OGE reviewed DeCA's ethics program and issued 1 recommendation.

OGE reviewed PBRB's ethics program and issued 0 recommendations.

OGE reviewed USPS' ethics program and issued 1 recommendation.

OGE conducted a follow-up review to determine if the agency corrected deficiencies identified in their previous review.

OGE reviewed CFA's ethics program and issued 2 recommendations.

OGE reviewed the VA ethics program and issued 3 recommendations.

OGE conducted a follow-up review to determine if the agency corrected deficiencies identified in their previous review.

OGE reviewed USCCR's ethics program and issued 0 recommendations.

OGE reviewed NBRC's ethics program and issued 0 recommendations.

OGE reviewed DLA's ethics program and issued 0 recommendations.

OGE reviewed DRA's ethics program and issued 2 recommendations.

OGE reviewed FLRA's ethics program and issued 1 recommendation.

OGE reviewed the Foundation's ethics program and issued 0 recommendations.

OGE reviewed the Commission's ethics program and issued 2 recommendations.

OGE conducted a follow-up review to determine if the agency corrected deficiencies identified in their previous review.

OGE reviewed PCLOB's ethics program and issued 3 recommendations.

OGE reviewed AFRH's ethics program and issued 0 recommendations.

OGE conducted a follow-up review to determine if the agency corrected deficiencies identified in their previous review.

OGE reviewed ACHP's ethics program and issued 2 recommendations.

The U.S. Office of Government Ethics (OGE) had begun the renewal process for OGE Form 201: Request an Individual’s Ethics Documents

This week, OGE welcomed more than 30 new Designated Agency Ethics Officials and Alternates to their positions in a two-part orientation.

OGE conducted a follow-up review to determine if the agency corrected deficiencies identified in their previous review.

OGE conducted a follow-up review to determine if the agency corrected deficiencies identified in their previous review.

OGE reviewed the Foundation's ethics program and issued 0 recommendations.

OGE reviewed PRC's ethics program and issued 0 recommendations.

OGE reviewed NCUA's ethics program and issued 0 recommendations.

OGE reviewed NEA's ethics program and issued 0 recommendations.

OGE reviewed SBA's ethics program and issued 0 recommendations.

OGE conducted a follow-up review to determine if the agency corrected deficiencies identified in their previous review.

Throughout 2026, OGE’s Institute for Ethics in Government (IEG) will provide opportunities for ethics officials, at all levels, to enhance the knowledge and skills they need to administer their agencies’ programs.

OGE reviewed FEC's ethics program and issued 0 recommendations.

OGE reviewed the Commission's ethics program and issued 1 recommendation.

OGE conducted a follow-up review to determine if the agency corrected deficiencies identified in their previous review.

This Program Advisory identifies the 2026 thresholds for: (1) determining which senior employees are subject to the post-employment restrictions; (2) identifying which officers and employees must file public financial disclosure reports; and (3) implementing the outside employment and outside earned income restrictions for certain covered noncareer employees.

OGE reviewed ONCD's ethics program and issued 0 recommendations.

OGE conducted a follow-up review to determine if the agency corrected deficiencies identified in their previous review.

OGE conducted a follow-up review to determine if the agency corrected deficiencies identified in their previous review.

OGE conducted a follow-up review to determine if the agency corrected deficiencies identified in their previous review.

OGE conducted a follow-up review to determine if the agency corrected deficiencies identified in their previous review.

OGE conducted a follow-up review to determine if the agency corrected deficiencies identified in their previous review.

OGE conducted a follow-up review to determine if the agency corrected deficiencies identified in their previous review.

OGE conducted a follow-up review to determine if the agency corrected deficiencies identified in their previous review.

OGE conducted a follow-up review to determine if the agency corrected deficiencies identified in their previous review.

OGE reviewed the Permitting Council's ethics program and issued 0 recommendations.

The U.S. Office of Government Ethics (OGE) had begun the renewal process for OGE Form 201: Request an Individual’s Ethics Documents

OGE conducted a follow-up review to determine if the agency corrected deficiencies identified in their previous review.

OGE reviewed SCRC's ethics program and issued 0 recommendations.

OGE conducted a follow-up review to determine if the agency corrected deficiencies identified in their previous review.

On August 25th, the White House confirmed to OGE that Eric Ueland, Deputy Director for Management at the Office of Management and Budget, has been designated as OGE’s Acting Director.

The wait is over. With input from ethics officials from across the government, OGE has modernized the IEG website. 

OGE conducted a follow-up review to determine if the agency corrected deficiencies identified in their previous review

OGE conducted a follow-up review to determine if the agency corrected deficiencies identified in their previous review.

OGE conducted a follow-up review to determine if the agency corrected deficiencies identified in their previous review.

OGE conducted a follow-up review to determine if the agency corrected deficiencies identified in their previous review.

OGE reviewed FERC's ethics program and issued 0 recommendations.

OGE reviewed the Board's ethics program and issued 1 recommendation.

OGE reviewed DHS's ethics program and issued 4 recommendations.

This Program Advisory provides information to help agencies when submitting requests for Certificates of Divestiture (CDs) to the U.S. Office of Government Ethics (OGE) that involve (1) the divestiture of property held in a limited liability company (LLC) or similar legal entity, (2) the divestiture of certain forms of illiquid property, such as carried interest or family-owned companies, through a private sale of such property, or (3) the divestiture of property through an installment agreement.

OGE conducted a follow-up review to determine if the agency corrected deficiencies identified in their previous review.

OGE reviewed DOJ’s ethics program and issued 0 recommendations.

OGE has published its annual survey of prosecutions involving the conflict of interest criminal statutes and other related statutes for calendar year 2024.

This Program Advisory provides an advance copy of the Annual Agency Ethics Program Questionnaire, explains how and when agencies must submit their response, describes the changes made from the previous questionnaire, and reminds agencies of the public availability of the questionnaire.

OGE reviewed ABMC's ethics program and issued 0 recommendations.

OGE reviewed SBRC's ethics program and issued 0 recommendations.

OGE conducted a follow-up review to determine if the agency corrected deficiencies identified in their previous review.

OGE reviewed DCAA's ethics program and issued 2 recommendations.

OGE reviewed CPSC's ethics program and issued 0 recommendations.

OGE reviewed the Goldwater Foundation's ethics program and issued 0 recommendations.

OGE reviewed Treasury's ethics program and issued 0 recommendations.

OGE conducted a follow-up review to determine if the agency corrected deficiencies identified in their previous review.

OGE reviewed ONDCP's ethics program and issued 0 recommendation(s).

OGE reviewed IMLS's ethics program and issued 0 recommendation(s).

OGE reviewed FTC's ethics program and issued 0 recommendation(s).

OGE conducted a follow-up review to determine if the agency corrected deficiencies identified in their previous review.

OGE conducted a follow-up review to determine if the agency corrected deficiencies identified in their previous review.

OGE conducted a follow-up review to determine if the agency corrected deficiencies identified in their previous review.

OGE conducted a follow-up review to determine if the agency corrected deficiencies identified in their previous review.

In this Program Advisory, OGE asks each agency to forward its annual letter stating whether its components that are currently designated should remain designated for purposes of 18 U.S.C. § 207(c). Any request to modify the existing list of components should be submitted in accordance with regulatory procedures.

OGE conducted a follow-up review to determine if the agency corrected deficiencies identified in their previous review.

OGE reviewed NLRB's ethics program and issued 0 recommendations.

OGE reviewed FCC's ethics program and issued 2 recommendations.

OGE reviewed CFPB's ethics program and issued 2 recommendations.

OGE reviewed ASBCA's ethics program and issued 0 recommendations.

OGE conducted a follow-up review to determine if the agency corrected deficiencies identified in their previous review.

OGE reviewed TVA's ethics program and issued 2 recommendations.

OGE reviewed IBWC's ethics program and issued 1 recommendation.

OGE oversees the executive branch ethics program, in part, by requiring all 143 agencies to submit data annually about the health of their ethics programs.

This Program Advisory describes changes in OGE’s updated Compilation of Federal Ethics Laws.

This Program Advisory provides filing deadlines for the public financial disclosure reports of executive branch employees and procedures for the reports agencies are required to transmit to the U.S. Office of Government Ethics.

