.S.C. 7131, this is a proper use of her official time even though it does not involve performance of her assigned duties as a disability claims examiner.
A pharmacist employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs has been granted excused absence to participate as a speaker in a conference on drug abuse sponsored by the professional association to which he belongs. Although excused absence granted by an agency in accordance with guidance in chapter 630 of the Federal Personnel Manual allows an employee to be absent from his official duties without charge to his annual leave account, such absence is not on official time.
(b)
An employee of the Department of Housing and Urban Development may not ask his secretary to type his personal correspondence during duty hours. Further, directing or coercing a subordinate to perform such activities during nonduty hours constitutes an improper use of public office for private gain in violation of § 2635.702(a). Where the arrangement is entirely voluntary and appropriate compensation is paid, the secretary may type the correspondence at home on her own time. Where the compensation is not adequate, however, the arrangement would involve a gift to the superior in violation of the standards in subpart C of this part.
(a) This subpart contains provisions relating to outside employment, outside activities and personal financial obligations of employees that are in addition to the principles and standards set forth in other subparts of this part. Several of these provisions apply to uncompensated as well as to compensated outside activities.
(b) An employee who wishes to engage in outside employment or other outside activities must comply with all relevant provisions of this subpart, including, when applicable:
(1) The prohibition on outside employment or any other outside activity that conflicts with the employee's official duties;
(2) Any agency-specific requirement for prior approval of outside employment or activities;
(3) The limitations on receipt of outside earned income by certain Presidential appointees and other noncareer employees;
(4) The limitations on paid and unpaid service as an expert witness;
(5) The limitations on participation in professional organizations;
(6) The limitations on paid and unpaid teaching, speaking, and writing; and
(7) The limitations on fundraising activities.
(c) Outside employment and other outside activities of an employee must also comply with applicable provisions set forth in other subparts of this part and in supplemental agency regulations. These include the principle that an employee shall endeavor to avoid actions creating an appearance of violating any of the ethical standards in this part and the prohibition against use of official position for an employee's private gain or for the private gain of any person with whom he has employment or business relations or is otherwise affiliated in a nongovernmental capacity.
(d) In addition to the provisions of this and other subparts of this part, an employee who wishes to engage in outside employment or other outside activities must comply with applicable statutes and regulations. Relevant provisions of law, many of which are listed in subpart I of this part, may include:
(1) 18 U.S.C. 201(b), which prohibits a public official from seeking, accepting or agreeing to receive or accept anything of value in return for being influenced in the performance of an official act or for being induced to take or omit to take any action in violation of his official duty;
(2) 18 U.S.C. 201(c), which prohibits a public official, otherwise than as provided by law for the proper discharge of official duty, from seeking, accepting, or agreeing to receive or accept anything of value for or because of any official act;
(3) 18 U.S.C. 203(a), which prohibits an employee from seeking, accepting, or agreeing to receive or accept compensation for any representational services, rendered personally or by another, in relation to any particular matter in which the United States is a party or has a direct and substantial interest, before any department, agency, or other specified entity. This statute contains several exceptions, as well as standards for special Government employees that limit the scope of the restriction;
(4) 18 U.S.C. 205, which prohibits an employee, whether or not for compensation, from acting as agent or attorney for anyone in a claim against the United States or from acting as agent or attorney for anyone, before any department, agency, or other specified entity, in any particular matter in which the United States is a party or has a direct and substantial interest. It also prohibits receipt of any gratuity, or any share of or interest in a claim against the United States, in consideration for assisting in the prosecution of such claim. This statute contains several exceptions, as well as standards for special Government employees that limit the scope of the restrictions;
(5) 18 U.S.C. 209, which prohibits an employee, other than a special Government employee, from receiving any salary or any contribution to or supplementation of salary from any source other than the United States as compensation for services as a Government employee. The statute contains several exceptions that limit its applicability;
(6) The Emoluments Clause of the United States Constitution, article I, section 9, clause 8, which prohibits anyone holding an office of profit or trust under the United States from accepting any gift, office, title or emolument, including salary or compensation, from any foreign government except as authorized by Congress. In addition, 18 U.S.C. 219 generally prohibits any public official from being or acting as an agent of a foreign principal, including a foreign government, corporation or person, if the employee would be required to register as a foreign agent under 22 U.S.C. 611
(7) The Hatch Act Reform Amendments, 5 U.S.C. 7321 through 7326, which govern the political activities of executive branch employees; and
(8) The limitations on outside employment, 5 U.S.C. App. (Ethics in Government Act of 1978), which prohibit a covered noncareer employee's receipt of compensation for specified activities and provide that he shall not allow his name to be used by any firm or other entity which provides professional services involving a fiduciary relationship. Implementing regulations are contained in §§ 2636.305 through 2636.307 of this chapter.
An employee shall not engage in outside employment or any other outside activity that conflicts with his official duties. An activity conflicts with an employee's official duties:
(a) If it is prohibited by statute or by an agency supplemental regulation; or
(b) If, under the standards set forth in §§ 2635.402 and 2635.502, it would require the employee's disqualification from matters so central or critical to the performance of his official duties that the employee's ability to perform the duties of his position would be materially impaired.
Employees are cautioned that even though an outside activity may not be prohibited under this section, it may violate other principles or standards set forth in this part or require the employee to disqualify himself from participation in certain particular matters under either subpart D or subpart E of this part.
An employee of the Environmental Protection Agency has just been promoted. His principal duty in his new position is to write regulations relating to the disposal of hazardous waste. The employee may
An employee of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration who was and is expected again to be instrumental in formulating new OSHA safety standards applicable to manufacturers that use chemical solvents has been offered a consulting contract to provide advice to an affected company in restructuring its manufacturing operations to comply with the OSHA standards. The employee should not enter into the consulting arrangement even though he is not currently working on OSHA standards affecting this industry and his consulting contract can be expected to be completed before he again works on such standards. Even though the consulting arrangement would not be a conflicting activity within the meaning of § 2635.802, it would create an appearance that the employee had used his official position to obtain the compensated outside business opportunity and it would create the further appearance of using his public office for the private gain of the manufacturer.
When required by agency supplemental regulation issued after February 3, 1993, an employee shall obtain prior approval before engaging in outside employment or activities. Where it is determined to be necessary or desirable for the purpose of administering its ethics program, an agency shall, by supplemental regulation, require employees or any category of employees to obtain prior approval before engaging in specific types of outside activities, including outside employment.
(a)
(b)
In addition to the 15 percent limitation on outside earned income, covered noncareer employees are prohibited from receiving any compensation for: practicing a profession which involves a fiduciary relationship; affiliating with or being employed by a firm or other entity which provides professional services involving a fiduciary relationship; serving as an officer or member of the board of any association, corporation or other entity; or teaching without prior approval. Implementing regulations are contained in §§ 2636.305 through 2636.307 of this chapter.
(c)
(1)
(2)
(i) A position filled under the authority of 3 U.S.C. 105 or 3 U.S.C. 107(a) for which the rate of basic pay is less than that for GS-9, step 1 of the General Schedule;
(ii) A position, within a White House operating unit, that is designated as not normally subject to change as a result of a Presidential transition;
(iii) A position within the uniformed services; or
(iv) A position in which a member of the foreign service is serving that does not require advice and consent of the Senate.
A career Department of Justice employee who is detailed to a policy-making position in the White House Office that is ordinarily filled by a noncareer employee is not a Presidential appointee to a full-time noncareer position.
A Department of Energy employee appointed under § 213.3301 of this title to a Schedule C position is appointed by the agency and, thus, is not a Presidential appointee to a full-time noncareer position.
(a)
(b)
(2) The restriction in paragraph (b)(1) of this section shall apply to a special Government employee who:
(i) Is appointed by the President;
(ii) Serves on a commission established by statute; or
(iii) Has served or is expected to serve for more than 60 days in a period of 365 consecutive days.
(c)
(1) After consultation with the agency representing the Government in the proceeding or, if the Government is not a party, with the Department of Justice and the agency with the most direct and substantial interest in the matter, the designated agency ethics official determines that the employee's service as an expert witness is in the interest of the Government; or
(2) The designated agency ethics official determines that the subject matter of the testimony does not relate to the employee's official duties within the meaning of § 2635.807(a)(2)(i).
(d) Nothing in this section prohibits an employee from serving as a fact witness when subpoenaed by an appropriate authority.
(a)
(1)
(i) The requirement contained in § 2636.307 of this chapter that covered noncareer employees obtain advance
(ii) The prohibitions and limitations in § 2635.804 and in § 2636.304 of this chapter on receipt of outside earned income applicable to certain Presidential appointees and to other covered noncareer employees.
(2)
(i) Teaching, speaking or writing relates to the employee's official duties if:
(A) The activity is undertaken as part of the employee's official duties;
(B) The circumstances indicate that the invitation to engage in the activity was extended to the employee primarily because of his official position rather than his expertise on the particular subject matter;
(C) The invitation to engage in the activity or the offer of compensation for the activity was extended to the employee, directly or indirectly, by a person who has interests that may be affected substantially by performance or nonperformance of the employee's official duties;
(D) The information conveyed through the activity draws substantially on ideas or official data that are nonpublic information as defined in § 2635.703(b); or
(E) Except as provided in paragraph (a)(2)(i)(E)(
(
(
(
(
Section 2635.807(a)(2)(i)(E) does not preclude an employee, other than a covered noncareer employee, from receiving compensation for teaching, speaking or writing on a subject within the employee's discipline or inherent area of expertise based on his educational background or experience even though the teaching, speaking or writing deals generally with a subject within the agency's areas of responsibility.
The Director of the Division of Enforcement at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission has a keen interest in stamp collecting and has spent years developing his own collection as well as studying the field generally. He is asked by an international society of philatelists to give a series of four lectures on how to assess the value of American stamps. Because the subject does not relate to his official duties, the Director may accept compensation for the lecture series. He could not, however, accept a similar invitation from a commodities broker.
A scientist at the National Institutes of Health, whose principal area of Government research is the molecular basis of the development of cancer, could not be compensated for writing a book which focuses specifically on the research she conducts in her position at NIH, and thus, relates to her official duties. However, the scientist could receive compensation for writing or editing a textbook on the treatment of all cancers, provided that the book does not focus on recent research at NIH, but rather conveys scientific knowledge gleaned from the scientific community as a whole. The book might include a chapter, among many other chapters, which discusses the molecular basis of cancer development. Additionally, the book could contain brief discussions of recent developments in cancer treatment, even though some of those developments are derived from NIH research, as long as it is available to the public.
On his own time, a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration employee prepared a consumer's guide to purchasing a safe automobile that focuses on automobile crash worthiness statistics gathered and made public by NHTSA. He may not receive royalties or any other form of compensation for the guide. The guide deals in significant part with the programs or operations of NHTSA and, therefore, relates to the employee's official duties. On the other hand, the employee could receive royalties
An employee of the Securities and Exchange Commission may not receive compensation for a book which focuses specifically on the regulation of the securities industry in the United States, since that subject concerns the regulatory programs or operations of the SEC. The employee may, however, write a book about the advantages of investing in various types of securities as long as the book contains only an incidental discussion of any program or operation of the SEC.
An employee of the Department of Commerce who works in the Department's employee relations office is an acknowledged expert in the field of Federal employee labor relations, and participates in Department negotiations with employee unions. The employee may receive compensation from a private training institute for a series of lectures which describe the decisions of the Federal Labor Relations Authority concerning unfair labor practices, provided that her lectures do not contain any significant discussion of labor relations cases handled at the Department of Commerce, or the Department's labor relations policies. Federal Labor Relations Authority decisions concerning Federal employee unfair labor practices are not a specific program or operation of the Department of Commerce and thus do not relate to the employee's official duties. However, an employee of the FLRA could not give the same presentations for compensation.
A program analyst employed at the Environmental Protection Agency may receive royalties and other compensation for a book about the history of the environmental movement in the United States even though it contains brief references to the creation and responsibilities of the EPA. A covered noncareer employee of the EPA, however, could not receive compensation for writing the same book because it deals with the general subject matter area affected by EPA programs and operations. Neither employee could receive compensation for writing a book that focuses on specific EPA regulations or otherwise on its programs and operations.
An attorney in private practice has been given a one year appointment as a special Government employee to serve on an advisory committee convened for the purpose of surveying and recommending modification of procurement regulations that deter small businesses from competing for Government contracts. Because his service under that appointment is not expected to exceed 60 days, the attorney may accept compensation for an article about the anticompetitive effects of certain regulatory certification requirements even though those regulations are being reviewed by the advisory committee. The regulations which are the focus of the advisory committee deliberations are not a particular matter involving specific parties. Because the information is nonpublic, he could not, however, accept compensation for an article which recounts advisory committee deliberations that took place in a meeting closed to the public in order to discuss proprietary information provided by a small business.
A biologist who is an expert in marine life is employed for more than 60 days in a year as a special Government employee by the National Science Foundation to assist in developing a program of grants by the Foundation for the study of coral reefs. The biologist may continue to receive compensation for speaking, teaching and writing about marine life generally and coral reefs specifically. However, during the term of her appointment as a special Government employee, she may not receive compensation for an article about the NSF program she is participating in developing. Only the latter would concern a matter to which the special Government employee is assigned.
An expert on international banking transactions has been given a one-year appointment as a special Government employee to assist in analyzing evidence in the Government's fraud prosecution of owners of a failed savings and loan association. It is anticipated that she will serve fewer than 60 days under that appointment. Nevertheless, during her appointment, the expert may not accept compensation for an article about the fraud prosecution, even though the article does not reveal nonpublic information. The prosecution is a particular matter that involves specific parties.
(ii)
(iii)
(A) Items offered by any source that could be accepted from a prohibited source under subpart B of this part;
(B) Meals or other incidents of attendance such as waiver of attendance fees or course materials furnished as part of the event at which the teaching or speaking takes place;
(C) Copies of books or of publications containing articles, reprints of articles, tapes of speeches, and similar items that provide a record of the teaching, speaking or writing activity; or
(D) In the case of an employee other than a covered noncareer employee as defined in 5 CFR 2636.303(a), travel expenses, consisting of transportation, lodgings or meals, incurred in connection with the teaching, speaking or writing activity.
Independent of § 2635.807(a), other authorities, such as 18 U.S.C. 209, in some circumstances may limit or entirely preclude an employee's acceptance of travel expenses. In addition, employees who file financial disclosure reports should be aware that, subject to applicable thresholds and exclusions, travel and travel reimbursements accepted from sources other than the United States Government must be reported on their financial disclosure reports.
A GS-15 employee of the Forest Service has developed and marketed, in her private capacity, a speed reading technique for which popular demand is growing. She is invited to speak about the technique by a representative of an organization that will be substantially affected by a regulation on land management which the employee is in the process of drafting for the Forest Service. The representative offers to pay the employee a $200 speaker's fee and to reimburse all her travel expenses. She may accept the travel reimbursements, but not the speaker's fee. The speaking activity is related to her official duties under § 2635.807(a)(2)(i)(C) and the fee is prohibited compensation for such speech; travel expenses incurred in connection with the speaking engagement, on the other hand, are not prohibited compensation for a GS-15 employee.
Solely because of her recent appointment to a Cabinet-level position, a Government official is invited by the Chief Executive Officer of a major international corporation to attend firm meetings to be held in Aspen for the purpose of addressing senior corporate managers on the importance of recreational activities to a balanced lifestyle. The firm offers to reimburse the official's travel expenses. The official may not accept the offer. The speaking activity is related to official duties under § 2635.807(a)(2)(i)(B) and, because she is a covered noncareer employee as defined in § 2636.303(a) of this chapter, the travel expenses are prohibited compensation as to her.
