12/22/2006

OGE provides general guidance on ethics provisions related to outside activities for a federal employee who owns a personal business in an area related to his official duties.

12/15/2006

Government employees are generally prohibited from acting as agent or attorney for anyone before a Federal court in connection with any covered matter in which the U.S. is a party or has a direct and substantial interest. 18 U.S.C. § 205(i) provides an exception for representing a "labor organization" under certain conditions.

12/12/2006

If an employing agency determines that a private corporation's Employee Purchase Program is a benefit secured by a Government contract, the benefit is provided to the employee by the Government. Accepting the benefit does not violate the gift prohibition. The employing agency must determine whether the benefit is secured by a Government contract.

12/12/2006

OGE summarizes the changes to the confidential financial disclosure regulation. The new regulation will go into effect on January 1, 2007.

12/05/2006

OGE provides a brief reminder about the ethics rules regarding holiday gifts and fundraising.

11/07/2006

This memorandum amends DO-06-008 to correct citation errors and to discuss only the issue of soliciting gifts of travel.

10/19/2006

OGE outlines the ethics issues that can arise in connection with IPA assignments.

10/19/2006

OGE outlines the ethics issues that can arise in connection with IPA assignments.

10/11/2006

OGE outlines the information that an agency must include in a request for a certificate of divestiture.

10/04/2006

OGE discusses the meaning of and the distinctions among the terms "particular matter involving specific parties," "particular matter," and "matter" as used in the criminal conflict of interest statutes and regulations.

10/04/2006

OGE discusses the meaning of and the distinctions among the terms "particular matter involving specific parties," "particular matter," and "matter" as used in the criminal conflict of interest statutes and regulations.

08/23/2006

Preliminary, informal discussions about possible changes to industry-specific standards are particular matters for purposes of 18 U.S.C. § 208.

08/10/2006

The final rule clarifies that detailees to an agency from a State or local government or other organization, under the Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA), 5 U.S.C. § 3374, are covered by the Standards.

08/09/2006

Guidance on variety of ethics issues that commonly arise in procurement context, such as seeking employment, post-employment, financial conflicts of interest, outside employment, gifts and misuse of office.

08/09/2006

Guidance on variety of ethics issues that commonly arise in procurement context, such as seeking employment, post-employment, financial conflicts of interest, outside employment, gifts and misuse of office.

07/26/2006

2005 Conflict of Interest Prosecution Survey

06/14/2006

OGE believes a Government employee should be allowed to use reasonable periods of official time to complete a financial disclosure report because completion of the report is a requirement of the Government position. For the same reason, assigning a subordinate to complete the report is not an improper use of Government position or resources.

05/11/2006

The proposed rule would clarify that detailees to an agency from a State or local government or other organization, under the Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA), 5 U.S.C. § 3374, are covered by the Standards.

05/09/2006

The Federal 10th Circuit upholds the validity of 5 C.F.R. § 2635.807(a) against a first amendment challenge by an administrative law judge (ALJ) of the Social Security Administration (SSA).

04/07/2006

The exception to the requirement that nominees and new entrants report the names of their major clients on Schedule D, Part II of the SF 278 applies in a narrow set of circumstances.

03/31/2006

OGE addresses questions that have been raised about the propriety of executive branch employees soliciting free air travel.

03/30/2006

OGE explains that Agency Ethics Officials have a duty to report possible violations of the ethics rules to the appropriate authorities, including OGE, and do not have a duty to protect employee; lack of knowledge of the ethics rules is not a defense; and an employee is responsible for remembering his ethical obligations or seeking ethics advice.

03/30/2006

OGE discusses the extent of its authority to waive the application of the one-year cooling-off period to a particular position or category of positions. OGE denied the request for a waiver to permit former senior employees to make representational contacts with current employees of their former agencies who happen to be on detail to another agency.

03/21/2006

An employee may only accept the testamentary gifts from a prohibited source if the gift falls within one of the gift acceptance exceptions. Included are factors to consider if relying on the personal relationship exception.

03/17/2006

OGE has published a first-round paperwork notice requesting comments on a new proposed OGE Form 450, Executive Branch Confidential Financial Disclosure Report form.

03/13/2006

OGE provides advice to a former employee on 18 U.S.C. § 207, including guidance on a "particular matter involving specific parties," and the post-employment restrictions under the Procurement Integrity Act in 41 U.S.C. § 423.

02/17/2006

OGE will continue the system of “pre-clearing” nominee financial disclosure forms. The goal of this system is to ensure that all technical and substantive issues are resolved prior to nomination, so that no impediments to confirmation arise at the last minute.

01/19/2006

OGE summarizes Office of Legal Counsel Opinion about whether a nonprofit organization has a financial interest in a particular matter on which it spends funds to advocate its policy position, solely by virtue of such expenditures.

01/19/2006

OGE summarizes Office of Legal Counsel Opinion about whether a nonprofit organization has a financial interest in a particular matter on which it spends funds to advocate its policy position, solely by virtue of such expenditures.