OGE recognizes Sunshine Week (March 16-22, 2025).

The “Access Ethics Documents” tab has been renamed “Resources for the Public”.

This Legal Advisory provides an overview of the outside earned income and affiliation limitations that apply to senior political appointees, including covered non-career appointees and presidential appointees.

Read what OGE accomplished during fiscal year 2024.

This Legal Advisory identifies the 2025 thresholds for: (1) determining which senior employees are subject to the post-employment restrictions; (2) identifying which officers and employees must file public financial disclosure reports; and (3) implementing the outside employment and outside earned income restrictions for certain covered noncareer employees.

I am honored to be starting my term as the Director of OGE.

This Legal Advisory provides guidance on the ethical requirements relevant for executive branch employees during a presidential Inauguration celebration.

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. The updates were necessary to clarify the deadlines for timely compliance, include an additional certification option related to divestitures that do not require the filing of a periodic transaction report, revise one of the recusals for spousal interests, and include a minor change to the Privacy Act Statement to address the recodification of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978, as amended (EIGA).

This Legal Advisory provides answers to frequently asked questions about the gift exception for widely attended gatherings (WAGs) found at 5 C.F.R. § 2635.204(g).

Depending on your perspective, the conclusion of the Presidential election can feel like an ending or a beginning.

This Legal Advisory discusses SGE day counting for the purposes of travel days and when the SGE has past regular Government service.

This Legal Advisory discusses: (1) the subpart C framework for gift-giving between employees, including use of the special infrequent occasion exception in times of crisis; (2) guidance for employees seeking to solicit donations for themselves and others (including the use of crowdsourcing websites in the federal workplace); and (3) considerations for specific types of donations, including in-kind gifts, gifts of cash, and leave donation.

The symbiotic relationship between OGE and the Inspectors General is vital to the success of our government.

This Legal Advisory reviews the elements of 18 U.S.C. §§ 203 and 205(a)(1), common types of payments that may implicate the statutes, and resolutions for when such payments arise.

This Program Advisory provides a summary of the changes in the 2024 revised Guide to Drafting Nominee Ethics Agreements.

This Legal Advisory discusses common ethics issues that may arise for current and former executive branch employees who are serving on a presidential transition team (PTT). This includes the application of the ethics rules concerning representational activity, nonpublic information, and receipt of payments and gifts from the PTT.

The executive branch ethics community is working diligently and will be ready to support incoming leaders of a new Administration in being ready to serve their country, while committing to the highest ethical standards.

This Legal Advisory provides guidance on when “thematic” mutual funds are “sector funds” for purposes of the regulatory exemptions to 18 U.S.C. § 208.

On May 17, 2024, the U.S. Office of Government Ethics (OGE) published a final rule revising the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch (5 C.F.R. part 2635), and a Legal Advisory highlighting some of the notable changes effectuated by the rulemaking. As of August 15, 2024, the final rule is now in effect.

OGE publishes its annual survey of prosecutions involving the conflict of interest criminal statutes and other related statutes for calendar year 2023.

This Legal Advisory explains the impact of the pay rate cap applicable to noncareer officials for 2024 on the application of the senior employee post-Government employment restrictions under 18 U.S.C. § 207(c).

This program advisory provides an advance copy of the Annual Agency Ethics Program Questionnaire, explains how and when agencies must submit their response, describes the changes made from the previous questionnaire, and reminds agencies of the public availability of the questionnaire

This Program Advisory announces the U.S. Office of Government Ethics' (OGE) plan to list information about individuals who receive conflict of interest waivers (waivers) issued under 18 U.S.C. § 208(b)(1) in its Officials’ Individual Disclosures Search Collection (Collection). This Advisory describes why, how, and when OGE will make this information available, and reminds agencies that they may withhold from public disclosure information that would be exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

Maintaining the public’s trust is a shared responsibility between OGE and the 5,300 ethics officials supporting 2.7 million employees across more than 140 executive branch agencies.

This Legal Advisory discusses the application of the terms “organization” under 18 U.S.C. § 208 and “person” under 5 C.F.R. § 2635.502 for employees with outside employment interests with state and local government entities.

In this Program Advisory, OGE asks each agency to forward its annual letter stating whether its components that are currently designated should remain designated for purposes of 18 U.S.C. § 207(c). Any request to modify the existing list of components should be submitted in accordance with regulatory procedures.

The final rule revises the Standards based on OGE’s experience gained from applying the regulation since its inception, input gathered during the public comment period, as well as feedback from ethics officials over the years. It also incorporates past interpretive guidance, improves clarity, modernizes regulatory examples to make them more relevant and inclusive, updates citations, and corrects technical deficiencies.

The final rule making modernization updates to the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch (Standards) becomes effective on August 15, 2024. This Legal Advisory highlights some of the notable updates to the Standards which will go into effect at that time.

The U.S. Office of Government Ethics (OGE) has published a final rule revising the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch (5 C.F.R. part 2635), and a Legal Advisory highlighting some of the notable changes effectuated by the rulemaking.

Across 140+ executive branch agencies, more than 26,000 public financial disclosure reports are due to be filed today by senior government leaders.

Public service provides the chance to affect thousands of people's lives for the good, on a daily basis. Our profession allows us to reaffirm every day our values of honesty, respect, fairness, equity, innovation, and compassion.

This Legal Advisory discusses the exceptions to 18 U.S.C. §§ 203 and 205 for representational contacts made by an employee when acting as a personal fiduciary of an individual or their estate.

This Program Advisory provides filing deadlines for the public financial disclosure reports of executive branch employees and procedures for the reports agencies are required to transmit to the U.S. Office of Government Ethics.

This Legal Advisory highlights the potential conflict of interest risks and financial disclosure reporting challenges for employees who invest in managed accounts, including those managed by robo-advisors.

During Sunshine Week (March 10 – 16) and beyond OGE works hard to facilitate transparency by making ethics documents publicly available and raising the American public’s awareness about the systems in place to prevent conflicts of interest and mechanisms available to hold their government accountable.

By the end of today, the nearly one-in-five civilian executive branch employees required to complete a confidential financial disclosure will have filed their reports, which are vital to the integrity of government.

This Legal Advisory discusses the changes in the updated Public Financial Disclosure Guide.

This Legal Advisory discusses the application of certain ethics rules to several Bitcoin exchange-traded products (“Bitcoin ETPs”). As described in the Legal Advisory, these Bitcoin ETPs do not qualify for regulatory exemptions to the conflict of interest law 18 U.S.C. § 208. The Bitcoin ETPs do qualify as excepted investment funds for purposes of financial disclosure reporting.

This Legal Advisory identifies the 2024 thresholds for: (1) determining which senior employees are subject to the post-employment restrictions; (2) identifying which officers and employees must file public financial disclosure reports; and (3) implementing the outside employment and outside earned income restrictions for certain covered noncareer employees.

Each month in 2024, OGE will host offerings (virtual and in-person) to build knowledge and skills ethics officials need to successfully navigate the periods prior to and after a Presidential election.  All the content ethics officials would receive over a week-long event will be delivered throughout the year closer to the time that they are likely to need to apply it. Additionally, OGE will offer opportunities to exchange program practices and build their professional network.

I am grateful to the millions of federal employees, thousands of ethics officials, and entire OGE staff for their collective work to protect the public trust.

The Legal Advisory discusses OGE’s approach to resolving potential conflicts of interest and other ethics issues for nominees for Presidentially appointed, Senate-confirmed positions.

Although the Thanksgiving holiday is behind us, the time for giving and gratitude continues. With the joys of the season, so too come the gift-related challenges.

While you might associate OGE with the review and certification of public financial disclosures of senior executive branch officials, we are also responsible for another important group of filers: candidates for President and Vice President of the United States (candidates).

This Legal Advisory discusses the changes in the updated Confidential Financial Disclosure Guide.

Being ready to assist new leaders to take on their responsibilities free from ethics concerns requires OGE and every executive branch agency to plan and prepare.

Thursday, October 26th will mark the 45th anniversary the Ethics in Government Act being signed into law, creating the U.S. Office of Government Ethics and the ethics program it oversees designed to prevent conflicts of interest.