A GS-14 attorney at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) who played a lead role in a recently concluded merger case is invited to speak about the case, in his private capacity, at a conference in New York. The attorney has no public speaking responsibilities on behalf of the FTC apart from the judicial and administrative proceedings to which he is assigned. The sponsors of the conference offer to reimburse the attorney for expenses incurred in connection with his travel to New York. They also offer him, as compensation for his time and effort, a free trip to San Francisco. The attorney may accept the travel expenses to New York, but not the expenses to San Francisco. The lecture relates to his official duties under paragraphs (a)(2)(i)(E)(
An advocacy group dedicated to improving treatments for severe pain asks the NationalInstitutes of Health (NIH) to provide a conference speaker who can discuss recent advances in the agency's research on pain. The group also offers to pay the employee's travel expenses to attend the conference. After performing the required conflict of interest analysis, NIH authorizes acceptance of the travel expenses under 31 U.S.C. 1353 and the implementing General Services Administration regulation, as codified under 41 CFR chapter 304, and authorizes an employee to undertake the travel. At the conference the advocacy group, as agreed, pays the employee's hotel bill and provides several of his meals. Subsequently the group reimburses the agency for the cost of the employee's airfare and some additional meals. All of the payments by the advocacy group are permissible. Since the employee is speaking officially and the expense payments are accepted under 31 U.S.C. 1353, they are not prohibited compensation under § 2635.807(a)(2)(iii). The same result would obtain with respect to expense payments made by non-Government sources properly authorized under an agency
(iv)
(A) Paid to another person, including a charitable organization, on the basis of designation, recommendation or other specification by the employee; or
(B) Paid with the employee's knowledge and acquiescence to his parent, sibling, spouse, child, or dependent relative.
(v)
(vi)
(3)
(i) The regularly established curriculum of:
(A) An institution of higher education as defined at 20 U.S.C. 1141(a);
(B) An elementary school as defined at 20 U.S.C. 2891(8); or
(C) A secondary school as defined at 20 U.S.C. 2891(21); or
(ii) A program of education or training sponsored and funded by the Federal Government or by a State or local government which is not offered by an entity described in paragraph (a)(3)(i) of this section.
An employee of the Cost Accounting Standards Board who teaches an advanced accounting course as part of the regular business school curriculum of an accredited university may receive compensation for teaching the course even though a substantial portion of the course deals with cost accounting principles applicable to contracts with the Government.
An attorney employed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission may accept compensation for teaching a course at a state college on the subject of Federal employment discrimination law. The attorney could not accept compensation for teaching the same seminar as part of a continuing education program sponsored by her bar association because the subject of the course is focused on the operations or programs of the EEOC and the sponsor of the course is not an accredited educational institution.
An employee of the National Endowment for the Humanities is invited by a private university to teach a course that is a survey of Government policies in support of artists, poets and writers. As part of his official duties, the employee administers a grant that the university has received from the NEH. The employee may not accept compensation for teaching the course because the university has interests that may be substantially affected by the performance or nonperformance of the employee's duties. Likewise, an employee may not receive compensation for any teaching that is undertaken as part of his official duties or that involves the use of nonpublic information.
(b)
(1) An employee may include or permit the inclusion of his title or position as one of several biographical details when such information is given to identify him in connection with his teaching, speaking or writing, provided that his title or position is given no more prominence than other significant biographical details;
(2) An employee may use, or permit the use of, his title or position in connection with an article published in a scientific or professional journal, provided that the title or position is accompanied by a reasonably prominent disclaimer satisfactory to the agency stating that the views expressed in the article do not necessarily represent the views of the agency or the United States; and
(3) An employee who is ordinarily addressed using a general term of address, such as “The Honorable,” or a rank, such as a military or ambassadorial rank, may use or permit the use
Some agencies may have policies requiring advance agency review, clearance, or approval of certain speeches, books, articles or similar products to determine whether the product contains an appropriate disclaimer, discloses nonpublic information, or otherwise complies with this section.
A meteorologist employed with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is asked by a local university to teach a graduate course on hurricanes. The university may include the meteorologist's Government title and position together with other information about his education and previous employment in course materials setting forth biographical data on all teachers involved in the graduate program. However, his title or position may not be used to promote the course, for example, by featuring the meteorologist's Government title, Senior Meteorologist, NOAA, in bold type under his name. In contrast, his title may be used in this manner when the meteorologist is authorized by NOAA to speak in his official capacity.
A doctor just employed by the Centers for Disease Control has written a paper based on his earlier independent research into cell structures. Incident to the paper's publication in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the doctor may be given credit for the paper, as Dr. M. Wellbeing, Associate Director, Centers for Disease Control, provided that the article also contains a disclaimer, concurred in by the CDC, indicating that the paper is the result of the doctor's independent research and does not represent the findings of the CDC.
An employee of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation has been asked to give a speech in his private capacity, without compensation, to the annual meeting of a committee of the American Bankers Association on the need for banking reform. The employee may be described in his introduction at the meeting as an employee of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation provided that other pertinent biographical details are mentioned as well.
An employee may engage in fundraising only in accordance with the restrictions in part 950 of this title on the conduct of charitable fundraising in the Federal workplace and in accordance with paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section.
(a)
(i) Solicitation of funds or sale of items; or
(ii) Participation in the conduct of an event by an employee where any portion of the cost of attendance or participation may be taken as a charitable tax deduction by a person incurring that cost.
(2)
This section does not prohibit fundraising for a political party, candidate for partisan political office, or partisan political group. However, there are statutory restrictions that apply to political fundraising. For example, under the Hatch Act Reform Amendments of 1993, at 5 U.S.C. 7323(a), employees may not knowingly solicit, accept, or receive a political contribution from any person, except under limited circumstances. In addition, employees are prohibited by 18 U.S.C. 607 from soliciting or receiving political contributions in Federal offices, and, except as permitted by the Hatch Act Reform Amendments, are prohibited by 18 U.S.C. 602 from knowingly soliciting political contributions from other employees.
The Secretary of Transportation has been asked to serve as master of ceremonies for an All-Star Gala. Tickets to the event cost $150 and are tax deductible as a
(3)
The Secretary of Labor is invited to speak at a banquet honoring a distinguished labor leader, the proceeds of which will benefit a nonprofit organization that assists homeless families. She devotes a major portion of her speech to the Administration's Points of Light initiative, an effort to encourage citizens to volunteer their time to help solve serious social problems. Because she is authorized to speak on Administration policy, her remarks at the banquet are an official speech. However, the Secretary would be engaged in fundraising if she were to conclude her official speech with a request for donations to the nonprofit organization.
A charitable organization is sponsoring a two-day tennis tournament at a country club in the Washington, DC area to raise funds for recreational programs for learning disabled children. The organization has invited the Secretary of Education to give a speech on federally funded special education programs at the awards dinner to be held at the conclusion of the tournament and a determination has been made that the dinner is an appropriate forum for the particular speech. The Secretary may speak at the dinner and, under § 2635.204(g)(1), he may partake of the meal provided to him at the dinner.
(4)
An employee of the Department of Energy who signs a letter soliciting funds for a local private school does not “personally solicit” funds when 500 copies of the letter, which makes no mention of his DOE position and title, are mailed to members of the local community, even though some individuals who are employed by Department of Energy contractors may receive the letter.
(b)
Because participation in his official capacity is authorized under part 950 of this title, the Secretary of the Army may sign a memorandum to all Army personnel encouraging them to donate to the Combined Federal Campaign.
(c)
(1) Personally solicit funds or other support from a subordinate or from any person:
(i) Known to the employee, if the employee is other than a special Government employee, to be a prohibited source within the meaning of § 2635.203(d); or
(ii) Known to the employee, if the employee is a special Government employee, to be a prohibited source within the meaning of § 2635.203(d)(4) that is a
(2) Use or permit the use of his official title, position or any authority associated with his public office to further the fundraising effort, except that an employee who is ordinarily addressed using a general term of address, such “The Honorable,” or a rank, such as a military or ambassadorial rank, may use or permit the use of that term of address or rank for such purposes; or
(3) Engage in any action that would otherwise violate this part.
A nonprofit organization is sponsoring a golf tournament to raise funds for underprivileged children. The Secretary of the Navy may not enter the tournament with the understanding that the organization intends to attract participants by offering other entrants the opportunity, in exchange for a donation in the form of an entry fee, to spend the day playing 18 holes of golf in a foursome with the Secretary of the Navy.
An employee of the Merit Systems Protection Board may not use the agency's photocopier to reproduce fundraising literature for her son's private school. Such use of the photocopier would violate the standards at § 2635.704 regarding use of Government property.
An Assistant Attorney General may not sign a letter soliciting funds for a homeless shelter as “John Doe, Assistant Attorney General.” He also may not sign a letter with just his signature, “John Doe,” soliciting funds from a prohibited source, unless the letter is one of many identical, mass-produced letters addressed to a large group where the solicitation is not known to him to be targeted at persons who are either prohibited sources or subordinates.
Employees shall satisfy in good faith their obligations as citizens, including all just financial obligations, especially those such as Federal, State, or local taxes that are imposed by law. For purposes of this section, a just financial obligation includes any financial obligation acknowledged by the employee or reduced to judgment by a court. In good faith means an honest intention to fulfill any just financial obligation in a timely manner. In the event of a dispute between an employee and an alleged creditor, this section does not require an agency to determine the validity or amount of the disputed debt or to collect a debt on the alleged creditor's behalf.
In addition to the standards of ethical conduct set forth in subparts A through H of this part, there are a number of statutes that establish standards to which an employee's conduct must conform. The list set forth in § 2635.902 references some of the more significant of those statutes. It is not comprehensive and includes only references to statutes of general applicability. While it includes references to several of the basic conflict of interest statutes whose standards are explained in more detail throughout this part, it does not include references to statutes of more limited applicability, such as statutes that apply only to officers and employees of the Department of Defense.
(a) The prohibition against solicitation or receipt of bribes (18 U.S.C. 201(b)).
(b) The prohibition against solicitation or receipt of illegal gratuities (18 U.S.C. 201(c)).
(c) The prohibition against seeking or receiving compensation for certain representational services before the Government (18 U.S.C. 203).
(d) The prohibition against assisting in the prosecution of claims against the Government or acting as agent or attorney before the Government (18 U.S.C. 205).
(e) The post-employment restrictions applicable to former employees (18 U.S.C. 207, with implementing regulations at parts 2637 and 2641 of this chapter).
(f) The prohibition on certain former agency officials’ acceptance of compensation from a contractor (41 U.S.C. 423(d)).
(g) The prohibition against participating in matters affecting an employee's own financial interests or the financial interests of other specified persons or organizations (18 U.S.C. 208).
(h) The actions required of certain agency officials when they contact, or are contacted by, offerors or bidders regarding non-Federal employment (41 U.S.C. 423(c)).
(i) The prohibition against receiving salary or any contribution to or supplementation of salary as compensation for Government service from a source other than the United States (18 U.S.C. 209).
(j) The prohibition against gifts to superiors (5 U.S.C. 7351).
(k) The prohibition against solicitation or receipt of gifts from specified prohibited sources (5 U.S.C. 7353).
(l) The prohibition against fraudulent access and related activity in connection with computers (18 U.S.C. 1030).
(m) The provisions governing receipt and disposition of foreign gifts and decorations (5 U.S.C. 7342).
(n) [Reserved]
(o) The prohibitions against certain political activities (5 U.S.C. 7321 through 7326 and 18 U.S.C. 602, 603, 606 and 607).
(p) The prohibitions against disloyalty and striking (5 U.S.C. 7311 and 18 U.S.C. 1918).
(q) The general prohibition (18 U.S.C. 219) against acting as the agent of a foreign principal required to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (22 U.S.C. 611 through 621).
(r) The prohibition against employment of a person convicted of participating in or promoting a riot or civil disorder (5 U.S.C. 7313).
(s) The prohibition against employment of an individual who habitually uses intoxicating beverages to excess (5 U.S.C. 7352).
(t) The prohibition against misuse of a Government vehicle (31 U.S.C. 1344).
(u) The prohibition against misuse of the franking privilege (18 U.S.C. 1719).
(v) The prohibition against fraud or false statements in a Government matter (18 U.S.C. 1001).
(w) The prohibition against concealing, mutilating or destroying a public record (18 U.S.C. 2071).
(x) The prohibition against counterfeiting or forging transportation requests (18 U.S.C. 508).
(y) The restrictions on disclosure of certain sensitive Government information under the Freedom of Information Act and the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552 and 552a).
(z) The prohibitions against disclosure of classified information (18 U.S.C. 798 and 50 U.S.C. 783(a)).
(aa) The prohibition against disclosure of proprietary information and certain other information of a confidential nature (18 U.S.C. 1905).
(bb) The prohibitions on disclosing and obtaining certain procurement information (41 U.S.C. 423(a) and (b)).
(cc) The prohibition against unauthorized use of documents relating to claims from or by the Government (18 U.S.C. 285).
(dd) The prohibition against certain personnel practices (5 U.S.C. 2302).
(ee) The prohibition against interference with civil service examinations (18 U.S.C. 1917).
(ff) The restrictions on use of public funds for lobbying (18 U.S.C. 1913).
(gg) The prohibition against participation in the appointment or promotion of relatives (5 U.S.C. 3110).
(hh) The prohibition against solicitation or acceptance of anything of value to obtain public office for another (18 U.S.C. 211).
(ii) The prohibition against conspiracy to commit an offense against or to defraud the United States (18 U.S.C. 371).
(jj) The prohibition against embezzlement or conversion of Government money or property (18 U.S.C. 641).
(kk) The prohibition against failing to account for public money (18 U.S.C. 643).
(ll) The prohibition against embezzlement of the money or property of another person that is in the possession of an employee by reason of his employment (18 U.S.C. 654).
5 U.S.C. App. (Ethics in Government Act of 1978); Pub. L. 101-410, 104 Stat. 890, 28 U.S.C. 2461 note (Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990), as amended by Sec. 31001, Pub. L. 104-134, 110 Stat. 1321 (Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996); E.O. 12674, 54 FR 15159, 3 CFR, 1989 Comp., p. 215, as modified by E.O. 12731, 55 FR 42547, 3 CFR, 1990 Comp., p. 306.
This part is issued under authority of title VI of the Ethics Reform Act of 1989 (Pub. L. 101-194, as amended), to implement the 15 percent outside earned income limitation at 5 U.S.C. app. 501(a) and the limitations at 5 U.S.C. app. 502 on outside employment and affiliations, which are applicable to certain noncareer employees.
The definitions listed below are of general applicability to this part. Additional definitions of narrower applicability appear in the subparts or sections of subparts to which they apply. For purposes of this part:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e) The terms
(a)
(2) An advisory opinion may not be obtained for the purpose of establishing:
(i) Whether a particular entity qualifies as a charitable organization to which a payment in lieu of honoraria may be excluded from the definition of outside earned income and compensation under § 2636.303(b)(7) of this part; or
(ii) Whether a noncareer employee who is subject to the restrictions in
(3) The employee's request for an advisory opinion shall be submitted in writing, shall be dated and signed, and shall include all information reasonably available to the employee that is relevant to the inquiry. Where, in the opinion of the agency ethics official, complete information has not been provided, that official may request the employee to furnish additional information necessary to issue an opinion.
(b)
(1) For the purpose of issuing an advisory opinion, the agency ethics official may request additional information from agency sources, including the requesting employee's supervisor, and may rely upon the accuracy of information furnished by the requester or any agency source unless he has reason to believe that the information is fraudulent, misleading or otherwise incorrect.
(2) A copy of the request and advisory opinion shall be retained for a period of 6 years.
(c)
(d)
(a)
(b)
A covered noncareer employee shall not:
(a) Receive outside earned income in excess of the 15 percent limitation described in § 2636.304 of this subpart;
(b) Receive compensation or allow the use of his name in violation of the restrictions relating to professions involving a fiduciary relationship described in § 2636.305 of this subpart;
(c) Receive compensation for serving as an officer or board member in violation of the restriction described in § 2636.306 of this subpart; or
(d) Receive compensation for teaching without having first obtained advance authorization as required by § 2636.307 of this subpart.
The limitations and restrictions contained in this section are in addition to any limitations and restrictions imposed upon an employee by applicable standards of conduct or by reason of any statute or regulation relating to conflicts of interest. Even though conduct or the receipt of compensation is not prohibited by this subpart, an employee should accept compensation or engage in the activity for which compensation is offered only after determining that it is otherwise permissible. In particular, a covered noncareer employee should accept compensation only after determining that its receipt does not violate section 102 of Executive Order 12674, as amended, which prohibits a covered noncareer employee who is also a Presidential appointee to a full-time noncareer position from receiving
For purposes of this section:
(a)
(1) Appointed by the President to a position described in the Executive Schedule, 5 U.S.C. 5312 through 5317, or to a position that, by statute or as a matter of practice, is filled by Presidential appointment, other than:
(i) A position within the uniformed services; or
(ii) A position within the foreign service below the level of Assistant Secretary or Chief of Mission;
(2) A noncareer member of the Senior Executive Service or of another SES-type system, such as the Senior Foreign Service;
(3) Appointed to a Schedule C position or to a position under an agency-specific statute that establishes appointment criteria essentially the same as those set forth in § 213.3301 of this title for Schedule C positions; or
(4) Appointed to a noncareer executive assignment position or to a position under an agency-specific statute that establishes appointment criteria essentially the same as those for noncareer executive assignment positions.
