September 12, 2024
Shelley Finlayson, Acting Director and Program Counsel
In November, a new President will be elected. 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. More than a year of preparation now underway across the ethics community will enable a more efficient Presidential transition.
So, while the nation’s attention currently focuses on candidates and political parties as citizens prepare to cast their ballots this fall, away from the lights and news cameras, officials across government are preparing diligently to mitigate risks and prepare for a smooth transition of power after the election. Vacancies in key leadership positions within the White House and in executive branch agencies can cause risks to our safety, health, security, and financial wellbeing. It is vital that the executive branch is prepared to onboard new leaders and support ethical leadership.
OGE and the executive branch ethics program play a big role in these preparations. Specifically, OGE ensures that the executive branch ethics workforce is ready to offboard departing employees and onboard new leadership by providing targeted education on topics like financial disclosure and conflicts of interest. OGE reviews the Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates’ public financial disclosure reports and makes them available to request on its website. OGE publishes resources like A Roadmap to Ethical Readiness for the Presidential Election and Beyond and financial disclosure resources. OGE continues to update its policies, create key resources, and issue guidance on emerging issues, such as new financial instruments. And OGE works directly with campaigns and transition teams to help make sure that the new administration is ready to begin the financial disclosure process for new leaders.
After the new President is inaugurated, this work will no longer be behind the scenes. Americans will be able to see the results of many of these efforts in public financial disclosure reports, ethics agreements, confirmation hearings, and ultimately in the leadership of those who serve in the new administration. Preparing for a Presidential election and all that comes after is one of the most important functions of OGE and the executive branch ethics program. We are honored to do it.