In support of OGE's equity efforts, this Program Advisory requests your participation in a short, four-question survey to identify the current demographics of the federal employees who implement the executive branch ethics program. OGE will use the results of this survey to compare to the 2021 results, to better understand the composition of the ethics community, to inform its DEIA Strategic Plan, and to tailor and create recruitment, retention, and professional development strategies for ethics practitioners.

This Legal Advisory provides frequently raised questions and answers concerning the application of the Federal ethics laws to employees’ use of personal professional networking accounts and monetized personal social media activities.

This Legal Advisory provides guidance on when an employee may have a disqualifying financial interest under 18 U.S.C. § 208 arising from ownership of digital assets.

Maintaining the public’s trust is a shared responsibility between OGE and executive branch agencies.

This Program Advisory provides an advance copy of the Annual Agency Ethics Program Questionnaire, explains how and when agencies must submit their response, describes the changes made from the previous questionnaire, and reminds agencies of the public availability of the questionnaire.

OGE has completed its annual survey of prosecutions involving the conflict of interest criminal statutes and other related statutes for calendar year 2022.

OGE keeps an eye on the health of the executive branch ethics program in a number of ways.

This Legal Advisory provides guidance on the application of several ethics laws and regulations to detailees between executive branch agencies, including in relation to agency supplemental regulations, the Standards of Conduct, financial disclosure filing, and required ethics training.

This Legal Advisory provides guidance regarding the availability of the exemptions found at 5 C.F.R. part 2640, subpart B, when an agency waives its prohibited holding rule.

In July, when we celebrate our nation’s beginnings, and the public service that independence needs to prosper, I will conclude my term as OGE’s Director.

This Legal Advisory discusses the recent amendments to the gifts and travel reimbursements reporting thresholds at 5 C.F.R. §§ 2634.304 and 2634.907(g) and the widely attended gatherings gift exception ceiling for nonsponsor gifts of free attendance at 5 C.F.R. § 2635.204(g)(3).

The Legal Expense Fund regulation found at subpart J creates an established process for employees to accept pro bono legal services for matters arising in connection with their official position. This legal advisory provides guidance to ethics officials on how employees may accept pro bono legal services under the newly published Legal Expense Fund Regulation, 5 C.F.R. part 2635, subpart J.

Today marks 30 days since the majority of the 2023 annual public financial disclosure reports were due to ethics offices across the executive branch.

In this Program Advisory, OGE asks each agency to forward its annual letter stating whether its components that are currently designated should remain designated for purposes of 18 U.S.C. § 207(c). Any request to modify the existing list of components should be submitted in accordance with regulatory procedures.

This Legal Advisory describes changes in OGE’s updated Compilation of Federal Ethics Laws.

This Legal Advisory provides an overview of the Legal Expense Fund Regulation at 5 C.F.R part 2635, subpart J.

When I was confirmed nearly five years ago, I committed to issuing a regulation governing legal expense funds (LEF) for executive branch employees. Today, OGE published that rule.

Across 130+ executive branch agencies, more than 25,000 public financial disclosure reports are due to be filed today by senior government leaders.

This Program Advisory provides filing deadlines for the public financial disclosure reports of executive branch employees and procedures for the reports agencies are required to transmit to the U.S. Office of Government Ethics.

Recent surveys show that the public’s trust in its government is lower now than it has been at nearly any point in our nation’s recent history.

This Program Advisory reminds Presidential candidates about the filing deadline for public financial disclosure reports and the certification process. It also explains how to request a copy of a candidate financial disclosure report.

Transparency plays an essential role in strengthening trust in government.

The Office of Government Ethics is revising the “Request an Individual’s Ethics Documents” form (OGE Form 201). The purpose of the changes is to (1) make the form more appropriate for use throughout the executive branch, and (2) provide applicants with clarifying information about the use of the form.

The U.S. Office of Government Ethics (OGE) has published a proposed rule revising the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch (5 C.F.R. part 2635).

This Legal Advisory provides a high-level summary of notable legislation in the 117th Congress.

On and around February 15th, hundreds of thousands executive branch employees will file confidential financial disclosure reports.

This month, I sent a video message to the thousands of officials who carry out the ethics program across the executive branch.

This Legal Advisory provides guidance on how the Federal ethics rules and conflict of interest statute at 18 U.S.C. § 208 apply to use of official social media accounts by executive branch employees.

This Legal Advisory discusses the application of the outside earned income limitations to mining, staking, and delegated staking of cryptocurrency.

On December 27, 2022, the President signed Public Law 117-286 into law. This law moved the Ethics in Government Act from the Appendix to title 5 of the U.S. Code to a new chapter 131 in title 5. This Program Advisory describes the recodification and includes a section-by-section citation comparison.

This Legal Advisory identifies the 2023 thresholds for: (1) determining which senior employees are subject to the post-employment restrictions; (2) identifying which officers and employees must file public financial disclosure reports; and (3) implementing the outside employment and outside earned income restrictions for certain covered noncareer employees.

As the holiday season arrives, OGE recognizes that gifts are an important part of many cultures and traditions. So, why then do the executive branch ethics rules prohibit accepting some gifts and what should you do if you are an employee who is offered one?

This Program Advisory provides an overview of OGE’s new professional development opportunities, as well as ongoing offerings.

Provide your input on potential improvements to the executive branch public and confidential financial disclosure forms.

This Legal Advisory provides guidance on the application of the post-employment restrictions in the ethics pledge in Executive Order 13989 to appointees who signed the ethics pledge.

OGE’s mission is one of prevention. That doesn’t mean that OGE does not act when it becomes aware of potential ethics risks in executive branch agencies.

Ethics is a mission that is important to everyone in our country. Whether you are a taxpayer, a Social Security recipient, a grantee, or a policy advocate, good and ethical government is important to you.

Ethical culture can seem like a vague concept and fostering an ethical culture may seem to make as much sense as trying to bottle sunshine.

Over the coming months, OGE leaders will publish Leadership Notes expanding upon the four new strategic objectives in the Plan.

This Program Advisory provides an advance copy of the Annual Agency Ethics Program Questionnaire, explains how and when agencies must submit their response, describes the changes made from the previous questionnaire, and reminds agencies of the public availability of the questionnaire.

“Why doesn’t OGE do more ethics investigations?” It is a fair question, with a good answer.

OGE has completed its annual survey of prosecutions involving the conflict of interest criminal statutes and other related statutes for calendar year 2021.

This Legal Advisory discusses financial disclosure reporting considerations for collectible Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) and Fractionalized Non-Fungible Tokens (F-NFTs).

This Legal Advisory discusses the application of the 18 U.S.C. § 208 securities and mutual fund exemptions to cryptocurrency, stablecoins, and related investments.

In this Program Advisory, OGE asks each agency to forward its annual letter stating whether its components that are currently designated should remain designated for purposes of 18 U.S.C. § 207(c). Any request to modify the existing list of components should be submitted in accordance with regulatory procedures.

This Legal Advisory discusses the application of the financial disclosure and conflict of interest rules to mutual funds purchased through the Thrift Savings Plan mutual fund window.

This is an important time of year for government ethics. Every May, approximately 26,000 senior government employees are required to file public financial disclosure reports.

There is a very special subset of public servants who work tirelessly to protect the trust between the American people and their government: ethics officials.

This Legal Advisory clarifies that pursuant to the sector fund exemption, an employee may participate in a particular matter that affects a non-sector line of business or subsidiary of a company that operates within the sector that is the focus of the fund.

This Program Advisory provides filing deadlines for the public financial disclosure reports of executive branch employees and procedures for the reports agencies are required to transmit to the U.S. Office of Government Ethics.

This Program Advisory announces an upcoming data call for agency practices related to the release of ethics documents under the Ethics in Government Act.

I am honored to present the Strategic Plan for the United States Office of Government Ethics for 2022-2026.

Transparency plays an essential role in strengthening trust in government. Without this transparency, you could not meaningfully oversee the integrity of its government. This is why OGE works every day to make sure that you have access to information about the executive branch and its leaders.

Today, a very important aspect of reducing risk and mitigating conflicts of interest in the executive branch happens across the executive branch as nearly 400,000 employees begin to file confidential financial disclosures with their agency ethics officials for review.