A Schedule C appointee to a position with the United States Information Agency who holds a GS-15 position and who is compensated at the rate for GS-15, Step 9 is not a covered noncareer employee even though the pay he receives in a calendar year exceeds the annual pay for a position above GS-15. Notwithstanding that he is compensated at Step 9, the basic rate of pay for the GS-15 position he holds is the rate in effect for GS-15, Step 1 of the General Schedule, which is lower than the rate for a position above GS-15.
An employee of the Environmental Protection Agency who has been a career GS-15 employee for 10 years and who is offered a non-career SES position with the Federal Aviation Administration will, if he accepts the offer, become a covered noncareer employee by reason of that appointment, regardless of his former status.
A Department of Justice employee who holds a Schedule A appointment is not a covered noncareer employee even though he does not have competitive status within the meaning of § 212.301 of this title.
(b)
(1) Items that may be accepted under applicable standards of conduct gift regulations if they were offered by a prohibited source;
(2) Income attributable to service with the military reserves or national guard;
(3) Income from pensions and other continuing benefits attributable to previous employment or services;
(4) Income from investment activities where the individual's services are not a material factor in the production of income;
(5) Copyright royalties, fees, and their functional equivalent, from the use or sale of copyright, patent and similar forms of intellectual property rights, when received from established users or purchasers of those rights;
(6) Actual and necessary expenses incurred by the employee in connection with an outside activity. Where such expenses are paid or reimbursed by another person, the amount of any such payment shall not be counted as compensation or outside earned income. Where such expenses are not paid or reimbursed, the amount of compensation or earned income shall be determined by subtracting the actual and necessary expenses incurred by the employee from any payment received for the activity;
(7) Payments to charitable organizations in lieu of honoraria, as described in 5 U.S.C. app. 501(c) and app. 505; or
(8) Compensation for:
(i) Services rendered prior to January 1, 1991, or prior to becoming a covered noncareer employee;
(ii) Services rendered in satisfaction of a covered noncareer employee's obligation under a contract entered into prior to January 1, 1991; or
(iii) Services which the covered noncareer employee first undertook to provide prior to January 1, 1991, where the standards of the applicable profession require the employee to complete the case or other undertaking.
A covered noncareer employee is a limited partner in a partnership that invests in commercial real estate. Because he does not take an active role in the management of the partnership, his share of the partnership income is neither “outside earned income” nor “compensation.”
A covered noncareer employee of the Civil Rights Commission serves without compensation as a member of the Board of Visitors for a university. The roundtrip airfare and hotel expenses paid by the university to permit him to attend quarterly meetings of the Board are neither “outside earned income” or “compensation.”
Where a covered noncareer employee pays for transcripts of a hearing in which he is providing pro bono legal representation, reimbursements for those expenses by a legal aid organization are neither “outside earned income” nor “compensation.”
During the term of his appointment, a Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor
(c)
(1) If it is paid to any other person on the basis of designation, recommendation or other specification by the employee; or
(2) If, with the employee's knowledge and acquiescence, it is paid to his parent, sibling, spouse, child or dependent relative.
(a)
Notwithstanding the 15 percent limitation described in this section, a covered noncareer employee who is a Presidential appointee to a full-time noncareer position is prohibited by section 102 of Executive Order 12674, as amended, from receiving
Notwithstanding that the compensation he will receive would not exceed 15 percent of the rate for level II of the Executive Schedule, a covered noncareer employee of the Department of Energy may not receive any compensation for teaching a university course unless he first receives the authorization required by § 2636.307 of this subpart.
(b)
A former college professor received an appointment to a noncareer Senior Executive Service position on November 1, 1991. The rate of basic pay in effect for Executive Level II on January 1, 1991 was $125,100. For the 61 day period from November 1, 1991 through December 31, 1991, the amount of outside income he may earn is limited to $3,129. That amount is determined as follows:
Step 1. The rate of basic pay for Executive Level II as in effect on January 1 of that year ($125,100) is divided by 365. That quotient is $342;
Step 2. The dollar amount determined by Step 1 ($342) is then multiplied by the 61 days the employee held the covered noncareer position. That product is $20,862;
Step 3. The dollar amount determined by Step 2 ($20,862) is multiplied by .15 or 15 percent. The product ($3,129) is the maximum outside earned income the employee may have in the particular year attributable to the period of his service in a covered noncareer position.
(c)
(d)
(a)
(1) Receive compensation for:
(i) Practicing a profession which involves a fiduciary relationship; or
(ii) Affiliating with or being employed to perform professional duties by a firm, partnership, association, corporation, or other entity which provides professional services involving a fiduciary relationship; or
(2) Permit his name to be used by any firm, partnership, association, corporation, or other entity which provides professional services involving a fiduciary relationship.
A covered noncareer employee of the White House Office who is an attorney may not receive compensation for drafting a will for her friend. She may, however, participate in her bar association's pro bono program by providing free legal services for the elderly, provided her participation in the program is otherwise proper. For example, 18 U.S.C. 205 would prohibit her from representing her pro bono client in a hearing before the Social Security Administration.
An accountant named C.B. Debit who is offered a covered noncareer appointment must terminate his partnership in the accounting firm of Delight, Waterhose and Debit upon appointment. Because his deceased father, J.R. Debit, was the founding partner for whom the firm is named, the name Debit need not be deleted from the firm's name. However, the name C.B. Debit may not appear on the firm's letterhead after the individual enters on duty as a covered noncareer employee.
(b)
(1)
(2)
In view of the standards of the profession which require a licensed real estate broker to act in the best interests of his clients, the selling of real estate by a licensed broker involves the practice of a profession involving a fiduciary relationship.
A covered noncareer employee may receive the customary fee for serving as the executor of his mother's estate, provided he does not violate the applicable limitation on the amount of outside earned income he may receive. Although the executor of an estate has fiduciary obligations, serving as an executor in these circumstances does not involve the practice of a profession and, therefore, is not prohibited. He could not, however, serve for compensation as attorney for the estate.
(a)
(b)
A covered noncareer employee of the Environmental Protection Agency may not serve with compensation on the board of directors of his sister's closely-held computer software corporation.
A covered noncareer employee of the Department of the Navy may serve without compensation as an officer of a charitable organization that operates a hospice.
A covered noncareer employee of the Coast Guard appointed to serve as a member of the board of education of the county in which she is a resident may not receive compensation for that service.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(1) The teaching will not interfere with the performance of the employee's official duties or give rise to an appearance that the teaching opportunity was extended to the employee principally because of his official position;
(2) The employee's receipt of compensation does not violate any of the limitations and prohibitions on honoraria, compensation or outside earned income contained in this part; and
(3) Neither the teaching activity nor the employee's receipt of compensation therefor will violate applicable standards of conduct or any statute or regulation related to conflicts of interests.
(e)
5 U.S.C. App. (Ethics in Government Act of 1978); 18 U.S.C. 207 (1988).
The post-employment conflict of interest restrictions of 18 U.S.C. 207 were substantially revised effective January 1, 1991, by the Ethics Reform Act of 1989, Pub. L. 101-194, 103 Stat. 1716, with technical amendments enacted by Pub. L. 101-280, 104 Stat. 149 (1990). The Office of Government Ethics has published substantive guidance for the executive branch concerning the amended version of 18 U.S.C. 207 in part 2641 of this subchapter. This part 2637 will continue to provide guidance concerning the previous version of section 207, which will continue to apply to individuals terminating Government service prior to January 1, 1991.
The following index of paragraphs is provided for the convenience of the reader:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(1) When a former Government employee who has been involved with a particular matter decides to act as the representative for another person on that matter, such “switching of sides” undermines confidence in the fairness of proceedings and creates the impression that personal influence, gained by Government affiliation, is decisive.
(2) Similarly, when a former high-level employee assists in representing another by personal presence at an appearance before the Government regarding a matter which is in dispute, such assistance suggests an attempt to use personal influence and the possible unfair use of information unavailable to others. Different considerations are involved, however, with respect to assistance given as part of customary supervisory participation in a project funded by a Government contract or grant, since a former employee's knowledge may benefit the project and thus the Government, and regular communications with associates may properly be regarded as inherent in managerial responsibility. Such assistance, when not rendered by personal presence during an appearance, is not covered by the statute.
(3) When a former Senior Employee returns to argue a particular matter to the employee's former agency in the period immediately following the termination of official employment, it appears that Government-based relationships are being used for private ends.
(4) Former officers and employees may fairly be required to avoid such activities in the circumstances specified by statute and in these regulations.
(5) The provisions of 18 U.S.C. 207 do not, however, bar any former Government employee, regardless of rank, from employment with any private or public employer after Government service. Nor do they effectively bar employment even on a particular matter in which the former Government employee had major official involvement except in certain circumstances involving persons engaged in professional advocacy. Former Government employees may be fully active in high-level supervisory positions whether or not the work is funded by the United States and includes matters in which the employee was involved while employed by the Government. The statutory provisions are not intended to discourage the movement of skilled professionals in Government, to and from positions in industry, research institutions, law and accounting firms, universities and other major sources of expertise. Such a flow of skills can promote efficiency and communication between the Government and private activities, and it is essential to the success of many Government programs. Instead, only certain acts which are detrimental to public confidence in the Government are prohibited.
(6) Departments and agencies have primary responsibility for the administrative enforcement of the post employment restrictions found in the Act. The Department of Justice may initiate criminal enforcement in cases involving aggravated circumstances; agency heads are required to report substantiated allegations of violations of 18 U.S.C. 207 to the Department of Justice and the Director, OGE. It is essential that title V of the Act be enforced so as to advance its objectives, which include improvement in government efficiency, equal treatment for
(7) The examples contained in these regulations are intended to give guidance, but are illustrative, not comprehensive. Each agency may provide additional illustration and guidance in its own regulations, consistent with that contained herein, in order to address specific problems arising in the context of a particular agency's operations.
(8) Agencies have the responsibility to provide assistance promptly to former Government employees who seek advice on specific problems. The Office of Government Ethics will provide advice, promptly, upon request, to designated agency ethics officials in such situations, but will first coordinate with the Department of Justice on unresolved or difficult issues.
(9) These regulations do not supplant restrictions that may be contained in laws other than 18 U.S.C. 207 and do not incorporate restrictions contained in the code of conduct of a profession of which an employee may be a member.
(a)
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(b)
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)
(a)
(b)
The examples in these regulations do not incorporate the special statutory restrictions on Senior Employees, except where the terms “Senior Employee” or “Senior” are expressly used.]
A lawyer in the Department of Justice personally works on an antitrust case involving Q Company. After leaving the Department, he is asked by Q Company to represent it in that case. He may not do so.
(2)
(3)
An appearance occurs when a former employee meets with an agency employee personally to discuss a matter; or when he submits a brief in an agency administrative proceeding in his own name.
A former employee makes a telephone call to a present employee to discuss a particular matter that is not the subject of a formal proceeding. She has made a communication.
(4)
(5)
A Government employee, who participated in writing the specifications of a contract awarded to Q Company for the design of certain education testing programs, joins Q Company and does work under the contract. She is asked to accompany a company vice-president to a meeting to state the results of a series of trial tests, and does so. No violation occurs when she provides the information to her former agency. During the meeting a dispute arises as to some terms of the contract, and she is called upon to support Q Company's position. She may not do so. If she had reason to believe that the contractual dispute would be a subject of the meeting, she should not have attended.
(6)
A Government employee administered a particular contract for agricultural research with Q Company. Upon termination of her Government employment, she is hired by Q Company. She works on the matter covered by the contract, but has no direct contact with the Government. At the request of a company vice-president, she prepares a paper describing the persons at her former agency who should be contacted and what should be said to them in an effort in increase the scope of funding of the contract and to resolve favorably a dispute over a contract clause. She may do so.
(7)
The employee of Q Company in the previous example is asked to design an educational testing program, which she does and transmits it to the Government. This is not prohibited despite the fact that her well-designed program may be inherently influential on a question of additional funding under the contract. She may not argue for its acceptance.
(c)
A Government employee formulated the policy objectives of an energy conservation program. He is not restricted from later representing a university which seeks a grant or contract for work emerging from such a program.
A Government employee reviews and approves a specific city's application for Federal assistance for a renewal project. After leaving Government service, she may not represent the city in relation to that project.
An employee is regularly involved in the formulation of policy, procedures and regulations governing departmental procurement and acquisition functions. Participation in such activities does not restrict the employee after leaving the Government as to particular cases involving the application of such policies, procedures, or regulations.
An employee of the Office of Management and Budget participates substantially on the merits of a decision to reduce the funding level of a program, which has the effect of reducing the amount of money which certain cities receive to conduct youth work programs. After leaving the
An agency attorney participates in drafting a standard form contract and certain “standard terms and clauses” for use in future contracts. He is not thereafter barred from representing a person in a dispute involving the application of such a “standard term or clause” in a particular contract in which he did not participate as a Government employee.
(2)
A Government employee participates significantly in formulating the “mission need” of a project pursuant to OMB Circular No. A-109, and the award of a contract to Z Company, the purpose of which is to propose alternative technical approaches. He is not barred, after leaving Government service, from representing Q Company which later seeks a contract to manufacture one of the systems suggested by the Z Company.
A Government employee, who has worked for years on the design of a new satellite communications system, joins C Company. Later, the Government issues a “request for proposals” (“rfp”) to construct the new system, which is circulated generally to industry. The employee proposes to act as C Company's representative in connection with its anticipated proposals for the contract. He may do so. The satellite contract became a particular matter when the rfp was being formulated; it would ordinarily not become one involving a specific party or parties until initial proposals or indications of interest therein by contractors were first received. Moreover, if the employee's work for C Company were limited to the formulation and communication of a proposal in response to the rfp, it would not be prohibited to the extent it involved a communication for the purpose of furnishing scientific or technological information to the Government, exempt under 18 U.S.C. 207(f). See § 2637.206 below. (See paragraph (3) below as to a case where the employee's own participation may cause a different result.)
(3)
A Government employee advises her agency that it needs certain work done and meets with private firm X to discuss and develop requirements and operating procedures. Thereafter, the employee meets with agency officials and persuades them of the need for a project along the lines discussed with X. She leaves the Government and the project is awarded by other employees to firm X. The employee is asked by X to represent it on the contract. She may not do so.
(4)
A Government employee was substantially involved in the award of a long-term contract to Z Company for the development of alternative energy sources. Six years after he terminates Government employment, the contract is still in effect, but much of the technology has changed as have many of the personnel. The Government proposes to award a “follow on” contract, involving the same objective, after competitive bidding. The employee may represent Q Company in its proposals for the follow-on contract, since Q Company's proposed contract is a different matter from the contract with Z Company. He may also represent Z
A Government employee reviewed and approved certain wiretap applications. The prosecution of a person overheard during the wiretap, although not originally targeted, must be regarded as part of the same particular matter as the initial wiretap application. The reason is that the validity of the wiretap may be put in issue and many of the facts giving rise to the wiretap application would be involved.
(5)
An attorney participated in preparing the Government's antitrust action against Z Company. After leaving the Government, she may not represent Z Company in a private antitrust action brought against it by X Company on the same facts involved in the Government action. Nor may she represent X Company in that matter. The interest of the United States in preventing both inconsistent results and the appearance of impropriety in the same factual matter involving the same party, Z Company, is direct and substantial. However, if the Government's antitrust investigation or case is closed, the United States no longer has a direct and substantial interest in the case.
A member of a Government team providing technical assistance to a foreign country leaves and seeks to represent a private contractor in making arrangements with the Government to perform the same service. The proposed new contract may or may not be considered a separate matter, depending upon whether the United States has a national interest in maintaining the original contract. The agency involved must be consulted by the former employee before the representation can be undertaken.
