U.S. Office of Government Ethics

This Program Advisory describes recent updates to the Certification of Ethics Agreement Compliance (Certification) required to be filed with the OGE by Presidential appointees following their confirmation by the Senate.

This Legal Advisory compares Executive Order 13989 to two prior Executive Orders containing ethics pledges – Executive Order 13770 and Executive Order 13490. The attached table identifies past OGE guidance relating to E.O. 13770 or E.O. 13490 that may be relied upon with respect to E.O. 13989.

This Legal Advisory provides guidance to agency heads and Designated Agency Ethics Officials on the application of section 3 of Executive Order 13989.

There are hundreds of thousands of federal employees who award contracts, conduct investigations, administer grants, and review licensing applications. How can we know that they are acting in the public’s interest and not being influenced by their private financial holdings? The answer is the confidential financial disclosure system.

I am continuing OGE’s practice and my commitment to advancing ethical leadership by sending a letter discussing these important responsibilities to each incoming Presidential appointee as they are confirmed by the Senate.

On January 20, 2021, President Biden signed an Executive Order titled “Executive Order on Ethics Commitments by Executive Branch Personnel.” Pursuant to the Executive Order, OGE is providing a copy of the Ethics Pledge and a link to the Executive Order. The legal advisory also addresses the revocation of Executive Order 13770.