This Legal Advisory identifies the 2022 thresholds for: (1) determining which senior employees are subject to the post-employment restrictions; (2) identifying which officers and employees must file public financial disclosure reports; and (3) implementing the outside employment and outside earned income restrictions for certain covered noncareer employees.

As we welcome the New Year, this is a time of significant endings and important beginnings within the executive branch ethics program that keep it strong and working to prevent conflicts of interest.

Giving and receiving gifts is common to many cultures around the world for marking joyous occasions, holidays, or even mourning. So why, if gift exchanges are so common, do the executive branch ethics rules prohibit accepting some gifts?

OGE’s review teams regularly evaluate each executive branch agency’s ethics program.

This Legal Advisory announces the issuance of updated guidance to assist ethics officials in identifying and analyzing potential conflicts of interest that can arise from various financial interests. This series of documents covers various types of financial interests, as well as interests arising from employment and employment-related assets, and is available on OGE’s website.

This Program Advisory requests the input of Federal employees who implement the executive branch ethics program. OGE will use the results of the survey to inform its Equity Action Plan and to tailor the professional development opportunities it provides to ethics officials.

In this Legal Advisory, OGE publishes a letter to an agency DAEO that discusses the risks that may arise when agency employees mix official agency content with personal posts from their personal social media accounts.

This Program Advisory explains how and when to submit the questionnaire response, describes the changes made from the 2020 questionnaire, and provides executive branch agencies with an advance copy of the 2021 questionnaire. The advance copy provides agencies time to coordinate among their ethics officials, human capital officers, and Inspectors General in order to prepare complete and accurate responses. In addition, this Advisory explains how OGE uses the data and reminds agencies of the public availability of the questionnaire responses.

By leveraging data, OGE hopes to reduce risk, increase our impact, and reach our important goal of preventing conflicts of interest in the executive branch — all while enabling you to see for yourself how the ethics program is doing.

OGE has completed its annual survey of prosecutions involving the conflict of interest criminal statutes and other related statutes for calendar year 2020.

Sometimes employees need help understanding ethics rules. When they do have questions, they have someone to call for help: an agency ethics official.

OGE Seeks Your Feedback on its Draft Strategic Plan

This Legal Advisory explains new language in the ethics pledge that pertains to incoming appointees and memorializes OGE’s interpretation of language common to this ethics pledge and prior ethics pledges to reflect advice that OGE has provided in the past.

In this Program Advisory, OGE asks each agency to forward its annual letter stating whether its components that are currently designated should remain designated for purposes of 18 U.S.C. § 207(c). Any request to modify the existing list of components should be submitted in accordance with regulatory procedures.

Every day, government leaders make decisions that will have profound effects on the lives of their fellow citizens.

During this Public Service Recognition Week, I am grateful for each and all of the contributions, big and small, made by public servants to help our nation weather the Covid-19 pandemic.

This Program Advisory provides filing deadlines for the public financial disclosure reports of executive branch employees and procedures for the reports agencies are required to transmit to the U.S. Office of Government Ethics.

Summary of the ethics provisions that apply to Special Government Employees (SGEs)

The U.S. Office of Government Ethics (OGE) has a unique and important relationship with Congress.

This Legal Advisory summarizes key legislation from the 116th Congress, including legislation that has been reintroduced in the current Congress. This Legal Advisory highlights enacted or proposed legislation that is relevant to the executive branch ethics program and relevant to specific agencies. This Legal Advisory also provides the updated Compilation of Federal Ethics Laws.

How can citizens know that their government leaders are following through on their ethics commitments? The answer: ethics agreements and ethics agreement compliance certifications.

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.

The dedicated career professionals in the ethics community provide a thread of experience and certainty between administrations, and they will not be deterred from their important work.

This Legal Advisory briefly describes Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), Master Limited Partnerships (MLPs), and Business Development Companies (BDCs), and provides guidance on the financial disclosure reporting requirements and conflicts of interest analysis applicable to each of these assets. Ethics officials should consider REITs and MLPs as operating businesses and BDCs as investment funds, and report and analyze them accordingly. The appendices to this document serve as a quick reference for disclosure guidance and conflicts of interest analysis for these assets.

This Legal Advisory identifies the 2021 thresholds for: (1) determining which senior employees are subject to the post-employment restrictions; (2) identifying which officers and employees must file public financial disclosure reports; and (3) implementing the outside employment and outside earned income restrictions for certain covered noncareer employees.

This Legal Advisory reminds executive branch employees of the gifts and fundraising rules relevant to 2021 Presidential Inaugural events.

This Legal Advisory addresses recurring questions about the gifts analysis for virtual events. The Legal Advisory clarifies that ethics officials should analyze virtual events under the same framework as in-person events.

This Legal Advisory provides guidance on the post-Government employment restrictions applicable to employees who signed the Ethics Pledge under E.O. 13770. The advisory expands on the post-Government employment guidance included in LA-17-03.

On this day in 1978, President Carter signed the Ethics in Government Act, which created the United States Office of Government Ethics (OGE) and the public financial disclosure system for the United States Government.

This Legal Advisory provides guidance on certain types of communications, made without an intent to influence, that OGE views as permissible under 18 U.S.C. § 205(a)(2). The Legal Advisory clarifies that submitting certain applications or forms on behalf of another is permissible if employees’ submissions consist of factual information and seek routine action that do not contain an appreciable element of dispute.

This Legal Advisory provides answers to frequently asked questions for employees engaged in crowdsourced fundraising. The advisory addresses a range of topics, including determining when gifts are based on an employee's official position and accepting donations from fundraising campaigns started by others.

This Legal Advisory provides guidance on recurring book deals issues relevant to incoming and outgoing employees that OGE did not directly address in OGE DAEOgram DO-08-006. Specifically, this Advisory shares guidance provided by OGE since 2008 relating to the ability of employees, during government service, to: (1) receive compensation for updating a textbook or other book that was initially written prior to government service; (2) engage in promotional activities as part of a book deal; and (3) try to sell a book idea or “shop a book around.”

Welcome to OGE’s wholly new website. OGE hopes the new navigation, search collections, and content strengthen the executive branch ethics program, increase transparency, and improve accountability.

This Program Advisory explains how and when to submit the questionnaire response, describes the changes made from the 2019 questionnaire, and provides executive branch agencies with an advance copy of the 2020 questionnaire. In addition, this Advisory explains how OGE uses the data and reminds agencies of the public availability of the questionnaire.

Ethics agreements are designed to ensure that incoming officials are free from the kinds of financial entanglements that could compromise their objectivity or prevent them from performing their duties.

This Program Advisory details the recent revisions to the OGE/GOVT-1 and OGE/GOVT-2 governmentwide systems of records covering ethics records. The changes included several new and modified routine uses.

This Program Advisory announces the revised Guide to Drafting Nominee Ethics Agreements and provides an overview of the changes. It also has an attached table that lists the revised and new samples.

When government officials abuse public office for their own enrichment, they may face a variety of consequences, from administrative sanctions to prison time.

OGE has completed its annual survey of prosecutions involving the conflict of interest criminal statutes and other related statutes for calendar year 2019.

This Legal Advisory discusses the recent amendments to the gifts and travel reimbursements reporting thresholds at 5 C.F.R. §§ 2634.304 and 2634.907(g) and the widely attended gathering (WAG) gift exception ceiling for nonsponsor gifts of free attendance at 5 C.F.R. § 2635.204(g)(3).

Congress established the Office of Government Ethics in 1978 to be the policy and prevention body for ethics in the executive branch. At the same time, Congress saw a need for specialized investigators to help detect and combat waste, fraud, and abuse in the executive branch.

In this Program Advisory, OGE asks each agency to forward its annual letter stating whether its components that are currently designated should remain designated for purposes of 18 U.S.C. § 207(c). Any request to modify the existing list of components should be submitted in accordance with regulatory procedures.

May 15 is the deadline for filing public financial disclosure reports. This year, nearly all of those reports will be filed using Integrity, OGE’s public financial disclosure filing system – a fully virtual system that enables continuity during this time of disruption.

This Public Service Recognition Week, I hope that you will take some time to thank the public servants in your life.

This Legal Advisory reminds agency ethics officials that under 18 U.S.C. § 208, an employee may not participate in any particular matter that would have a direct and predictable effect on the financial interests of a company in which the employee (or any imputed person) owns stock, not merely those particular matters that would affect the stock price.