(d)
If an officer personally approves the departmental budget, he does not participate substantially in the approval of all items contained in the budget. His participation is substantial only in those cases where a budget item is actually put in issue. Even then, the former Government employee is not disqualified with respect to an item if it is a general program rather than a particular matter involving a specific party. The former Government employee may, however, have official responsibility for such matters. (See § 2637.202(b).)
A Government lawyer is not in charge of, nor has official responsibility for a particular case, but is frequently consulted as to filings, discovery, and strategy. Such an individual has personally and substantially participated in the matter.
(2)
(3)
(e)
(a)
(b)
(2)
(3)
An agency's comptroller would not have official responsibility for all programs in the agency, even though she must review the budget, and all such programs are contained in the budget.
Within two years after terminating employment, an agency's former comptroller is asked to represent Q Company in a dispute arising under a contract which was in effect during the comptroller's tenure. The dispute concerns an accounting formula, under the contract, a matter as to
(4)
(5)
(c)
A staff lawyer in a department's Office of General Counsel is consulted by procurement officers on the correct resolution of a contractual matter involving Q Company. The lawyer renders an opinion resolving the question. The same legal question arises later in several contracts with other companies, but none of the disputes with such companies is referred to the Office of the General Counsel. The General Counsel has official responsibility for the determination of the Q Company matter. The other matters were never “actually pending” under that responsibility, although as a theoretical matter, such responsibility extended to all legal matters within the department.
(d)
During her tenure as head of an agency, an officer's subordinates undertook major changes in agency enforcement standards involving occupational safety. Eighteen months after terminating Government employment, she is asked to represent Z Company which believes it is being unfairly treated under the enforcement program. The Z Company matter first arose on a complaint filed after the agency head terminated her employment. She may represent Z Company because the matter pending under her official responsibility was not one involving “a specific party.” (Moreover, the time-period covered by 18 U.S.C. 207(c) has elapsed.)
(e)
The Director, Import/Export Division of A Agency retires after 26 years of service and enters private industry as a consultant. He will be restricted for two years with respect to all matters which were actually pending under his official responsibility in the year before his retirement.
An employee transfers from a position in A Agency to a position in B Agency, and she leaves B Agency for private employment 9 months later. In 15 months she will be free of restriction insofar as matters which were pending under her responsibility in A Agency in the year before her transfer. She will be restricted for two years in respect of B Agency matters which were pending in the year before her departure for private employment.
(a)
(b)
A former Senior Employee makes suggestions as to the content of a letter to be sent to the Government on a matter in which he had participated. No violation occurs.
(c)
A former Senior Employee attends a hearing on a matter in which she had participated personally and substantially while in the Government. She speaks with the representative of a private party during the hearing. A violation occurs if the former Senior Employee lends assistance to the representative in that conversation.
A Senior Justice Department lawyer personally works on an antitrust case against Z Company. After leaving the Department, she is asked to discuss legal strategy with lawyers representing Z Company on that same antitrust case, to write portions of a brief and to direct the research of the staff working on the case. Any such aid would not be prohibited by the statute, but would likely be prohibited by professional disciplinary rules.
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
A Senior Federal Trade Commission Employee, an economist by profession, participates in an investigation involving X Company, and a proceeding is commenced against X Company based on the investigation. After leaving the Commission, he offers to serve as a consultant to the lawyers for X Company on certain economic matters involved in the proceeding. He attends the proceeding and at the close of each day, meets in the lawyers’ office to advise them. Such conduct violates the statute.
A Senior Employee of the Department of the Treasury participates in a number of projects with universities and financial research institutions funded by Government grants. After leaving the Government, she becomes dean of a graduate school of business which performs work under a number of such grants. She may, in the discharge of her duties, supervise research and advise as to how funds under such a contract should be allocated, whether or not these matters are, as is likely, communicated to her former Department by the graduate school's representatives. (See § 2637.204.)
A Senior Defense Department official participated personally and substantially in a contract award to F Company for fighter planes. After leaving the Department, the former official goes to work for F Company. Subsequently, F Company desires to renegotiate prices and a pension provision on the fighter plane contract, matters in which dispute is anticipated. The former official could not attend a meeting with Government employees at which such matters will be discussed and give assistance to those representing F Company in the negotiations. He could generally render advice as long as he remained absent from the negotiations.
A Senior Justice Department lawyer participated in an antitrust case against Q Company, which is represented by Y law firm. Immediately after leaving, the Department, she goes to work with Y law firm, and assists at a trial representing Q Company in a different antitrust case, not involving the allegations in the Government case. Such assistance would not be barred because it does not occur in connection with the same particular matter.
A Senior Employee of the Department of Health and Human Services leaves to take a university position. The former official's new duties include various HHS contracts which the university holds. Some of the contracts were awarded by a division within HHS which was under her official responsibility. She is not barred from assistance in negotiations with respect to such contracts, because the restriction applies only to those matters in which she had participated personally and substantially, not to those matters for which she had official responsibility. Note, however, that any participation by her as a representative would be barred by 18 U.S.C. 207(b)(i) as described in § 2637.202 of this part. (But see § 2637.204.)
A Senior scientist with the Food and Drug Administration was personally and substantially involved in a licensing proceeding concerning a specific drug. After leaving the FDA, he is employed by the manufacturer of the drug. There he engages in research, indicating that the drug is safe and effective, which his employer later presents to FDA in connection with the proceeding. He assists during this presentation. Such assistance would normally be restricted but may be allowed to the extent that the former official is furnishing scientific information to the Government. (See 18 U.S.C. 207(f) and § 2637.206 of this part.)
A former Senior Employee of the Federal Communications Commission leaves the agency to join a graduate school faculty. In one of his courses, which from time to time includes Government employees, he discusses, unfavorably to the Commission, a specific licensing case in which he was personally and substantially involved. The restriction does not apply because the conduct does not occur in connection with any representational activities.
(a)
(b)
(1) An elected official of a State or local government, acting on behalf of such government, or
(2) Whose principal occupation or employment is with (i) an agency or instrumentality of a State or local government, (ii) an accredited, degree-granting institution of higher education, as defined in section 1201(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, or (iii) a hospital or medical research organization, exempted and defined under
A former Senior Employee of the Federal Highway Administration is appointed to the position of Secretary of Transportation for the State of Kansas. He would not be prohibited from transacting business with his former agency concerning new matters on behalf of the State. He would, however, be restricted as to 207(a) and 207(b) matters.
A former Senior Employee of the Department of Housing and Urban Development establishes a consulting firm and is engaged by the City of Los Angeles to aid it in procuring a particular grant. He may not represent Los Angeles before his former Department because his “principal occupation or employment” is not with such city.
A former Senior Employee of the Department of Education founds a vocational school for the training of legal paraprofessionals and associated staff. He desires to communicate with officials at his former Department for the purpose of establishing a program of assistance to such institutions. He may not do so, since the vocational school is not an “accredited, degree granting institution of higher education.”
(c)
(d)
Each post employment activity in the examples in this section is assumed to take place within one year of termination of Government employment.)
A Senior Employee of the Department of Health and Human Services leaves Government employment for private practice, and shortly thereafter telephones a former associate urging that the Department (a) adopt a new procedure to put a ceiling on hospital costs; (b) not adopt a particular rule proposed for drug testing; and (c) oppose a bill pending in Congress relating to such drug testing. He is prohibited from attempting to influence his former co-worker on any of these matters. The first, not yet pending, is of interest to the Department; the second is pending in the Department; and the third is pending elsewhere, and is of interest to the Department. Note that the former Senior Employee may, however, communicate the same views to Congress, other agencies, the public or the press.
A recently retired Senior Employee of the Department of Defense believes that the Department's general emphasis on manned aircraft is not in the national interest. After his departure, he may continue to argue the point to the Department.
(e)
A former Senior Employee of the Internal Revenue Service prepares and mails a client's tax return. This is not a prohibited act. Should any controversy arise in connection with the tax return, the former employee may not represent the client, but may be called upon to state how the return was prepared.
A former Senior Employee of the Securities and Exchange Commission prepared and transmitted for filing to the Commission a client's annual report on form 10-K. This is not a violation, because the 10-K is a disclosure report, not intended to obtain a Government benefit or ruling.
A former Senior Employee of the Securities and Exchange Commission becomes executive vice-president of a major industrial corporation, registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Pursuant to Commission regulations, the officers of the corporation are required to sign certain filings on behalf of the corporation, which are transmitted to the Commission. The employee may review, concur or request changes in, and sign any such filing required to be transmitted to the Commission.
(f)
A former Senior Employee of the Securities and Exchange Commission is asked to represent Z Company in a new matter before the Commission, one in which the former employee had no prior involvement. He may not do so.
The matter in the foregoing example is referred to the Department of Justice for prosecution, and the former employee is asked for the first time to represent Z Company in the criminal proceeding. The matter is likely to be of direct and substantial interest to the Commission. If so, the former employee may not communicate with the Commission in the matter. However, the former Senior Employee may communicate with the Commission in order to determine whether it asserts a direct and substantial interest in the criminal proceeding. In the event of a negative answer to the question, the former Senior Employee may communicate with the Commission.
In connection with an entirely new matter a former Senior Employee of the Securities and Exchange Commission undertakes the representation of Z Company in private litigation brought by Q Company,
Where an agency becomes a party to a proceeding subsequent to its commencement, the question whether a former Senior Employee may continue representation should ordinarily be decided by the court on a motion for disqualification in the particular circumstances.]
In connection with a new matter, a former Senior Employee of the Federal Food and Drug Administration, since retired to private law practice, is asked to consult and assist in the preparation of briefs to be filed with the Administration on a new particular matter. He may do so, but he should not sign briefs or other communications or take any other action that might constitute an appearance.
(g)
A former Senior Employee of the National Institute of Health (NIH), employed by a non-exempt research institute, prepares an application to NIH for a research contract. The application is submitted to NIH by the institute and lists the Senior Employee as principal investigator. The Senior Employee does not violate 18 U.S.C. 207(c)
(h)
Any former Government Employee may contact his or her former agency to seek information or determinations as to matters in question under these regulations or under 18 U.S.C. 207, such as whether a particular matter is considered to have been under the employee's official responsibility, whether a matter is one in which the agency asserts a direct and substantial interest, or whether a current matter is considered to be the same as that in which the employee had been involved.
(i)
A former Senior Employee may make any statement of his own views to his former agency on any subject matter in which he has no substantial pecuniary interests, acting on his own behalf.
A former Senior Employee is called by his successor at the agency for the purpose of eliciting some information on a matter in which he had been involved in an official capacity. His response is not prohibited.
A former Senior Employee may recommend an individual to her former agency for employment, based on her own personal knowledge of the individual's qualifications and character.
(j)
(a)
(b)
(2) The determination made pursuant to section 207(d)(1)(C) is intended to provide similar recognition of separability where the subordinate agency or bureau has been
(c)
(i) A description of the functions of the agency or bureau, indicating the basis on which such functions are claimed to be distinct and separate from the parent organization;
(ii) The separate statutory basis of the agency or bureau; and
(iii) Identification of those positions in the parent agency with official responsibility for supervision of such separate statutory agency or bureau.
(2)
(3)
A former Senior Employee of the Product Agency in Executive Department leaves and joins a law firm which represents Q Corporation. Product Agency has been designated by the Director as separate from Executive Department. The former employee is not restricted from representing the Q Corporation on a new matter before the Executive Department.
(d)
(i) A description of the subject matter jurisdiction of such component, indicating the basis on which such jurisdiction is claimed to be separate and distinct from certain other agencies, bureaus and offices of the parent agency;
(ii) A description of the nature of the connections and interactions between such component and certain other agencies, bureaus or offices of the parent agency indicating the basis on which the component is claimed to be unrelated;
(iii) A statement of the basis on which it is claimed that no potential exists for use by former Senior Employees of such component of undue influence or unfair advantage with respect to the named other agencies, bureaus or offices of the parent agency, based on past Government service; and
(iv) Identification of those organizational units of the parent agency having administrative or operational authority over such component agency, bureau or office.
(2)
(ii) A determination under this section rests solely with the Director, OGE, and is available only for those subordinate components which would, but for the lack of a statutory basis, qualify for separate agency treatment under 18 U.S.C. 207(e).
(iii) Where one component has supervisory authority over another, the two components may not be considered separate and distinct for purposes of this section.
(iv) The requirement of “separate and distinct subject matter jurisdiction” may be met in at least two ways. First, the substantive areas of coverage may be distinct. For example, an office or bureau within the parent agency may handle only maritime matters. Second, the regional area of coverage may be different. For example, one regional office may, on appropriate facts, be considered separate and distinct from other regional offices and from the parent agency—except for the bureau or office in the parent agency which is responsible for its supervision.
(v) It is necessary to specify the “unrelated agency or bureau within the same department or agency” as to which it is recommended that post employment communication be permitted. For example, one bureau may involve a subject matter distinct from some, but not all, parts of the parent department. Attempts to fractionalize a department could, however, become deeply complicated and involve difficult judgments and fact-finding. OGE will not usually act on such cases, and submissions should be confined to relatively clear cases.
(3)
In the Department of Justice, while the Antitrust Division may be “separate” from other Divisions, it is not separate from the immediate office of the Attorney General.
(a)
A project manager, regardless of prior involvement in a particular matter, may contact the Government to determine
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(a)
“Nothing in this section shall prevent a former officer or employee from giving testimony under oath, or from making statements required to be made under penalty of perjury.”
(b)
(c)
(a)
(b)
For purposes of sections 207 (a), (b) and (c) of title 18 U.S.C.:
(a) An official whose powers are established by the constitution of any State of the United States does not act on behalf of “any other person” or “anyone” when acting in his or her official capacity, but rather constitutes the official authority of the State; and
(b) A former employee does not engage in unlawful activity when he or she acts on behalf of (1) a corporation specifically created by an Act of Congress if any of its directors is currently appointed by the United States; or (2) any public international organization if he or she serves by nomination or request of the United States or on temporary assignment from any agency.
(a)
(1) At a rate of pay specified or fixed according to subchapter II of chapter 53 of title 5, U.S.C., generally known as “Executive Level;” or
(2) On active duty as a commissioned officer of a uniformed service in a pay grade of 0-9 or above as described in 37 U.S.C. 201; or
(3) In a position in any pay system for which the basic rate of pay is equal to or greater than that for GS-17 as prescribed by 5 U.S.C. 5332 or positions
(b)
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(c)
It may be determined that a given position or class of positions will be restricted as to contact in the first post employment year, but not as to assisting in representation.
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
(i)
(j)
(a)
(1)
(2)
(ii) Whenever an agency has determined after appropriate review that there is reasonable cause to believe that a former Government employee has violated any of these regulations or 18 U.S.C. 207(a), (b), or (c), it may initiate an administrative disciplinary proceeding by providing the former Government employee with notice as defined in paragraph (a)(3) of this section. Agencies may establish procedures to protect the privacy of former employees as to allegations made prior to a determination of sufficient cause to initiate an administrative disciplinary hearing.
(3)
(ii) Notice to the former Government employee must include:
(A) A statement of allegations (and the basis thereof) sufficiently detailed to enable the former Government employee to prepare an adequate defense;
(B) Notification of the right to a hearing; and
(C) An explanation of the method by which a hearing may be requested.
(4)
(ii) Appropriate qualifications shall be established for examiners.
(iii) An examiner shall be impartial. No individual who has participated in any manner in the decision to initiate the proceedings may serve as an examiner in those proceedings.
(5)
(ii) In setting a hearing date, the presiding official shall give due regard to the former Government employee's need for:
(A) Adequate time to prepare a defense properly, and
(B) An expeditious resolution of allegations that may be damaging to his or her reputation.
(6)
(i) To represent oneself or to be represented by counsel,
(ii) To introduce and examine witnesses and to submit physical evidence,
(iii) To confront and cross-examine adverse witnesses,
(iv) To present oral argument, and
(v) To receive a transcript or recording of the proceedings, on request.
(7)
(8)
(ii) Within a reasonable period of the date of an initial decision, as set by the agency, either party may appeal the decision to the agency head. The agency head shall base his or her decision on such appeal solely on the record of the proceedings or those portions thereof cited by the parties to limit the issues.
(iii) If the agency head modifies or reverses the initial decision, he or she shall specify such findings of fact and conclusions of law as are different from those of the hearing examiner.