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, this Program Advisory clarifies that OGE is not requiring or encouraging PAS officials to meet “in person” with a qualified ethics official to satisfy the regulatory requirement found in 5 C.F.R. § 2638.305 or the requirement in their ethics agreements.

Yesterday, I sent a memo to the heads of all executive branch agencies asking them to take affirmative steps to remind their agency officials and employees of the importance of ethics in government.

This Program Advisory provides filing deadlines for the public financial disclosure reports of executive branch employees and procedures for the reports agencies are required to transmit to the Office of Government Ethics.

This Program Advisory provides suggestions for maintaining ethics program continuity during the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Today, Director Rounds kicked off the 2020 National Government Ethics Summit, which will provide attendees with opportunities to deepen their knowledge of ethics laws and learn about the latest in ethics program practices.

The Summit will provide attendees with opportunities to deepen their knowledge of the ethics laws and rules, learn about the latest in ethics program practices, prepare for the next presidential election, and listen to viewpoints from experts outside government.

This Legal Advisory shares recently-updated and newly-developed resources relating to agency supplemental ethics regulations. These resources are designed to assist agency ethics officials who might have questions regarding supplemental ethics regulations, or who have an interest in adopting or modifying such regulations for their agencies.

As we say “goodbye” to 2019, OGE looks forward to some exciting challenges in 2020.

This Legal Advisory identifies the 2020 thresholds for: (1) determining which senior employees are subject to the post-employment restrictions; (2) identifying which officers and employees must file public financial disclosure reports; and (3) implementing the outside employment and outside earned income restrictions for certain covered noncareer employees.

This Program Advisory reminds agencies of annual public financial disclosure deadlines, explains reasons why OGE may decline to certify a report, and provides additional information on year-end status letters.

This Program Advisory announces a data call for agency practices related to providing ethics advice and counsel and attaches an advance copy of the questions that will be asked. The information requested must be submitted to the U.S. Office of Government Ethics (OGE) by December 6, 2019.

Today marks 41 years since the passage of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978, which created the Office of Government Ethics and its public financial disclosure system. 

This Program Advisory provides executive branch agencies with an advance copy of the 2019 Annual Agency Ethics Program Questionnaire to allow agencies time to coordinate between the ethics officials, human capital officers, and Inspectors General in order to prepare complete and accurate responses.

Without the trust of its people this nation cannot succeed. When I was sworn in as Director of the United States Office of Government Ethics one year ago, I remarked upon the enormity of this Office’s mission.

OGE has revised the suggested format for agencies to use when requesting Certificates of Divestiture. These revisions incorporate the changes in 5 C.F.R. part 2634, subpart J, which became effective on January 1, 2019. Use of the format remains optional.

This Legal Advisory discusses how mutual funds invested in the information technology and internet fields are treated for purposes of certain regulatory exemptions to 18 U.S.C. § 208. The Legal Advisory revises the guidance contained in OGE Informal Advisory Opinion 00x8 and OGE DAEOgram DO-00-030.

Making and following through on ethics agreements is an important step in preventing conflicts of interest; this is where ethical obligations become action.

OGE has completed its annual survey of prosecutions involving the conflict of interest criminal statutes and other related statutes for the period January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2018.

This Program Advisory reminds ethics officials that modifications to Presidentially appointed, Senate-confirmed officials’ (PAS officials) ethics agreements require prior approval from OGE and outlines the steps OGE will take if a PAS official fails to comply timely with his or her ethics agreement.

This Program Advisory asks each agency to forward to OGE its annual letter stating whether its components that are currently designated should remain designated for purposes of 18 U.S.C. § 207(c). Any request to modify the existing list of components should be submitted in accordance with regulatory procedures.

I recently sent a memo to the heads of all executive branch agencies reminding them of their responsibility to foster an ethical culture and to ensure the success of their agency’s ethics program.

This Program Advisory provides executive branch agency heads with templates to use when designating a federal employee to serve as the Designated or Alternate Designated Agency Ethics Official (DAEO/ADAEO) of their agency. These templates should be used going forward for all new designations.

OGE’s supporting role was particularly vital during the 115th Congress, which considered a large number of presidential nominations and introduced a record amount of legislation related to ethics, trends which continue into the current Congress.

This Program Advisory announces deadlines for the public financial disclosure reports of executive branch employees and procedures for those reports agencies are required to transmit to OGE.

This Legal Advisory summarizes relevant legislative activity from the 115th Congress, during which members introduced more legislation that referenced ethics officials than any previous Congress and more legislation that referenced the Ethics in Government Act than any Congress since the 101st Congress.

This Legal Advisory describes the changes in OGE’s updated Compilation of Federal Ethics Laws. The 115th Congress passed legislation affecting ethics and other government integrity statutes contained in the Compilation.

This Legal Advisory identifies the 2019 thresholds for: (1) determining which senior employees are subject to the post-employment restrictions; (2) identifying which officers and employees must file public financial disclosure reports; and (3) implementing the outside employment and outside earned income restrictions for certain covered noncareer employees.

This Program Advisory advises Designated Agency Ethics Officials of ways that they can use the ethics education regulations to maximize the effectiveness of their ethics education programs.

This Program Advisory is a call for data to revise and expand the resource currently named the DAEO List, which is published on the website of the U.S. Office of Government Ethics (OGE).

This Program Advisory reminds Presidential candidates about the filing deadline for public financial disclosure reports and the certification process. It also explains how to request a copy of a candidate financial disclosure report.

This Program Advisory announces deadlines for the certification by the U.S. Office of Government Ethics of public financial disclosure reports of executive branch employees for those reports agencies are required to transmit to OGE. The deadlines are being extended because of the partial government shutdown.

For our democracy to function, citizens must be able to learn what and how their government is doing.

This Legal Advisory provides answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) to assist employees and ethics officials in navigating the common situations employees in non-pay status may face during a lapse. This guidance is specifically focused on gifts, crowdsourcing, and outside employment.

This Program Advisory extends the 2019 annual deadline for confidential financial disclosure reports due from filers at agencies affected by the partial government shutdown to March 15, 2019.

This Legal Advisory urges ethics officials to remind employees that ethics laws and regulations will continue to apply to them while in a furlough status in the event of a lapse in appropriations.

OGE Director begins meeting with the heads of executive branch agencies

This Program Advisory highlights changes to the public and confidential financial disclosure forms necessitated by the recent revision of 5 C.F.R. part 2634. The revised forms go into effect January 1, 2019.

This Program Advisory reminds Designated Agency Ethics Officials of their obligation to promptly make available copies of public financial disclosure reports filed with their agency.

This Legal Advisory announces the release of a revised Public Financial Disclosure Guide and Confidential Financial Disclosure Guide and outlines the changes to both guides. A revision of the guides was necessitated by the revision of 5 C.F.R. part 2634, which contains the rules for Executive branch financial disclosure.

This Legal Advisory discusses gifts of farewell receptions provided to government employees by former employers. The Legal Advisory also updates and modifies advice provided in OGE Informal Advisory Opinion 94x2.

This week, OGE gathered with a group of senior ethics officials from throughout the executive branch to mark this anniversary and the beginning of the modern government ethics program.  

Today I sent a memo to the heads of all executive branch agencies asking them to support ethics in government. 

This Legal Advisory clarifies the meaning of “political entity” for financial disclosure purposes. For purposes of the Ethics in Government Act and 5 CFR part 2634, a political entity is a non-profit organized under section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code.

This Legal Advisory provides guidance regarding the annual report filing requirements that apply to public filers who change agencies or branches within the Federal government. The Legal Advisory clarifies which employees must file an annual public financial disclosure report, with what agency or branch the employee must file, what agency or branch certifies the report, and if the report should be sent to OGE for certification.

This Legal Advisory reminds agency ethics officials of their responsibility to help ensure that an employee’s acceptance of a gift to provide for legal expenses is done in accordance with the limitations of the gift rules. Agency ethics officials should take special care when counseling employees on whether the gift is from a prohibited source as defined in 5 C.F.R. § 2635.203(d), due to the heightened appearance concerns unique to an employee’s acceptance of this type of gift.

This Legal Advisory provides guidance regarding the updates to 5 C.F.R. part 2634, which covers Executive branch financial disclosure, Qualified Trusts, and Certificates of Divestiture. Attached to the Legal Advisory is a table detailing the changes.