(9)
(i) Prohibiting the individual from making, on behalf of any other person except the United States, any formal or informal appearance before, or, with the intent to influence, any oral or written communication to, such department or agency on any matter of business for a period not to exceed five years, which may be accomplished by directing agency employees to refuse to participate in any such appearance or to accept any such communication; or
(ii) Taking other appropriate disciplinary action.
(10)
(11)
(a)
(b)
Part 2637 provides guidance concerning the prior version of 18 U.S.C. 207 (1988) as it continues to apply to individuals who terminated Government service (or a “Senior” Government position) before January 1, 1991. However, since no former “Senior Employee” who terminated service before that date could any longer be subject to the one-year restriction of section 207(c) of 18 U.S.C. as it existed prior to its amendment by the Ethics Reform Act of 1989, the listing of separate statutory agencies that previously appeared in § 2637.214 has been deleted.
Part 2637 provides guidance concerning the prior version of 18 U.S.C. 207 (1988) as it continues to apply to individuals who terminated Government service (or a “Senior” Government position) before January 1, 1991. However, since no former “Senior Employee” who terminated service before that date could any longer be subject to the one-year restriction of section 207(c) of 18 U.S.C. as it existed prior to its amendment by the Ethics Reform Act of 1989, the listing of separate components that previously appeared in § 2637.215 has been deleted.
Part 2637 provides guidance concerning the prior version of 18 U.S.C. 207 (1988) as it continues to apply to individuals who terminated Government service (or a “Senior” Government position) before January 1, 1991. However, since no former “Senior Employee” who terminated service before that date could any longer be subject to either the two-year restriction of section 207(b)(ii) or the one-year restriction of section 207(c) of 18 U.S.C. as they existed prior to their amendment by the Ethics Reform Act of 1989, the listing of “Senior Employee” positions that previously appeared in § 2637.216 has been deleted.
5 U.S.C. App. (Ethics in Government Act of 1978); E.O. 12674, 54 FR 15159, 3 CFR, 1989 Comp., p. 215, as modified by E.O. 12731, 55 FR 42547, 3 CFR, 1990 Comp., p. 306.
(a)
(b)
(a) The Office of Government Ethics (“the Office”) provides overall direction and leadership concerning executive branch policies related to preventing conflicts of interest. The head of each agency has primary responsibility for the administration of the “ethics in government” program within his or her agency. The Office carries out its leadership role by:
(1) Providing information on and promoting ethical standards in executive agencies;
(2) Consulting with agencies regarding their agency ethics programs and assisting them in interpreting ethics rules and regulations;
(3) Developing rules and regulations pertaining to conflicts of interests and standards of conduct;
(4) Monitoring compliance with the public and confidential financial disclosure requirements;
(5) Establishing a formal advisory opinion service; and
(6) Evaluating the effectiveness of programs designed to prevent conflicts of interests.
Each agency may, subject to the prior approval of the Office of Government Ethics, issue regulations not inconsistent with this part.
For the purposes of this part:
Each agency shall have a designated agency ethics official who is the officer or employee designated by the head of the agency to administer the provisions of title I of the Act within that agency, to coordinate and manage the agency's ethics program and to provide liaison to the Office of Government Ethics with regard to all aspects of such ethics program. The agency's ethics program shall be designed to implement titles I, IV and V of the Act and regulations promulgated thereunder, Executive Order 12674 as modified (relating to principles of ethical conduct for officers and employees within the executive branch) and regulations promulgated thereunder, and other statutes and regulations applicable to agency ethics matters.
(a)
(b)
(1) Review the financial disclosure reports submitted by officers or employees within the agency, assessing the application of conflict of interest laws and regulations to the information reported and counseling those officers or employees with regard to resolving actual or potential conflicts of interests, or appearances thereof;
(2) Review the financial disclosure reports submitted by Presidential appointees for confirmation purposes and counsel those appointees with regard to resolving potential conflicts of interest, or appearances thereof, before the confirmation hearing;
(3) Counsel agency personnel concerning ethics standards and programs;
(4) Counsel departing and former agency officials on post-employment conflict of interest standards;
(5) Assist managers and supervisors in understanding and implementing agency ethics programs;
(6) Administer a system for periodic evaluation of the ethics program; and
(7) Select deputy ethics officials if necessary and manage the ethics program through them.
(c)
(1) The names of the individuals so designated;
(2) The title of the position held by each designee; and
(3) A copy of the delegation of authority.
(a)
(1) Liaison with the Office of Government Ethics;
(2) Review of financial disclosure reports;
(3) Initiation and maintenance of ethics education and training programs; and
(4) Monitoring administrative actions and sanctions.
(b)
(1) Close liaison with the Office of Government Ethics concerning the agency's ethics program is developed and maintained;
(2) An effective system and procedure for the collection, filing, review, and, when applicable, public inspection of the financial disclosure reports as required by title II of the Act, Executive Order 11222, and other applicable statutes and regulations is developed and properly administered;
(3) The financial disclosure reports of Presidential nominees to agency positions submitted prior to Senate confirmation hearings pursuant to § 2634.605(c) of part 2634 are certified personally by him or herself or alternate designated agency ethics official in his or her absence;
(4) All financial disclosure reports submitted by employees and filed in bureaus and regional offices, as well as those submitted and filed at the agency's headquarters, are properly maintained and effectively and consistently reviewed for conformance with all applicable laws and statutes;
(5) A list of those circumstances or situations which have resulted or may result in noncompliance with ethics laws and regulations is developed, maintained and published within the agency as required by § 206(b)(7) of the Act and made available for public inspection;
(6) An education program for agency employees concerning all ethics and standards of conduct matters is developed and conducted in accordance with subpart G, Executive Agency Ethics Training Programs, of this part.
(7) A counseling program for agency employees concerning all ethics and standards of conduct matters including post employment matters, is developed and conducted;
(8) Records are kept, when appropriate, on advice rendered;
(9) Prompt and effective action including administrative action is undertaken to remedy:
(i) Violations or potential violations, or appearances thereof, of the agency's standards of conduct including post employment regulations;
(ii) The failure to file a financial disclosure report or portions thereof;
(iii) Potential or actual conflicts of interests, or appearances thereof, which were disclosed on a financial disclosure report; and
(iv) Potential or actual violations of other laws governing the conduct or financial holdings of officers or employees of that agency, and
(10) The agency's standards of conduct regulations, financial disclosure systems, and post-employment enforcement systems are evaluated periodically to determine their adequacy and effectiveness in relation to current agency responsibilities;
(11) Information developed by internal audit and review staff, the Office of the Inspector General, if any, or other audit groups is reviewed to determine whether such information discloses a need for revising agency standards of conduct or for taking prompt corrective action to remedy actual or potential conflict of interest situations;
(12) The services of the agency's Office of the Inspector General, if any, are utilized when appropriate, including the referral of matters to and acceptance of matters from that Office;
(13) A list of those persons to whom delegations of authority are made pursuant to § 2638.204(a) is maintained and made available to the Office of Government Ethics, upon request; and
(14) Information required by the Act or requested by the Office of Government Ethics in the performance of its responsibilities is provided in a complete and timely manner.
(a)
(b)
(a) The Director of the Office of Government Ethics has the authority and responsibility to render formal advisory opinions pursuant to Section 402(b)(8) of the Act. This service is available to any person who has a question about a matter over which the Office of Government Ethics has jurisdiction. Formal advisory opinions will be issued when a two-pronged test is met. First, the person making the request must meet the requirements of § 2638.302 and, second, the subject matter of the request must meet the criteria set forth in § 2638.303.
(b) Normally, formal advisory opinions will not be issued to individuals who wish to obtain general advice concerning their own specific present or proposed activities or financial transactions. Such questions should be directed to the designated ethics official of the agency in which the individual will serve, serves or served. If a designated agency ethics official receives a request which he or she believes should be answered by the Office of Government Ethics, a referral procedure is available.
(c) The Office of Government Ethics will provide interested parties, to the extent practicable, with an opportunity to comment on any question which will be the subject of a formal advisory opinion issued by the Office. These opinions will be published in a form which will not identify specific individuals unless necessary to the understanding of the opinion. Copies will be sent to the designated ethics officials of each agency and be available at the Office of Government Ethics in that same form.
Any person (as defined in § 2638.104) may request an opinion with respect to a situation in which that person is directly involved. A designated agency ethics official, representative, or attorney may request an opinion on behalf of the person. Notwithstanding this direct involvement requirement, a designated agency ethics official may always request an opinion concerning a situation about which he or she has knowledge.
Formal advisory opinions will be rendered on matters of general applicability or on important matters of first impression concerning the application of the Act, Executive Order 11222 and regulations promulgated pursuant to such Act and Executive Order, and the laws embodied in 18 U.S.C. 202-209. The Director will respond to those requests which in his or her discretion fall within this category taking into consideration:
(a) The unique nature of the question and its precedential value,
(b) The potential number of officers or employees throughout the Government affected by the question,
(c) The frequency with which the question arises, and
(d) The likelihood or presence of inconsistent interpretations on the same question by different agencies.
(a) A request for a formal advisory opinion should be directed to the Director of the Office of Government Ethics, Suite 500, 1201 New York Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20005-3917.
(b)(1) A request should be in writing and signed by the individual making the request or by a representative of that person. A request shall state all material facts necessary for the Director to render a complete and correct opinion.
(2) In addition, it should also include the following information:
(i) the name, mailing address, and daytime telephone contact of the individual making the request, and
(ii) a copy of the position, description of the position involved, if available.
(c) If the request is submitted by a representative, he or she must show his or her representative status, list a mailing address and daytime telephone contact.
(a) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (d) of this section, the Director shall review each request for a formal advisory opinion and take one of the following actions:
(1) If the Director determines that the person making the request meets the requirements of § 2638.302 and that the subject matter of the request qualifies under the criteria established in § 2638.303, he or she shall assign an identifying number to the request and notify the person that a formal advisory opinion will be rendered; or
(2) If the Director determines that the person making the request is not a person who is eligible to receive a formal advisory opinion as provided in § 2638.302, or that the subject of the request is not a matter upon which the Office issues formal advisory opinions as outlined by § 2638.303, he or she shall so notify the person making the request.
(b) If at any time after receipt of a request for a formal advisory opinion, the Director believes that additional relevant information is needed, he or she may seek such information directly from the person requesting the opinion or from other sources which may include the agency involved.
(c) The person requesting the opinion may furnish the Office of Government Ethics with legal memoranda or other material relevant to the opinion requested.
(d)(1) In the case of a request which involves an actual or apparent violation of any conflict of interest law embodied in 18 U.S.C. 202-209, the Director shall consult with the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice.
(2) If after such consultation the Criminal Division determines that a criminal investigation will be undertaken, the Director shall take no further action with regard to that request pending a determination by the Criminal Division not to prosecute.
(3) Upon receipt of a determination by the Criminal Division not to prosecute, the Director shall then follow the procedures for all other requests for formal advisory opinions set forth in this part.
The Director shall provide notice to interested parties identified in a request which will be the subject of a formal advisory opinion that such an opinion will be rendered. Generally, the designated agency ethics official of the agency involved shall be notified of the request.
(a) To the extent practicable, the Director shall provide interested parties with an opportunity to submit written comment on a request for a formal advisory opinion. A time by which the
(b) Additional time in which to comment may be granted upon written request to or at the discretion of the Director. Such requests and all written comments shall be sent to the Office of Government Ethics, Suite 500, 1201 New York Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20005-3917.
(a) A formal advisory opinion,
(1) Which involves the application of any conflict of interest law embodied in 18 U.S.C. 202-209 to a transaction or activity which does not raise a question of an actual or apparent violation of this law but which raises an important matter of first impression, or
(2) Which is issued following the procedure set forth in § 2638.305(d),
(b) An advisory opinion shall be considered issued when it is dated, numbered, and signed by the Director. Unless released by the person who made the request, the opinion will not become publicly available until information which identifies individuals involved and which is unnecessary to the complete understanding of the opinion has been deleted from the opinion and this version of the opinion is placed in a public reading file at the Office of Government Ethics. (See § 2638.310)
(a) Any formal advisory opinion referred to in § 2638.308(a) or any provisions or finding of a formal advisory opinion involving the application of the Act, Executive Order 11222 and the regulations promulgated pursuant to the Act or Executive Order, may be relied upon by:
(1) Any person directly involved in the specific transaction or activity with respect to which such advisory opinion has been rendered, and
(2) Any person directly involved in any specific transaction or activity which is indistinguishable in all its material aspects from the transaction or activity with respect to which such advisory opinion was rendered.
(b) Any person who relies upon any provision or finding of any formal advisory opinion in accordance with paragraph (a) of this section and who acts in good faith in accordance with the provisions and findings of such opinion, shall not, as a result of such act, be subject to prosecution under 18 U.S.C. 202-209 or, in the case where the opinion is exculpatory, be subject to any administrative adverse action or civil action based upon legal authority cited in that opinion.
(a) The Director shall make sufficient deletions in any formal advisory opinion so that unless necessary to the complete understanding of the opinion, the identity of any person involved is not disclosed. No deletion shall in any way affect the substance of the opinion.
(b) A copy of this version of the opinion shall then be made available for public inspection within 10 working days after the issuance of the opinion at the Office of Government Ethics, Suite 500, 1201 New York Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20005-3917.
(c) The Director shall thereafter publish this version of the opinion.
Each designated agency ethics official shall receive a copy of each published opinion. Copies will also be available to the public from the Office of Government Ethics upon request at no more than cost.
(a) If a designated agency ethics official receives a request for advice from a person and determines that the request may come within the criteria set
(b) If the Director receives a request for an opinion which does not fulfill the criteria set forth in § 2638.303, he or she may:
(1) Furnish informational assistance to the person as provided in § 2638.305(a), or
(2) Refer the request to the appropriate designated agency ethics official.
(c) In all instances covered by paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section, a referral will not be made in the case of questions regarding possible future employment plans of an individual making the request unless he or she is first notified and gives his or her consent or the request itself indicates that such a referral may be made.
If the designated agency ethics official issues a written opinion concerning the application of 18 U.S.C. 202-209, he or she shall transmit a copy of that opinion to the Office of Government Ethics.
The Director of the Office of Government Ethics has authority under subsections 402(b)(9) and 402(f)(1) of the Ethics in Government Act to order action to correct deficiencies in agency ethics programs. These procedures are intended to be used to correct deficiencies in agency ethics programs that are not being addressed adequately by the agency. They are not intended to be used to deal with cases involving individual employees or former employees. See subpart E of this part. For purposes of this section, an agency ethics program shall include those matters that are the responsibility of agency heads and designated agency ethics officials under subpart B of this part and shall include the requirements under part 2634 of this chapter and part 735 of this title to establish public and nonpublic financial disclosure systems. In implementing these procedures, the Director may use any authority contained in the Ethics Act.
(a)
(b)
(1) Information establishing that there is no deficiency;
(2) An explanation of how any deficiency is being corrected; or
(3) A plan for correcting any deficiency within a reasonable period of time.
(c)
(1) If the Director determines that there is no deficiency, the designated agency ethics official will be so notified.
(2) If the Director determines that appropriate steps are being taken or that the agency has presented an adequate plan for correcting the deficiency, the Director will so notify the designated agency ethics official and, in consultation with the designated
(3) If the Director determines that a deficiency is not being corrected, the Director will issue an Order under paragraph (d) of this section.
(d)
(1) The deficiency in the agency ethics program that requires correction;
(2) The basis upon which the Director has determined that a deficiency exists;
(3) The corrective action required to remedy the deficiency; and
(4) Any reporting requirements necessary to establish that corrective action has been accomplished.
Within such time as may be set forth in the order, the agency head shall file a report with the Director detailing the corrective action taken. If corrective action cannot be accomplished within that time, the agency head shall submit a plan of corrective action for approval by the Director providing for appropriate status reports and notification of compliance. In either case, if the agency report or plan is deemed satisfactory, the Director will so inform the agency head. If the agency report or plan is insufficient, but only in minor respects, the Director may inform the agency head of the adjustments needed to bring the report or plan into compliance and a timeframe therefor; otherwise, the procedures under § 2638.404 of this subpart will be invoked.
If the agency fails to comply with an order issued under § 2638.402(d), the Director shall:
(a) Notify the head of the agency of intent to furnish a report of noncompliance to the President and the Congress;
(b) Provide the agency 14 calendar days within which to furnish written comments for submission with the report of noncompliance; and
(c) Report the agency's noncompliance to the President and to the Congress.
(a)
(b)
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6) The terms
(c)
(d)
The Director may make recommendations and provide advice to agencies, designated agency ethics officials and employees for the purpose of ensuring an employee's compliance with applicable ethics provisions. This authority may be used where there is doubt or a dispute regarding the applicability of an ethics provision or where the Director has information indicating that an ethics provision is being improperly interpreted. Recommendations may be made or advice provided on the Director's own initiative or at the Director's discretion in response to a written or oral request. As determined by the Director, the recommendation may be made or the advice given either orally or in writing. In addition, the Director shall afford an employee the opportunity for personal consultation, if practicable, regarding action required to be taken by the employee to achieve compliance with applicable ethics provisions.
(a)
(1) If the employee involved is the head of an agency, the recommendation shall be made to the President and the procedures set forth in this section shall serve as guidance only.
(2) Where there is reason to believe that an employee has given preferential treatment or failed to act impartially, this authority will not be used to initiate an investigation in the nature of a review or audit of the agency program in which the employee participated.
(b)
(c)
(d)
(1) If the Director determines that the agency has conducted an adequate investigation and has taken appropriate corrective and/or disciplinary action, the Director shall notify the agency that the matter is closed.
(2) If the Director determines that the agency has conducted an adequate investigation and has recommended appropriate corrective and/or disciplinary action, the Director shall notify the agency that the matter will be closed upon notification that such action has been taken.
(3) If the Director determines that the agency has not conducted an adequate investigation, the Director may recommend that the agency undertake further investigative effort.
(4) If the Director determines that the agency has improperly interpreted an ethics provision or improperly applied an ethics provision to the facts of the case, the Director may, in accordance with § 2638.502, provide advice and recommendations necessary to ensure compliance.
(5) If the Director determines that the agency has taken or recommended inappropriate corrective or disciplinary action, the Director may notify the head of the agency of intent to institute proceedings under § 2638.504 or § 2638.505.
(e)
(a)
(b)
(c)
(1) A brief statement setting forth the basis for a possible ethics violation;
(2) A copy of this section; and
(3) The date by which the employee's comments must be submitted.
(d)
(e)
(a)
(b)
(1) A brief statement setting forth the basis for a possible ethics violation;
(2) Where applicable, a copy of the Director's finding under § 2638.504(e);
(3) A statement of the authority under which proceedings are to be conducted, together with a copy of this section; and
(4) The date by which the employee must, by written notification to the Director, elect to present evidence and arguments either at a hearing or in writing.
(c)
(d)
(e)
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(f)
(g)
(1) Preliminary to issuing a decision and order, the Director may request that comments on the recommended decision be provided by the designated agency ethics official of the employee's agency.
(2) Where the respondent employee has elected to have a hearing conducted on the record, the Director shall issue a decision and order as soon as practicable following receipt of the certified record and the administrative law judge's recommended decision.
(3) Where the respondent employee has elected to make a written submission under paragraph (d) of this section or has chosen to make no submission and has not requested a hearing, the Director will issue a decision and order as soon as practicable following receipt of all materials of record.
(4) In addition to the decision and order and any finding issued under § 2638.504(e), the record will include, where applicable, all written submission under § 2638.504(d) and § 2638.505(d), a record of the hearing, all documentary evidence introduced at the hearing, any proposed findings and conclusions submitted by the parties and the administrative law judge's recommended decision.
(h)
(i)
(a) Where the Director has made a finding under § 2638.504(e) or has issued a decision and order under § 2638.505(g) that an ethics provision is being or has been violated, the Director may recommend to the head of the respondent employee's agency that appropriate disciplinary action be taken. If the respondent employee is the head of an agency, the Director shall make any such recommendation to the President and the procedures contained in this section will serve as guidance only.
(b)
(c)
Agencies are required by section 402(b)(10) of the Act to file such reports as the Director of the Office of Government Ethics deems necessary. Section 402(e) contains specific requirements for annual reports and for reporting cases referred for possible prosecution under 28 U.S.C. 535. Reporting requirements imposed under this subpart are in addition to any requirements for reports or opinions contained in part 735 of this title, parts 2633 through 2637 of this chapter, or otherwise under this chapter, and in other subparts of this part.
(a) On or before February 1 of each year, each agency shall file with the Office of Government Ethics a report containing information about the agency's ethics program. Detailed reporting requirements will be specified in instructions to be issued by the Director in advance of the first day of the period to be covered by the annual report. Annual agency reports will cover the prior calendar year and, as a minimum, will include the following:
(1) The name, position, title and duties of each official who performs any or all of the duties of the designated agency ethics official or alternate;
(2) Statistics regarding public and nonpublic (confidential) financial disclosure report filings;
(3) A description and evaluation of the agency's program of ethics education, training and counseling, including the number of training courses given, the subject matters covered, training materials distributed and counseling services offered.
(b) Failure to timely file the report required by paragraph (a) of this section may be cause to invoke the procedures at subpart D of this part for correction of agency programs.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(2) When the agency is notified or learns from the Department of Justice that an indictment has been handed up and signed or an information has been filed, the agency shall promptly report that fact to the Director. Thereafter, the agency shall promptly notify the Director of the final disposition of the prosecution and of any disciplinary or corrective action initiated, taken or to be taken by the agency.
(3) When disciplinary or corrective action is initiated or is to be taken, the agency will notify the Director of the final disposition of the matter.
Each agency must have an ethics training program to teach employees about ethics laws and rules and to tell
For purposes of this subpart:
Within 90 days from the time an employee begins work for an agency, the agency must do the following:
(a)
(1) The Standards and any agency supplemental standards to keep or review; or
(2) Summaries of the Standards, any agency supplemental standards, and the Principles to keep.
If the agency does not give the employee the Standards and any agency supplemental standards to keep, the complete text of both must be readily available in the employee's immediate office area.
(b)
(c)
(a)
(b)
(1) The Principles;
(2) The Standards;
(3) Any agency supplemental standards;
(4) The Federal conflict of interest statutes; and
(5) The names, titles, and office addresses and telephone numbers of the designated agency ethics official and other agency ethics officials available to advise the employee on ethics issues.
(c)
(1) Presented by a qualified instructor; or
(2) Prepared by a qualified instructor and presented by telecommunications, computer, audiotape, or videotape.
(d)
(1) The designated agency ethics official;
(2) The alternate agency ethics official;
(3) A deputy agency ethics official;
(4) Employees of the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) designated by OGE; and
(5) Persons whom the designated agency ethics official (or his or her designee) determines are qualified to respond to ethics questions raised during the training.
An agency provides annual ethics training for public filers in a regional office by establishing a video conference link between the regional office and a qualified instructor in the headquarters office. The video link provides for
The agency described in the preceding example provides videotaped training instead of training through a video conference link. The employees viewing the videotape are provided with a telephone at the training site and the telephone number of a qualified instructor who is standing by during and immediately after the training to answer any questions. Under these circumstances, a qualified instructor is available.
In the preceding example, if no telephone had been provided at the training site or if a qualified instructor was not standing by to respond to any questions raised, there would not be a qualified instructor available. Merely providing the phone number of the qualified instructor would not satisfy the requirement that a qualified instructor be available.
(e)
(1) The designated agency ethics official (or his or her designee) makes a written determination that it would be impractical to provide verbal training with a qualified instructor available; or
(2) The employee is a special Government employee.
The only public filer in the American Embassy in Ulan Bator, Mongolia is the Ambassador. Because of the difference in time zones and the uncertainty of the Ambassador's schedule, the designated agency ethics official for the State Department is justified in making a written determination that it would be impractical to provide the Ambassador with verbal training. In this case, the Ambassador may receive written training prepared by a qualified instructor.
(a)
(1) Employees appointed by the President;
(2) Employees of the Executive Office of the President;
(3) Employees defined as confidential filers in 5 CFR 2634.904;
(4) Employees designated by their agency under 5 CFR 2634.601(b) to file confidential financial disclosure reports;
(5) Contracting officers, as defined in 41 U.S.C. 423(f)(5); and
(6) Other employees designated by the head of the agency or his or her designee based on their official duties.
Employees described above who are also public filers must receive ethics training as provided in § 2638.704.
(b)
(c)
(1) A minimum of one hour of official duty time for verbal training at least once every three years. The verbal training must be presented by a qualified instructor or prepared by a qualified instructor and presented by telecommunications, computer, audiotape, or videotape; and
(2) An amount of official duty time the agency determines is sufficient for written training in the years in which the employee does not receive verbal training. The written training must be prepared by a qualified instructor. The employee's initial ethics orientation may satisfy the written training requirement for the same calendar year.
(d)
(1) The designated agency ethics official (or his or her designee) makes a written determination that verbal training would be impractical;
(2) The employee is a special Government employee expected to work 60 or fewer days in a calendar year;
(3) The employee is an officer in the uniformed services serving on active duty for 30 or fewer consecutive days; or
(4) The employee is designated under paragraph (a)(6) of this section to receive training.
(a) The designated agency ethics official (or his or her designee) is responsible for directing the agency's ethics training program. The designated agency ethics official (or his or her designee) must develop a written plan each year for the agency's annual training program.
(b) The written plan must be completed by the beginning of each calendar year.
(c) The written plan must contain:
(1) A brief description of the agency's annual training.
(2) Estimates of the number of employees who will receive verbal training according to the following table:
(3) An estimate of the number of employees who will receive written training according to the following table:
(4) Estimates of the number of employees who will receive written training instead of verbal training according to the following table:
(d) The written plan may contain any other information that the designated agency ethics official believes will assist the Office of Government Ethics in reviewing the agency's training program.
5 U.S.C. App. (Ethics in Government Act of 1978); 18 U.S.C. 208; E.O. 12674, 54 FR 15159, 3 CFR, 1989 Comp., p. 215, as modified by E.O. 12731, 55 FR 42547, 3 CFR, 1990 Comp., p. 306.
18 U.S.C. 208(a) prohibits an officer or employee of the executive branch, of any independent agency of the United States, of the District of Columbia, or Federal Reserve bank director, officer, or employee, or any special Government employee from participating in an official capacity in particular matters in which he has a personal financial interest, or in which certain persons or organizations with which he is affiliated have a financial interest. The statute is intended to prevent an employee from allowing personal interests to affect his official actions, and to
For purposes of this part:
(a)
(a): A mutual fund is diversified for purposes of this part if it does not have a policy of concentrating its investments in an industry, business, country other than the United States, or single State within the United States. Whether a mutual fund meets this standard may be determined by checking the fund's prospectus or by calling a broker or the manager of the fund. An employee benefit plan is diversified if the plan manager has a written policy of varying assets. This policy might be found in materials describing the plan or may be obtained in a written statement from the plan manager. It is important to note that a mutual fund or employee benefit plan that is diversified for purposes of this part may not necessarily be an excepted investment fund (EIF) for purposes of reporting financial interests pursuant to 5 CFR 2634.310(c). In some cases, an employee may have to report the underlying assets of a fund or plan on his financial disclosure statement even though an exemption set forth in this part would permit the employee to participate in a matter affecting the underlying assets of the fund or plan. Conversely, there may be situations in which no exemption in this part is applicable to the assets of a fund or plan which is properly reported as an EIF on the employee's financial disclosure statement.
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
(i)
(j)
(k)
(l)
(m)
(n)
(o)
(p)
(1) Registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78
(2) Issued by an investment company registered pursuant to section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (15 U.S.C. 80a-8); or
(3) A corporate bond registered as an offering with the Securities and Exchange Commission under section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78
(p): National securities exchanges include the American Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange. Regional exchanges include Boston, Cincinnati, Intermountain (Salt Lake City), Midwest (Chicago), Pacific (Los Angeles and San Francisco), Philadelphia (Philadelphia and Miami), and Spokane stock exchanges.
(q)
(r)
(s)
(t)
(u)
(v)
(a)
(1)
The Overseas Private Investment Corporation decides to hire a contractor to conduct EEO training for its employees. The award of a contract for training services is a particular matter.
The spouse of a high level official of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requests a meeting on behalf of her client (a major U.S. corporation) with IRS officials to discuss a provision of IRS regulations governing depreciation of equipment. The spouse will be paid a fee by the corporation for arranging and attending the meeting. The consideration of the spouse's request and the decision to hold the meeting are particular matters in which the spouse has a financial interest.
A regulation published by the Department of Agriculture applicable only to companies that operate meat packing plants is a particular matter.
A change by the Department of Labor to health and safety regulations applicable to all employers in the United States is not a particular matter. The change in the regulations is directed to the interests of a large and diverse group of persons.
The allocation of additional resources to the investigation and prosecution of white collar crime by the Department of Justice is not a particular matter. Similarly, deliberations on the general merits of an omnibus bill such as the Tax Reform Act of 1986 are not sufficiently focused on the interests of specific persons, or a discrete and identifiable group of persons to constitute participation in a particular matter.
The recommendations of the Council of Economic Advisors to the President about appropriate policies to maintain economic growth and stability are not particular matters. Discussions about economic growth policies are directed to the interests of a large and diverse group of persons.
The formulation and implementation of the response of the United States to the military invasion of a U.S. ally is not a particular matter. General deliberations, decisions and actions concerning a response are based on a consideration of the political, military, diplomatic and economic interests of every sector of society and are too diffuse to be focused on the interests of specific individuals or entities. However, at the time consideration is given to actions focused on specific individuals or entities, or a discrete and identifiable class of individuals or entities, the matters under consideration would be particular matters. These would include, for example, discussions whether to close a particular oil pumping station or pipeline in the area where hostilities are taking place, or a decision to seize a particular oil field or oil tanker.
A legislative proposal for broad health care reform is not a particular matter because it is not focused on the interests of specific persons, or a discrete and identifiable class of persons. It is intended to affect every person in the United States. However, consideration and implementation, through regulations, of a section of the health care bill limiting the amount that can be charged for prescription drugs is sufficiently focused on the interests of pharmaceutical companies that it would be a particular matter.
(2)
An agency's Office of Enforcement is investigating the allegedly fraudulent marketing practices of a major corporation. One of the agency's personnel specialists is asked to provide information to the Office of Enforcement about the agency's personnel ceiling so that the Office can determine whether new employees can be hired to work on the investigation. The employee personnel specialist owns $10,000 worth of stock in the corporation that is the target of the investigation. She does not have a disqualifying financial interest in the matter (the investigation and possible subsequent enforcement proceedings) because her involvement is on a peripheral personnel issue and her participation cannot be considered “substantial” as defined in the statute.
(3)
(ii) A particular matter will have a “predictable” effect if there is a real, as opposed to a speculative, possibility that the matter will affect the financial interest. It is not necessary, however, that the magnitude of the gain or loss be known, and the dollar amount of the gain or loss is immaterial.
An attorney at the Department of Justice is working on a case in which several large companies are defendants. If the Department wins the case, the defendants may be required to reimburse the Federal Government for their failure to adequately perform work under several contracts with the Government. The attorney's spouse is a salaried employee of one of the companies, working in a division that has no involvement in any of the contracts. She does not participate in any bonus or benefit plans tied to the profitability of the company, nor does she own stock in the company. Because there is no evidence that the case will have a direct and predictable effect on whether the spouse will retain her job or maintain the level of her salary, or whether the company will undergo any reorganization that would affect her interests, the attorney would not have a disqualifying financial interest in the matter. However, the attorney must consider, under the requirements of § 2635.502 of this chapter, whether his impartiality would be questioned if he continues to work on the case.
A special Government employee (SGE) whose principal employment is as a researcher at a major university is appointed to serve on an advisory committee that will evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a new medical device to regulate arrhythmic heartbeats. The device is being developed by Alpha Medical Inc., a company which also has contracted with the SGE's university to assist in developing another medical device related to kidney dialysis. There is no evidence that the advisory committee's determinations concerning the medical device under review will affect Alpha Medical's contract with the university to develop the kidney dialysis device. The SGE may participate in the committee's deliberations because those deliberations will not have a direct and predictable effect on the financial interests of the researcher or his employer.
The SGE in the preceding example is instead asked to serve on an advisory committee that has been convened to conduct a preliminary evaluation of the new kidney dialysis device developed by Alpha Medical under contract with the employee's university. Alpha's contract with the university requires the university to undertake additional testing of the device to address issues raised by the committee during its review. The committee's actions will have a direct and predictable effect on the university's financial interest.