I am honored to lead the U.S. Office of Government Ethics. There are few more important duties in government than protecting the public’s trust.

On August 2, 2018, Mr. Emory A. Rounds, III, was sworn into office as Director of the U.S. Office of Government Ethics.

OGE has completed its annual survey of prosecutions involving the conflict of interest criminal statutes and other related statutes for the period January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2017.

For the last forty years, OGE and agency Offices of Inspectors General (OIGs) have worked together to ensure that the American public can have confidence in the integrity of its government.

This Program Advisory announces proposed revisions to the public and confidential financial disclosure forms. Comments are due by September 10, 2018.

This Legal Advisory discusses waivers under 18 U.S.C. § 208(b)(1) for an employee’s otherwise disqualifying financial interest arising from intellectual property rights.

In the wake of the Watergate scandal Congress sought to rebuild the public’s trust, in part, by giving citizens access to financial disclosure reports filed by senior government officials. OGE’s Deputy Director for Compliance discusses how this system works.

This Legal Advisory announces the issuance of guidance to assist ethics officials in identifying and analyzing potential conflicts of interest that can arise from various financial interests. These guidance documents cover various types of financial interests, as well as interests arising from employment and employment-related assets, and are available on OGE’s website.

This Legal Advisory clarifies that for purposes of financial disclosure reporting, virtual currency is property held for investment or the production of income and must be reported on employees' financial disclosure reports. Ethics officials should review virtual currency holdings for potential conflicts of interest.

At the U.S. Office of Government Ethics (OGE) we oversee the executive branch ethics program designed to prevent conflicts of interest and ensure that the public’s business is conducted impartially. To succeed, we need your help. 

In this Legal Advisory, OGE asks each agency to forward to OGE its annual letter stating whether its components that are currently designated should remain designated for purposes of 18 U.S.C. § 207(c). Any request to modify the existing list of components should be submitted in accordance with regulatory procedures.

This Public Service Recognition Week we honor our friends, neighbors, and family members in the public service who serve our nation with honor and integrity. Their work keeps us safe, healthy, and secure.

OGE is pleased to announce the launch of the Institute for Ethics in Government learning portal.

This Program Advisory announces deadlines for the public financial disclosure reports of executive branch employees and procedures for those reports agencies are required to transmit to the U.S. Office of Government Ethics. The deadlines and procedures apply to 2018 annual public financial disclosure reports that are due in May 2018 and cover calendar year 2017.

This Legal Advisory provides guidance on two important aspects of the Certificate of Divestiture (CD) Program: (1) the “reasonably necessary” divestiture standard in the context of current Executive branch employees who know they will be leaving Government service shortly and (2) the requirement that only an “eligible person” may sell property in order to qualify for the benefits of a CD.

OGE’s newly released five-year Strategic Plan reflects commitment to our important mission of preventing conflicts of interest in the executive branch.

This Legal Advisory discusses what constitutes “similar or related property” for purposes of the Certificate of Divestiture regulations.

When we become public servants-- custodians of the people's government--we take an oath.

This Legal Advisory urges ethics officials to remind employees that ethics laws and regulations will continue to apply to them while in a furlough status in the event of a lapse in appropriations.

This Legal Advisory clarifies the 2018 thresholds for: (1) determining which senior employees are subject to the post-employment restrictions; (2) identifying which officers and employees must file public financial disclosure reports; and (3) implementing the outside employment and outside earned income restrictions for certain covered noncareer employees.

OGE’s Acting Director reminds new senior executives of the critical importance of maintaining the public’s trust.

This Legal Advisory provides a copy of a court case involving the application of the Federal ethics laws to the acceptance of attorney's fees by an employee who is a client to litigation.

This Legal Advisory clarifies that the discussion in OGE Informal Advisory Opinion 93x21 concerning the acceptance of donations from anonymous sources does not, and has not, reflected OGE's views since shortly after the issuance of that opinion.

This program advisory notifies agencies of the requirement to provide OGE with copies of waivers issued under Executive Order 13770 as they are issued.

This Legal Advisory describes the application of the Federal ethics laws to student interns. As described in the Legal Advisory, the Federal ethics laws will have different application to student interns based on what legal authority they are hired under and whether they qualify as Special Government Employees or as Regular Employees.

OGE has completed its annual survey of prosecutions involving the conflict of interest criminal statutes and other related statutes for the period January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2016.

OGE’s Leadership Team will continue to use this space to talk directly to you about the Federal executive branch ethics program. Read past Director's Notes below.

This Legal Advisory discusses the recent amendments to the gifts and travel reimbursements reporting threshold at 5 C.F.R. §§ 2634.304 and 2634.907(g) and the widely attended gathering (WAG) gift exception ceiling for nonsponsor gifts of free attendance at 5 C.F.R. § 2635.204(g)(3).

Today, OGE released the waivers and authorizations collected from executive branch agencies pursuant to its April 28, 2017, data call. This Director's Note explains how to access the documents.

The Ethics in Government Act gives OGE the authority to collect executive branch records and information related to the ethics program. At the end of April, OGE announced that it was collecting copies of waivers and authorizations issued in the past 12 months to certain high-level executive branch officials. This Director's Note explains how OGE will release the documents it has collected.

In this Legal Advisory, OGE asks each agency to forward to OGE its annual letter stating whether its components that are currently designated should remain designated for purposes of 18 U.S.C. § 207(c). Any request to modify the existing list of components should be submitted in accordance with regulatory procedures.

This program advisory reminds agencies of the upcoming deadline for producing waivers and authorizations.

The Office of Government Ethics (OGE) monitors ethics-related provisions of interest to the executive branch ethics program. This Legal Advisory highlights legislative activity from the 114th Congress affecting the executive branch ethics program.

This program advisory is to simplify and make uniform the process for reporting and monitoring compliance with ethics agreements. The adoption of the attached Certification of Ethics Agreement Compliance will also increase transparency regarding the actions that the executive branch's most senior leaders are taking to resolve potential conflicts of interest.

This feature allows OGE’s Director to talk to you directly about the Federal executive branch ethics program. Read past Director’s Notes below.

This program advisory is a data call for waivers and authorizations issued to certain appointees in the White House and other agencies from May 1, 2016 through April 30, 2017, under the following authorities: Executive Order 13770, Executive Order 13490, 18 U.S.C. § 208(b)(1), 5 C.F.R. § 2635.502(d), and 5 C.F.R. § 2635.503(c).

On April 18, 2017, OGE issued a Legal Advisory to assist agencies in identifying a “sponsor” of an event for purposes of the Free Attendance Exclusion and the Widely Attended Gatherings (WAG) Exception.

This Legal Advisory assists agencies in identifying a “sponsor” of an event for purposes of the Free Attendance Exclusion and the Widely Attended Gatherings (WAG) Exception to the gift rules in the Standards of Ethical Conduct at 5 C.F.R. § 2635.203(b)(8) and 5 C.F.R. § 2635.204(g).

This program advisory announces deadlines for the public financial disclosure reports of executive branch employees and procedures for the public financial disclosure reports of executive branch employees whose reports agencies are required to transmit to the U.S. Office of Government Ethics. The deadlines and procedures apply to 2017 annual public financial disclosure reports that are due in May 2017 and cover calendar year 2016.

This Legal Advisory identifies the parts of OGE’s past advisories on Executive Order 13490 that are applicable to Executive Order 13770 and provides additional guidance based on discussions with the Counsel to the President’s Office.

While the rest of the world is focused on Valentine’s Day in mid-February, the executive branch ethics program is focused on financial disclosure. Yesterday was the deadline for approximately 370,000 mid-level federal officials to file their annual confidential financial disclosure reports. Government ethics officials review every one of these reports, scouring them for potential financial conflicts of interest . This massive undertaking is an important part of the mechanisms in place to guard the integrity of the government’s operations.

This Legal Advisory makes available for agency use a copy of Executive Order 13770 and the Ethics Pledge form. It also explains the extent to which OGE’s legal advisories applicable to Executive Order 13490 may be read as being applicable to Executive Order 13770.