An engineer at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was formerly employed by Waste Management, Inc., a corporation subject to EPA's regulations concerning the disposal of hazardous waste materials. Waste Management is a large corporation, with less than 5% of its profits derived from handling hazardous waste materials. The engineer has a vested interest in a defined benefit pension plan sponsored by Waste Management which guarantees that he will receive payments of $500 per month beginning at age 62. As an employee of EPA, the engineer has been assigned to evaluate Waste Management's compliance with EPA hazardous waste regulations. There is no evidence that the engineer's monitoring activities will affect Waste Management's ability or willingness to pay his pension benefits when he is entitled to receive them at age 62. Therefore, the EPA's monitoring activities will not have a direct and predictable effect on the employee's financial interest in his Waste Management pension. However, the
(b)
An employee of the Department of the Interior owns transportation bonds issued by the State of Minnesota. The proceeds of the bonds will be used to fund improvements to certain State highways. In her official position, the employee is evaluating an application from Minnesota for a grant to support a State wildlife refuge. The employee's ownership of the transportation bonds does not create a disqualifying financial interest in Minnesota's application for wildlife funds because approval or disapproval of the grant will not in any way affect the current value of the bonds or have a direct and predictable effect on the State's ability or willingness to honor its obligation to pay the bonds when they mature.
An employee of the Bureau of Land Management owns undeveloped land adjacent to Federal lands in New Mexico. A portion of the Federal land will be leased by the Bureau to a mining company for exploration and development, resulting in an increase in the value of the surrounding privately owned land, including that owned by the employee. The employee has a financial interest in the lease of the Federal land to the mining company and, therefore, cannot participate in Bureau matters involving the lease unless he obtains an individual waiver pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 208(b)(1).
A special Government employee serving on an advisory committee studying the safety and effectiveness of a new arthritis drug is a practicing physician with a specialty in treating arthritis. The drug being studied by the committee would be a low cost alternative to current treatments for arthritis. If the drug is ultimately approved, the physician will be able to prescribe the less expensive drug. The physician does not own stock in, or hold any position, or have any business relationship with the company developing the drug. Moreover, there is no indication that the availability of a less expensive treatment for arthritis will increase the volume and profitability of the doctor's private practice. Accordingly, the physician has no disqualifying financial interest in the actions of the advisory committee.
(c)
(1) The employee's spouse;
(2) The employee's minor child;
(3) The employee's general partner;
(4) An organization or entity which the employee serves as officer, director, trustee, general partner, or employee; and
(5) A person with whom the employee is negotiating for, or has an arrangement concerning, prospective employment.
An employee of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has two minor children who have inherited shares of stock from their grandparents in a company that manufactures small appliances. Unless an exemption is applicable under § 2640.202 or he obtains a waiver under 18 U.S.C. 208(b)(1), the employee is disqualified from participating in a CPSC proceeding to require the manufacturer to remove a defective appliance from the market.
A newly appointed employee of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is a general partner with three former business associates in a partnership that owns a travel agency. The employee knows that his three general partners are also partners in another partnership that owns a HUD-subsidized housing project. Unless he receives a waiver pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 208(b)(1) permitting him to act, the employee must disqualify himself from particular matters involving the HUD-subsidized project which his general partners own.
The spouse of an employee of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) works for a consulting firm that provides support services to colleges and universities on research projects they are conducting under grants from HHS. The spouse is a salaried employee who has no direct ownership interest in the firm such as through stockholding, and the award of a grant to a particular university will have no direct and predictable effect on his continued employment or his salary. Because the award of a grant will not affect the spouse's financial interest, section 208 would not bar the HHS employee from participating in the award of a grant to a university to which the
(d)
(1)
(2)
The supervisor of an employee of the Department of Education asks the employee to attend a meeting on his behalf on developing national standards for science education in secondary schools. When the employee arrives for the meeting, she realizes one of the participants is the president of Education Consulting Associates (ECA), a firm which has been awarded a contract to prepare a bulletin describing the Department's policies on science education standards. The employee's spouse has a subcontract with ECA to provide the graphics and charts that will be used in the bulletin. Because the employee realizes that the meeting will involve matters relating to the production of the bulletin, the employee properly decides that she must disqualify herself from participating in the discussions. After withdrawing from the meeting, the employee should notify her supervisor about the reason for her disqualification. She may elect to put her disqualification statement in writing, or to simply notify her supervisor orally. She may also elect to notify appropriate coworkers about her need to disqualify herself from this matter.
(e)
(1)
(2)
(3)
(f)
(a)
An employee owns shares worth $100,000 in several mutual funds whose portfolios contain stock in a small computer company. Each mutual fund prospectus describes the fund as a “management company,” but does not characterize the fund as having a policy of concentrating its investments in any particular industry, business, single country (other than the U.S.) or bonds of a single State. The employee may participate in agency matters affecting the computer company.
A nonsupervisory employee of the Department of Energy owns shares in a mutual fund that expressly concentrates its holdings in the stock of utility companies. The employee may not rely on the exemption in paragraph (a) of this section to act in matters affecting a utility company whose stock is part of the mutual fund's portfolio because the fund is not a diversified fund as defined in § 2640.102(a). The employee may, however, seek an individual waiver under 18 U.S.C. 208(b)(1) permitting him to act. Moreover, depending upon the value of the employee's interest in the fund and the type of particular matter in which he would participate, one of the exemptions at § 2640.202(a) or (b) for interests arising from publicly traded securities may be applicable.
(b)
An employee of the Federal Reserve owns shares in the mutual fund described in the preceding example. In addition to holdings in utility companies, the mutual fund contains stock in certain regional banks and bank holding companies whose financial interests would be affected by an investigation in which the Federal Reserve employee would participate. The employee is not disqualified from participating in the investigation because the banks that would be affected are not part of the sector in which the fund concentrates.
(c)
(1) Any particular matter affecting one or more holdings of an employee benefit plan, where the disqualifying financial interest in the matter arises from membership in:
(i) The Thrift Savings Plan for Federal employees described in 5 U.S.C. 8437;
(ii) A pension plan established or maintained by a State government or any political subdivision of a State government for its employees; or
(iii) A diversified employee benefit plan,
(A) The investments of the plan are administered by an independent trustee, and the employee, or other person specified in section 208(a) does not participate in the selection of the plan's investments or designate specific plan investments (except for directing that contributions be divided among several different categories of investments, such as stocks, bonds or mutual funds, which are available to plan participants); and
(B) The plan is not a profit-sharing or stock bonus plan.
(c)(1): Employee benefit plans that are tax deferred under 26 U.S.C. 401(k) are not considered profit-sharing plans for purposes of this section. However, for the exemption to apply, 401(k) plans must meet the requirements of paragraph (c)(1)(iii)(A) of this section.
(2) Particular matters of general applicability, such as rulemaking, affecting the State or local government sponsor of a State or local government pension plan described in paragraph (c)(1)(ii) of this section where the disqualifying financial interest in the
An attorney terminates his position with a law firm to take a position with the Department of Justice. As a result of his employment with the firm, the employee has interests in a 401(k) plan, the assets of which are invested primarily in stocks chosen by an independent financial management firm. He also participates in a defined contribution pension plan maintained by the firm, the assets of which are stocks, bonds, and financial instruments. The plan is managed by an independent trustee. Assuming that the manager of the pension plan has a written policy of diversifying plan investments, the employee may act in matters affecting the plan's holdings. The employee may also participate in matters affecting the holdings of his 401(k) plan if the individual financial management firm that selects the plan's investments has a written policy of diversifying the plan's assets. Employee benefit plans that are tax deferred under 26 U.S.C. 401(k) are not considered profit-sharing or stock bonus plans for purposes of this part.
An employee of the Department of Agriculture who is a former New York State employee has a vested interest in a pension plan established by the State of New York for its employees. She may participate in an agency matter that would affect a company whose stock is in the pension plan's portfolio. She also may participate in a matter of general applicability affecting all States, including the State of New York, such as the drafting and promulgation of a rule requiring States to expend additional resources implementing the Food Stamp program. Unless she obtains an individual waiver under 18 U.S.C. 208(b)(1), she may not participate in a matter involving the State of New York as a party, such as an application by the State for additional Federal funding for administrative support services, if that matter would affect the State's ability or willingness to honor its obligation to pay her pension benefits.
(a)
(1) The securities are publicly traded, or are long-term Federal Government, or are municipal securities; and
(2) The aggregate market value of the holdings of the employee, his spouse, and his minor children in the securities of all entities does not exceed $5,000.
An employee owns 100 shares of publicly traded stock valued at $3,000 in XYZ Corporation. As part of his official duties, the employee is evaluating bids for performing computer maintenance services at his agency and discovers that XYZ Corporation is one of the companies that has submitted a bid. The employee is not required to recuse himself from continuing to evaluate the bids.
In the preceding example, the employee and his spouse each own 100 shares of stock in XYZ Corporation, resulting in ownership of $6,000 worth of stock by the employee and his spouse. The exemption in paragraph (a) of this section would not permit the employee to participate in the evaluation of bids because the aggregate market value of the holdings of the employee, spouse and minor children in XYZ Corporation exceeds $5,000. The employee could, however, seek an individual waiver under 18 U.S.C. 208(b)(1) in order to participate in the evaluation of bids.
An employee is assigned to monitor XYZ Corporation's performance of a contract to provide computer maintenance services at the employee's agency. At the time the employee is first assigned these duties, he owns publicly traded stock in XYZ Corporation valued at less than $5,000. During the time the contract is being performed, however, the value of the employee's stock increases to $7,500. When the employee knows that the value of his stock exceeds $5,000, he must disqualify himself from any further participation in matters affecting XYZ Corporation or seek an individual waiver under 18 U.S.C. 208(b)(1). Alternatively, the employee may divest the portion of his XYZ stock that exceeds $5,000. This can be accomplished through a standing order with his broker to sell when the value of the stock exceeds $5,000.
(b)
(i) The securities are publicly traded, or are municipal securities, the market value of which does not exceed:
(A) $25,000 in any one such entity; and
(B) $50,000 in all affected entities; or
(ii) The securities are long-term Federal Government securities, the market value of which does not exceed $50,000.
(2) For purposes of this paragraph (b), the value of securities owned by the employee, his spouse, and minor children must be aggregated in applying the exemption.
The Bureau of Export Administration at the Department of Commerce is in the process of formulating a regulation concerning exportation of portable computers. The regulation will affect all domestic companies that sell portable computers. An employee of the Department who is assisting in drafting the regulation owns $17,000 worth of stock in CompAmerica and $20,000 worth of stock in XYZ Computer Inc. Even though the employee owns $37,000 worth of stock in companies that will be affected by the regulation, she may participate in drafting the regulation because the value of the securities she owns does not exceed $25,000 in any one affected company and the total value of stock owned in all affected companies does not exceed $50,000.
A health scientist administrator employed in the Public Health Service at the Department of Health and Human Services is assigned to serve on a Department-wide task force that will recommend changes in how Medicare reimbursements will be made to health care providers. The employee owns $10,000 worth of shares in a sector mutual fund invested primarily in health-related companies such as pharmaceuticals, developers of medical instruments and devices, managed care health organizations, and acute care hospitals. Because the fund is not a “diversified mutual fund” as defined in § 2640.102(a), the exemption at § 2640.201(a) is not applicable. However, because the fund is a “publicly traded security” as defined in § 2640.102(p), the exemption for financial interests arising from ownership of a de minimis amount of securities at paragraph (b) of this section will permit the employee to participate on the task force.
(c)
(d)
(1) The matter affects only the organization's investments, not the organization directly;
(2) The employee plays no role in making investment decisions for the organization, except for participating in the decision to invest in several different categories of investments such as stocks, bonds, or mutual funds; and
(3) The organization's only relationship to the issuer, other than that which arises from routine commercial transactions, is that of investor.
An employee of the Federal Reserve is a director of the National Association to Save Trees (NAST), an environmental organization that is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The employee knows that NAST has an endowment fund that is partially invested in the publicly traded stock of Computer Inc. The employee's position at the Federal Reserve involves the procurement of computer software, including software marketed by Computer Inc. The employee may participate in the procurement of software from Computer Inc. provided that he is not involved in selecting NAST's investments, and that NAST has no relationship to Computer Inc. other than as an investor in the company and routine purchaser of Computer Inc. software.
(e)
(1) The ownership of publicly traded securities, long-term Federal Government securities, or municipal securities by the employee's general partner,
(i) Ownership of the securities is not related to the partnership between the employee and his general partner, and
(ii) The value of the securities does not exceed $200,000; or
(2) Any interest of the employee's general partner if the employee's relationship to the general partner is as a limited partner in a partnership that has at least 100 limited partners.
An employee of the Department of Transportation is a general partner in a partnership that owns commercial property. The employee knows that one of his partners owns stock in an aviation company valued at $100,000 because the stock has been pledged as collateral for the purchase of the commercial property by the partnership. In the absence of an individual waiver under 18 U.S.C. 208(b)(1), the employee may not act in a matter affecting the aviation company. Because the stock has been pledged as collateral, ownership of the securities is related to the partnership between the employee and his general partner.
An employee of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) has a limited partnership interest in Ambank Partners, a large partnership with more than 500 limited partners. The partnership assets are invested in the securities of various financial institutions. Ambank's general partner is Capital Investment Services, an investment firm whose pension plan for its own employees is being examined by the PBGC for possible unfunded liabilities. Even though the employee's general partner (Capital Investment Services) has a financial interest in PBGC's review of the pension plan, the employee may participate in the review because his relationship with his general partner is that of a limited partner in a partnership that has at least 100 limited partners.
(a)
(1) Ownership of publicly traded securities issued by the corporation; or
(2) Participation in a pension plan sponsored by the corporation.
(b)
An employee at the Department of Defense (DOD) is on a leave of absence from his position as a tenured Professor of Engineering at the University of California (UC) at Berkeley. While at DOD, he is assigned to assist in developing a regulation which will contain new standards for the oversight of grants given by DOD. Even though the University of California at Berkeley is a DOD grantee, and will be affected by these new monitoring standards, the employee may participate in developing the standards because UC Berkeley will be affected only as part of the class of all DOD grantees. However, if the new standards would affect the employee's own financial interest, such as by affecting his tenure or his salary, the employee could not participate in the matter unless he first obtains an individual waiver under section 208(b)(1).
An employee on leave from a university could not participate in the development of an agency program of grants specifically designed to facilitate research in jet propulsion systems where the employee's university is one of just two or three universities likely to receive a grant under the new program. Even though the grant announcement is open to all universities, the employee's university is among the very few known to have facilities and equipment adequate to conduct the research. The matter would have a distinct effect on the institution other than as part of a class.
(c)
A special Government employee (SGE) member of an advisory committee convened by the National Science Foundation is a full-time professor in the School of Engineering at one campus of a State university. The SGE may participate in formulating the committee's recommendation to award a grant to a researcher at another campus of the same State university system.
A member of the Board of Regents at a State university is asked to serve on an advisory committee established by the Department of Health and Human Services to consider applications for grants for human genome research projects. An application from another university that is part
(d)
(1) Make determinations that individually or specially affect his own salary and benefits; or
(2) Make determinations, requests, or recommendations that individually or specially relate to, or affect, the salary or benefits of any other person specified in section 208.
An employee of the Office of Management and Budget may vigorously and energetically perform the duties of his position even though his outstanding performance would result in a performance bonus or other similar merit award.
A policy analyst at the Defense Intelligence Agency may request promotion to another grade or salary level. However, the analyst may not recommend or approve the promotion of her general partner to the next grade.
An engineer employed by the National Science Foundation may request that his agency pay the registration fees and appropriate travel expenses required for him to attend a conference sponsored by the Engineering Institute of America. However, the employee may not approve payment of his own travel expenses and registration fees unless he has been delegated, in advance, authority to make such approvals in accordance with agency policy.
A GS-14 attorney at the Department of Justice may review and make comments about the legal sufficiency of a bill to raise the pay level of all Federal employees paid under the General Schedule even though her own pay level, and that of her spouse who works at the Department of Labor, would be raised if the bill were to become law.
An employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) may assist in drafting a regulation that will provide expanded hospital benefits for veterans, even though he himself is a veteran who would be eligible for treatment in a hospital operated by the VA.