On January 1, 2017, new government ethics training regulations went into effect. These regulations now require agencies to train more employees than in the past. They also place a new emphasis on four core topics: conflicts of interest, impartiality, misuse of position, and gifts. Earlier “Director’s Notes” have discussed conflicts of interest , misuse of position , and gifts. To round out the set, this Director’s note focuses on the impartiality rule.

Executive branch employees are subject to an important set of ethics rules contained in the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch . These rules serve to guard the federal service against ethical problems that could undermine public confidence in the integrity of the government’s operations. They regulate such things as conflicts of interest, misuse of position, impartiality, and gifts.

On January 11, 2017, the U.S. Office of Government's Director, Walter Shaub, Jr., presented at the Brookings Institution. The full text of the speech is available here.

This Legal Advisory clarifies the 2017 thresholds for: (1) determining which senior employees are subject to the post-employment restrictions; (2) identifying which officers and employees must file public financial disclosure reports; and (3) implementing the outside employment and outside earned income restrictions for certain covered noncareer employees.

This program advisory discusses two new requirements involving notices that must be issued to prospective new employees and to new supervisors.

This program advisory discusses two new requirements involving notices that must be issued to prospective new employees and to new supervisors.

On December 21, 2016, OGE issued a Legal Advisory discussing the recent amendments to the provisions of the Standards of Ethical Conduct that govern gifts from outside sources, found at 5 C.F.R. 2635, Subpart B.

This Legal Advisory discusses the recent amendments to the provisions of the Standards of Ethical Conduct that govern gifts from outside sources, found at 5 C.F.R. part 2635, subpart B, and highlights the major substantive changes set forth in the final rule.

This Legal Advisory reminds agencies of the ethical requirements relevant to a Federal employee during the inauguration celebration, particularly those requirements regarding gifts.

This Legal Advisory provides interpretive guidance on the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act (STOCK Act) as it applies to the President, the Vice President, and certain executive branch employees.

This Program Advisory encourages agency ethics officials to remind political appointees and other public financial disclosure report filers about the notification requirements under the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act (STOCK Act). *attachment updated 12/23/2016 - fields now fillable on page 3, no content changes.

Today, OGE has published amended rules on gifts from outside sources. The amended rules make several important changes to strengthen the executive branch ethics program.

On November 18, 2016, OGE published a final rule revising the provisions of the Standards of Ethical Conduct that govern solicitation and acceptance of gifts from outside sources, found at 5 C.F.R. 2635, Subpart B. It is effective January 1, 2017.

This Legal Advisory announces a new job aid to help ethics officials familiarize themselves with the new government ethics education requirements under the revised 5 C.F.R. part 2638.

For the first time since 1981, OGE has issued a regulation overhauling the requirements for the executive branch ethics program. The new requirements include increased ethics training requirements for executive branch employees, and significant new responsibilities for executive branch officials with ethics-related responsibilities.

OGE has updated its procedures associated with referrals to the Department of Justice of possible violations of criminal conflict of interest laws.

The U.S. Office of Government Ethics is updating its procedures associated with referrals to the Department of Justice (DOJ) of possible violations of criminal conflict of interest laws. This Program Advisory describes the updated procedures, announces a revised OGE Form 202 (Notification of Conflict of Interest Referral), provides instructions for the office making the referral to DOJ, and provides instructions for the Designated Agency Ethics Official of the agency that employs the individual who is the subject of the referral.

On November 2, 2016, OGE published a final rule amending its regulations that govern the Executive Branch Ethics Program, which are found at 5 C.F.R. part 2638. The rule is a comprehensive revision that draws upon the collective experience of agency ethics officials across the executive branch and OGE as the supervising ethics office.

OGE is pleased to announce the release of a portfolio of education products that agency ethics officials can use for initial ethics orientations and annual ethics training

The U.S. Office of Government Ethics has posted on its website a new job aid to support Presidential nominees for positions requiring Senate confirmation (PAS nominees) in complying with applicable requirements for public financial disclosure. The aid, a collection of public financial disclosure review checklists, will also support agency ethics officials in reviewing PAS nominees’ financial disclosure reports.

The U.S. Office of Government Ethics (OGE) believes that ethics training is an important tool to help employees perform the government’s work with professionalism and integrity. To help agency ethics officials with this critical task, OGE is pleased to announce the release of a portfolio of education and training products agency ethics officials can use for initial ethics orientation and annual ethics training. These education products not only exceed the minimal regulatory requirements, but were specifically designed to be customized by agencies and tailored to their missions and to the work their employees perform.

OGE has published a proposed rule to update the financial disclosure regulation. The proposed amendments would implement the additional transaction and mortgage reporting requirements that Congress imposed in 2012 in the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act (STOCK Act). In addition, OGE is proposing changes that would improve consistency between various government ethics regulations and the Ethics in Government Act.

On September 27, 2016, the U.S. Office of Government Ethics issued a Legal Advisory discussing the post-Government employment restrictions, particularly those found in 18 U.S.C. § 207.

This Legal Advisory provides a plain language discussion for agency ethics officials, departing employees, and former employees on the post-Government employment restrictions, particularly those found in certain provisions of the primary post-Government employment statute applicable to former employees of the executive branch, 18 U.S.C. § 207.

The results of OGE’s executive branchwide survey of agency ethics programs and a summary of key statistics are now available on OGE’s website. The data provides valuable insights into individual agencies and the executive branch ethics program as a whole.

This Program Advisory clarifies the circumstances under which an agency may accept a termination public financial disclosure report prior to the termination of the employment of a public filer in a position subject to public filing requirements.

The U.S. Office of Government Ethics has released a new Confidential Financial Disclosure Guide, which provides comprehensive guidance on financial disclosure requirements for both new entrant and annual confidential reports in the executive branch.

This Legal Advisory describes a technical regulatory modification to the definition of "employee" found in 5 C.F.R. part 2640.

OGE’s website now features a Presidential Transition page targeting the Presidential campaigns, the future Presidential Transition Team, incoming Presidential nominees, the media, and the public. Based on OGE’s extensive experience with the nominee process, OGE has developed critical resources that will help to ensure that the transition is as smooth and effective as possible.

On August 3, 2016, OGE issued a Legal Advisory discussing the recent amendments to the provisions of the Standards of Ethical Conduct that govern seeking other employment found at 5 C.F.R. 2635, Subpart F.

This Legal Advisory discusses the recent amendments to the provisions of the Standards of Ethical Conduct that govern seeking other employment found at 5 C.F.R. part 2635, subpart F. In addition, this Legal Advisory highlights two principal changes set forth in the final rule, which OGE published in the Federal Register on July 26, 2016.

OGE has completed its annual survey of prosecutions involving the conflict of interest criminal statutes and other related statutes for the period January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2015.

On July 26, 2016, OGE published final amendments to the regulations that govern seeking other employment by Federal executive branch employees. This is the first comprehensive set of amendments to these rules since the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch went into effect in 1993.

One of OGE’s key responsibilities is to help the President-elect fill top leadership positions by moving prospective nominees through the nomination process quickly and free from conflicts of interest.

On June 28, 2016, OGE published an interim final rule adjusting the five civil monetary penalties set forth in the Ethics in Government Act. For a brief summary of the rule and effective penalties, see Legal Advisory LA-16-04 dated July 21, 2016.

This Legal Advisory announces increases in five civil monetary penalties related to the executive branch ethics program. OGE recently issued an interim final regulation establishing these inflationary adjustments, pursuant to a recent legislative enactment.

On July 18, OGE issued a Legal Advisory emphasizing that the general prohibitions on executive branch employees’ soliciting and accepting gifts from outside sources are unaffected by the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision, McDonnell v. United States.

This Legal Advisory responds to the Supreme Court’s recent holding in McDonnell v. United States. The Legal Advisory emphasizes that the Supreme Court’s ruling does not affect the scope of the gift prohibitions found at 5 U.S.C. § 7353 and 5 C.F.R. § 2635.202(a), or any OGE interpretation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 202-209.

OGE supports ethics officials in their preparation for the presidential transition through our Transition Readiness Series.

On June 6, 2016, OGE published a proposed rule amending 5 C.F.R. Part 2638, “The Executive Branch Ethics Program.” This comprehensive revision is informed by more than three decades of experience gained by OGE and agency ethics officials in administering the program.