An employee of the Office of Personnel Management may participate in discussions with various health insurance providers to formulate the package of benefits that will be available to Federal employees who participate in the Government's Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, even though the employee will obtain health insurance from one of these providers through the program.
An employee of the Federal Supply Service Division of the General Services Administration (GSA) may participate in GSA's evaluation of the feasibility of privatizing the entire Federal Supply Service, even though the employee's own position would be eliminated if the Service were privatized.
Absent an individual waiver under section 208(b)(1), the employee in the preceding example could not participate in the implementation of a GSA plan to create an employee-owned private corporation which would carry out Federal Supply Service functions under contract with GSA. Because implementing the plan would result not only in the elimination of the employee's Federal position, but also in the creation of a new position in the new corporation to which the employee would be transferred, the employee would have a disqualifying financial interest in the matter arising from other than Federal salary and benefits, or Social Security or veterans benefits.
A career member of the Senior Executive Service (SES) at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) may serve on a performance review board that makes recommendations about the performance awards that will be awarded to other career SES employees at the IRS. The amount of the employee's own SES performance award would be affected by the board's recommendations because all SES awards are derived from the same limited pool of funds. However, the employee's activities on the board involve only recommendations, and not determinations that individually or specially affect his own award. Additionally, 5 U.S.C. 5384(c)(2) requires that a majority of the board's members be career SES employees.
In carrying out a reorganization of the Office of General Counsel (OGC) of the Federal Trade Commission, the Deputy General Counsel is asked to determine which of five Senior Executive Service (SES) positions in the OGC to abolish. Because her own position is one of the five SES positions being considered for elimination, the matter is one that would individually or specially affect her own salary and benefits and, therefore, the Deputy may not decide which position should be abolished.
(d): This exemption does not permit an employee to take any action in violation of any other statutory or regulatory requirement, such as the prohibition on the employment of relatives at 5 U.S.C. 3110.
(e)
(1) The program is open to the general public; and
(2) Participation in the program involves no other financial interest in the sponsor, such as stockholding.
An attorney at the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation who is a member of a frequent flier program sponsored by Alpha Airlines may assist in an action against Alpha for failing to make required payments to its employee pension fund, even though the agency action will cause Alpha to disband its frequent flier program.
(f)
An administrative law judge at the Department of Labor receives dividends from a mutual insurance company which he takes in the form of reduced premiums on his life insurance policy. The amount of the dividend is based upon the company's overall profitability. Nevertheless, he may preside in a Department hearing involving a major corporation insured by the same company even though the insurance company will have to pay the corporation's penalties and other costs if the Department prevails in the hearing.
An employee of the Department of Justice is assigned to prosecute a case involving the fraudulent practices of an issuer of junk bonds. While developing the facts pertinent to the case, the employee learns that the mutual life insurance company from which he holds a life insurance policy has invested heavily in these junk bonds. If the Government succeeds in its case, the bonds will be worthless and the corresponding decline in the insurance company's investments will impair the company's ability to pay claims under the policies it has issued. The employee may not continue assisting in the prosecution of the case unless he obtains an individual waiver pursuant to section 208(b)(1).
(g)
A chemist employed by a major pharmaceutical company has been appointed to serve on an advisory committee established to develop recommendations for new standards for AIDS vaccine trials involving human subjects. Even though the chemist's employer is in the process of developing an experimental AIDS vaccine and therefore will be affected by the new standards, the chemist may participate in formulating the advisory committee's recommendations. The chemist's employer will be affected by the new standards only as part of the class of all pharmaceutical companies and other research entities that are attempting to develop an AIDS vaccine.
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has established an advisory committee to evaluate a university's performance of an NCI grant to study the efficacy of a newly developed breast cancer drug. An employee of the university may not participate in the evaluation of the university's performance because it is not a matter of general applicability.
An engineer whose principal employment is with a major Department of Defense (DOD) contractor is appointed to serve on an advisory committee established by DOD to develop concepts for the next generation of laser-guided missiles. The engineer's employer, as well as a number of other similar companies, has developed certain missile components for DOD in the past, and has the capability to work on aspects of the newer missile designs under consideration by the
(h)
(1) Establishment of rates to be charged for all advances and discounts by Federal Reserve Banks;
(2) Consideration of monetary policy matters, regulations, statutes and proposed or pending legislation, and other matters of broad applicability intended to have uniform application to banks within the Reserve Bank district;
(3) Approval or ratification of extensions of credit, advances or discounts to a depository institution that has not been determined to be in a hazardous financial condition by the President of the Reserve Bank; or
(4) Approval or ratification of extensions of credit, advances or discounts to a depository institution that has been determined to be in a hazardous financial condition by the President of the Reserve Bank,
(i)
(1) Employment with a hospital or other similar medical facility whose only interest in the medical product or device is purchase of it for use by, or sale to, its patients; or
(2) The use or prescription of medical products for patients.
(j)
The FDA's Medical Devices Advisory Committee is established pursuant to 21 U.S.C. 360c(b), which requires that each panel of the Committee include one nonvoting industry representative and one nonvoting consumer representative. An industry representative on the Ophthalmic Devices Panel of this Committee has been appointed as a special Government employee, in accordance with the procedures described at 14 CFR 14.84. The special Government employee may participate in Panel discussions concerning the premarket approval application for a silicone posterior chamber intraocular lens manufactured by MedInc, even though she is employed by, and owns stock in, another company that manufactures a competing product. However, a consumer representative who serves as a special Government employee on the same Panel may not participate in Panel discussions if he owns $30,000 worth of stock in MedInc unless he first obtains an individual waiver under 18 U.S.C. 208 (b)(1) or (b)(3).
(k)
(l)
(1) Does not serve in a State, local, or tribal government position which is filled through public election;
(2) Was hired for a temporary position under authority of 13 U.S.C. 23; and
(3) Is serving in a Local Census Office or an Accuracy and Coverage Evaluation function position as an enumerator, crew leader, or field operations supervisor.
None of the exemptions set forth in §§ 2640.201, 2640.202, or 2640.203 apply to any financial interest held or acquired by an employee, his spouse, or minor child in violation of a statute or agency supplemental regulation issued in accordance with 5 CFR 2635.105, or that is otherwise prohibited under 5 CFR 2635.403(b).
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), in a regulation that supplements part 2635 of this chapter, prohibits certain employees from owning stock in commercial banks. If an OCC employee purchases stock valued at $2,000 in contravention of the regulation, the exemption at § 2640.202(a) for interests arising from the ownership of no more than $5,000 worth of publicly traded stock will not apply to the employee's participation in matters affecting the bank.
Prior to taking official action in a matter which an employee knows would affect his financial interest or the interest of another person specified in 18 U.S.C. 208(a), an employee must determine whether one of the exemptions in §§ 2640.201, 2640.202, or 2640.203 would permit his action notwithstanding the existence of the disqualifying interest. An employee who is unsure whether an exemption is applicable in a particular case, should consult an agency ethics official prior to taking action in a particular matter.
An employee who, prior to January 17, 1997, acted in an official capacity in a particular matter in which he had a financial interest, will be deemed to have acted in accordance with applicable regulations if he acted in reliance on an exemption issued by his employing Government agency pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 208(b)(2), as in effect prior to November 30, 1989.
(a)
(1) The disqualifying financial interest, and the nature and circumstances of the particular matter or matters, must be fully disclosed to the Government official responsible for appointing the employee to his position (or other Government official to whom authority to issue such a waiver for the employee has been delegated);
(2) The waiver must be issued in writing by the Government official responsible for appointing the employee to his position (or other Government official to whom the authority to issue such a waiver for the employee has been delegated);
(3) The waiver should describe the disqualifying financial interest, the particular matter or matters to which it applies, the employee's role in the matter or matters, and any limitations
(4) The waiver shall be based on a determination that the disqualifying financial interest is not so substantial as to be deemed likely to affect the integrity of the employee's services to the Government. Statements concerning the employee's good character are not material to, nor a basis for making, such a decision;
(5) The waiver must be issued prior to the employee taking any action in the matter or matters; and
(6) The waiver may apply to both present and future financial interests, provided the interests are described with sufficient specificity.
(a): The disqualifying financial interest, the particular matter or matters to which the waiver applies, and the employee's role in such matters do not need to be described with any particular degree of specificity. For example, if a waiver were to apply to all matters which an employee would undertake as part of his official duties, the waiver document would not have to enumerate those duties. The information contained in the waiver, however, should provide a clear understanding of the nature and identity of the disqualifying financial interest, the matters to which the waiver will apply, and the employee's role in such matters.
(b)
(1) The type of interest that is creating the disqualification (e.g. stock, bonds, real estate, other securities, cash payment, job offer, or enhancement of a spouse's employment);
(2) The identity of the person whose financial interest is involved, and if the interest is not the employee's, the relationship of that person to the employee;
(3) The dollar value of the disqualifying financial interest, if it is known or can be estimated (e.g. the amount of cash payment which may be gained or lost, the salary of the job which will be gained or lost, the predictable change in either the market value of the stock or the actual or potential profit or loss or cost of the matter to the company issuing the stock, the change in the value of real estate or other securities);
(4) The value of the financial instrument or holding from which the disqualifying financial interest arises (e.g. the face value of the stock, bond, other security or real estate) and its value in relationship to the individual's assets. If the disqualifying financial interest is that of a general partner or organization specified in section 208, this information must be provided only to the extent that it is known by the employee; and
(5) The nature and importance of the employee's role in the matter, including the extent to which the employee is called upon to exercise discretion in the matter.
(6) Other factors which may be taken into consideration include:
(i) The sensitivity of the matter;
(ii) The need for the employee's services in the particular matter; and
(iii) Adjustments that may be made in the employee's duties that would reduce or eliminate the likelihood that the integrity of the employee's services would be questioned by a reasonable person.
(a)
(1) The advisory committee upon which the individual is serving, or will
(2) The waiver must be issued in writing by the Government official responsible for the individual's appointment (or other Government official to which authority to issue such waivers has been delegated) after the official reviews the financial disclosure report filed by the individual pursuant to the Ethics in Government Act of 1978;
(3) The waiver must include a certification that the need for the individual's services on the advisory committee outweighs the potential for a conflict of interest;
(4) The facts upon which the certification is based should be fully described in the waiver, including the nature of the financial interest, and the particular matter or matters to which the waiver applies;
(5) The waiver should describe any limitations on the individual's ability to act in the matter or matters;
(6) The waiver must be issued prior to the individual taking any action in the matter or matters; and
(7) The waiver may apply to both present and future financial interests of the individual, provided the interests are described with sufficient specificity.
(b)
(1) The type of interest that is creating the disqualification (e.g. stock, bonds, real estate, other securities, cash payment, job offer, or enhancement of a spouse's employment);
(2) The identity of the person whose financial interest is involved, and if the interest is not the individual's, the relationship of that person to the individual;
(3) The uniqueness of the individual's qualifications;
(4) The difficulty of locating a similarly qualified individual without a disqualifying financial interest to serve on the committee;
(5) The dollar value of the disqualifying financial interest, if it is known or can be estimated (e.g. the amount of cash payment which may be gained or lost, the salary of the job which will be gained or lost, the predictable change in either the market value of the stock or the actual or potential profit or loss or cost of the matter to the company issuing the stock, the change in the value of real estate or other securities);
(6) The value of the financial instrument or holding from which the disqualifying financial interest arises (e.g. the face value of the stock, bond, other security or real estate) and its value in relationship to the individual's assets. If the disqualifying financial interest is that of a general partner or organization specified in section 208, this information must be provided only to the extent that it is known by the employee; and
(7) The extent to which the disqualifying financial interest will be affected individually or particularly by the actions of the advisory committee.
When practicable, an official is required to consult formally or informally with the Office of Government Ethics prior to granting a waiver referred to in §§ 2640.301 and 2640.302. A copy of each such waiver is to be forwarded to the Director of the Office of Government Ethics.
(a)
(b)
(1) May withhold from public disclosure any information contained in the waiver that would be exempt from disclosure pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552; and
(2) Shall withhold from public disclosure information in a waiver issued pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 208(b)(3) concerning an individual's financial interest which is more extensive than that required to be disclosed by the individual in his financial disclosure report under the Ethics in Government Act of 1978, as amended, or which is otherwise subject to a prohibition on public disclosure under law.
5 U.S.C. App. (Ethics in Government Act of 1978); 18 U.S.C. 207; E.O. 12674, 54 FR 15159, 3 CFR, 1989 Comp., p. 215, as modified by E.O. 12731, 55 FR 42547, 3 CFR, 1990 Comp., p. 306.
The following terms are defined for purposes of this part:
(1) Employed in a position for which the rate of pay is specified in or fixed according to 5 U.S.C. 5311-5318 (the Executive Schedule);
(2) Employed in a position for which the basic rate of pay, exclusive of any locality-based pay adjustment under 5 U.S.C. 5304 (or any comparable adjustment pursuant to interim authority of the President) is equal to or greater than the rate of basic pay payable for Level V of the Executive Schedule (including any such position in the Senior Executive Service or other SES-type systems, e.g., the Senior Foreign Service);
(3) Appointed by the President to a position under 3 U.S.C. 105(a)(2)(B);
(4) Appointed by the Vice President to a position under 3 U.S.C. 106(a)(1)(B);
(5) Employed in a position which is held by an active duty commissioned officer of the uniformed services who is serving in a grade or rank for which the pay grade (as specified in 37 U.S.C. 201) is pay grade O-7 or above; or
(6) Detailed to any such position.
(1) Serving in the position of Vice President of the United States;
(2) Employed in a position at a rate of pay payable for Level I of the Executive Schedule;
(3) Employed in a position in the Executive Office of the President at a rate of pay payable for Level II of the Executive Schedule;
(4) Appointed by the President to a position under 3 U.S.C. 105(a)(2)(A);
(5) Appointed by the Vice President to a position under 3 U.S.C. 106(a)(1)(A); or
(6) Detailed to any such position.
(a)
(b)
(1)
(i) Served in a senior employee position while serving as a special Government employee; and
(ii) Served 60 or more days as a special Government employee during the one-year period before terminating service as a senior employee.
(2)
(c)
(d)
(1)
(2)
(i) Positions for which the rate of pay is specified in or fixed according to 5 U.S.C. 5311-5318 (the Executive Schedule);
(ii) Positions whose occupants are appointed by the President pursuant to 3 U.S.C. 105(a)(2)(B); or
(iii) Positions whose occupants are appointed by the Vice President pursuant to 3 U.S.C. 106(a)(1)(B).
(3)
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(4)
(5)
(i) The granting of the exemption would not create the potential for use by former senior employees of undue influence or unfair advantage based on past Government service; and
(ii) The imposition of the restrictions would create an undue hardship on the department or agency in obtaining qualified personnel to fill such position or positions as shown by relevant factors which may include, but are not limited to:
(A) The payment of a special rate of pay to the incumbent of the position pursuant to specific statutory authority; or
(B) The requirement that the incumbent of the position have outstanding qualifications in a scientific, technological, or other technical discipline.
(e)
(1)
(2)
(i) Employed in a position for which the rate of pay is specified in or fixed
(ii) Appointed by the President to a position under 3 U.S.C. 105(a)(2)(B); or
(iii) Appointed by the Vice President to a position under 3 U.S.C. 106(a)(1)(B).
(3)
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(i) There exists no potential for use by former senior employees of undue influence or unfair advantage based on past Government service; and
(ii) The component is an agency or bureau, within a department or agency, that exercises functions which are distinct and separate from the functions of the parent department or agency and from the functions of other components of that parent as shown by relevant factors which may include, but are not limited to:
(A) The component's creation by statute or a statutory reference indicating that it exercises functions which are distinct and separate; or
(B) The component's exercise of separate and distinct subject matter or geographical jurisdiction.
(7)
Pursuant to the provisions of 18 U.S.C. 207(c)(2)(C), each of the following positions is exempt from the provisions of 18 U.S.C. 207(c). All exemptions are effective as of the date indicated.
Agency: Department of Justice.
Positions: United States Trustee (21) (effective June 2, 1994).
Agency: Securities and Exchange Commission.
Positions: Solicitor, Office of General Counsel (effective October 29, 1991); Chief
Pursuant to the provisions of 18 U.S.C. 207(h), each of the following departments or agencies is determined, for purposes of 18 U.S.C. 207(c), to have within it distinct and separate components as set forth below. Except as otherwise indicated, all designations are effective as of January 1, 1991.