This program advisory contains OGE’s Certificate of Divestiture Reference Guide for employees. The Reference Guide summarizes key elements of the Certificate of Divestiture Program.

At the invitation of the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and the Agile and Harmonized Assistance for Devolved Institutions, a representative from the U.S. Office of Government Ethics recently traveled to Nairobi, Kenya to assist Kenya’s government in implementing anti-corruption training for members of its civil service.

In this Legal Advisory, OGE asks each agency to forward to OGE its annual letter stating whether its components that are currently designated should remain designated for purposes of 18 U.S.C. § 207(c). Any request to modify the existing list of components should be submitted in accordance with regulatory procedures.

OGE announces the deadline for Public Financial Disclosure Reports of candidates for President and Vice President.

This program advisory announces the release of the new web-based Public Financial Disclosure Guide for filers and reviewers of the OGE Form 278e and the OGE Form 278-T.

This program advisory announces deadlines for the public financial disclosure reports of executive branch employees and procedures for the public financial disclosure reports of executive branch employees whose reports agencies are required to transmit to the U.S. Office of Government Ethics (OGE).

The U.S. Office of Government Ethics (OGE) recently met with the Kenya School of Government to discuss model practices in developing and implementing effective civil service ethics training.

A year after its launch, Integrity is off to a strong start. The system has been widely adopted throughout the executive branch, with over 100 agencies and more than 10,000 filers registered. Integrity’s user population continues to expand, and in 2016 every executive branch agency is expected to have registered filers in the system.

This Legal Advisory clarifies the 2016 thresholds for: (1) determining which senior employees are subject to the post-employment restrictions; (2) implementing the outside employment and outside earned income restrictions for certain covered noncareer employees; and (3) identifying which officers and employees must file public financial disclosure reports.

It's that time of year again: The season for reminding federal employees about the government’s rules against accepting certain types of gifts.

Shortly after my appointment as Director in January 2013, I challenged OGE’s training staff to modernize and expand our efforts to educate ethics officials throughout the executive branch. On May 9, 2013, we announced our strategy in a program advisory and launched the Institute for Ethics in Government.

The U.S. General Services Administration launched the 2016 Presidential Transition Directory on November 2, 2015. The website is designed to help candidates in the 2016 Presidential election get quick and easy access to key resources about the federal government structure and key policies related to Presidential Transition.

Former Director Mr. Stephen D. Potts Visits OGE

The Ethics in Government Act requires each agency to submit an annual report regarding its government ethics operations. We have posted these reports, along with a summary of key statistics about the executive branch ethics program, on OGE’s website.

2014 Conflict of Interest Prosecution Survey.

OGE’s Director and General Counsel Present at DOJ’s Ethics Advisors’ Conference

OGE and agency Inspectors General work together to ensure that the American public can have confidence in the integrity of its government.

The U.S. Office of Government Ethics (OGE) has issued a Legal Advisory on the application of the diversified mutual fund exemption to certain real estate funds under 5 C.F.R. § 2640.201(a).

In this Legal Advisory, OGE asks each agency to forward to OGE its annual letter stating whether its components that are currently designated should remain designated for purposes of 18 U.S.C. § 207(c). Any request to modify the existing list of components should be submitted in accordance with regulatory procedures.

OGE Publishes Updated Compilation of Federal Ethics Law

OGE Director Participates in Roundtable and Workshop at the London School of Economic

The Office of Government Ethics (OGE) monitors ethics-related provisions of interest to the executive branch ethics program. This Legal Advisory highlights legislative activity from the 113th Congress affecting the executive branch ethics program.

OGE’s Program Counsel Presents at Anti-Corruption Symposium in Hong Kong

This Legal Advisory clarifies how to determine the “market value” of a gift of free attendance to an event when no fee is charged to any attendee.

This Legal Advisory explains when the employee benefit plan exemption at 5 C.F.R. § 2640.201(c)(1)(iii) is applicable to (1) employee benefit plans through which employees hold diversified pooled investment funds, and (2) employee benefit plans that are established or maintained outside of the United States.

This Legal Advisory explains the types of prepaid gift cards that are considered to be cash equivalents, and are therefore categorically prohibited under the de minimis gift exception, and the types that are not treated as cash equivalents.

OGE Publishes its Sixth Annual Report on Political Appointees’ Compliance with the Ethics Pledge

OGE Publishes Proposed Updates to its FOIA Regulations

This Legal Advisory discusses how the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Executive Branch Employees apply to employees' personal social media activities. The Legal Advisory focuses on common issues such as when an employee can reference his or her title on a personal social media account, and what rules apply to personal fundraising on social media.

OGE works with the State Department to support efforts to fight corruption across the globe. As part of this effort, OGE recently participated in a review of the United States’ implementation of the Inter-American Convention against Corruption.

This Legal Advisory discusses the definition of "free attendance" as used in the Widely Attended Gathering gift exception. The Legal Advisory confirms that free attendance does not include the waiver of an additional fee charged to attend a meal or reception that is collateral to the original event.

Presidential campaigns are advised that OGE recently implemented a redesigned executive branch public financial disclosure form, the OGE Form 278e (Executive Branch Personnel Public Financial Disclosure Report). Candidates for the Office of the President of the United States or the Office of the Vice President of the United States should use the OGE Form 278e.

I am pleased to announce that the U.S. Office of Government Ethics has selected Dale “Chip” Christopher for the position of Deputy Director for Compliance.

Under the Ethics in Government Act (EIGA), and the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act of 2012 (STOCK Act), the U.S. Office of Government Ethics (OGE) is responsible for establishing and supervising a financial disclosure program for the executive branch. OGE is implementing Integrity, the new executive branch-wide electronic filing system for public filers. This Program Advisory provides Designated Agency Ethics Officials (DAEOs) with information regarding Integrity and related data-submission requirements.

Director Walter Shaub and OGE Program Leaders Meet With Agency Ethics Officials

OGE Releases its Congressional Budget Justification and Annual Performance Plan for Fiscal Year 2016 and Annual Performance Report for Fiscal Year 2014

The U.S. Office of Government Ethics (OGE) provides overall leadership and oversight of the executive branch ethics program designed to prevent and resolve conflicts of interest. Fundamental to OGE’s mission is the belief that public service is a public trust. OGE, in concert with agency ethics practitioners through

This LA clarifies the 2015 thresholds for: (1) identifying which officers and employees must file public financial disclosure reports; (2) determining which senior employees are subject to the post-employment restrictions and (3) implementing the outside employment and outside earned income restrictions for certain covered noncareer employees.

January is a time for reflection as well as a time to set priorities for the New Year. I want to share just a few highlights from 2014 and provide a preview of what to expect from OGE in 2015.

WATCH LIVE: Introduction to Enterprise Risk Management What if you could see the places in your organization where ethics problems are likely to occur? Would it change the way you train? Would it change the way you deploy program resources? Could it change the amount of resources that you have to deploy?  You

OGE Director meets with top leaders from OPM, OSC, and NEH.

OGE Discusses Role of Financial Disclosure as a Conflicts Prevention Tool at World Bank Conference

The holiday season is upon us again, with homemade treats, gift baskets, assorted other goodies, and invitations abundant in workplaces across the country. For federal employees, now is a good time to review the government’s ethics rules on gifts.

UN Report Cites OGE’s Communication Practices as Model Practices

The Passing of the Honorable Robert I. “RIC” Cusick, former Director of the U.S. Office of Government Ethics

This Legal Advisory provides guidance to agencies on factors to consider in determining whether references to an employee's title or position made by a private organization with which the employee is affiliated would create an impermissible appearance of government sanction or endorsement.

OGE Publishes Highlights from the CY 13 Annual Agency Questionnaires

OGE Publishes a Summary of Ethics Prosecutions in 2013

2013 Conflict of Interest Prosecution Survey

This legal advisory explains and expands the options available to ethics officials for ensuring and documenting compliance with PAS officials' ethics agreements. It also clarifies the discretion ethics officials have in determining when screening arrangements are necessary to implement recusal commitments, and what form such arrangements can take.

OGE Participates in On-Site Visit and Review by a Commission of the Organization of American States’ Anticorruption Mechanism (MESICIC)

Watch Live on 10/16 at 12:00 noon: 2014 Nominee Ethics Agreement Guide