Ethics Commitments by Executive Branch Personnel
Jan 26, 2009
Signed by: Barack Obama
Signed on: Jan 21, 2009
Published on: Jan 26, 2009
Jan 26, 2009
Signed by: Barack Obama
Signed on: Jan 21, 2009
Published on: Jan 26, 2009
Summary
Makes new government workers promise not to accept gifts from lobbyists or work on issues related to their old jobs for a set time.
What problem does this solve?
Some government officials use their positions for personal gain after leaving public service, which can lead to corruption. This order makes appointees sign a promise to follow strict ethics rules, like not lobbying their old agency, to help prevent this.
What does this order do?
Lobbyist gift ban
Forbids appointees from accepting any gifts from registered lobbyists or lobbying groups while they are serving in government.
Reference
Text:
Section:
Header:
Revolving Door Ban—All Appointees Entering Government
Revolving door ban for new appointees
Stops new appointees from working on any specific issues, like contracts or rules, that are directly related to their former employer or clients for two years.
Stricter rules for former lobbyists
Prevents former lobbyists from working on any issue they lobbied on, or in that specific issue area, for two years after their appointment.
Post-government communication ban
Requires appointees who leave the government to wait two years before they can communicate with or appear before their former agency on official matters.
Reference
Text:
Section:
Header:
Revolving Door Ban—Appointees Leaving Government to Lobby
Ban on lobbying for the rest of the administration
Prohibits appointees from lobbying any high-level executive branch official for the remainder of the President's term after they leave their government job.
Waiver for ethics rules
Allows the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to waive these ethics restrictions if it is in the public interest, such as for national security reasons.
Enforcement of the pledge
Allows the government to take legal action, including civil lawsuits and banning violators from lobbying for up to five years, to enforce the ethics pledge.
Who does this affect?
- Executive branch appointees
- Lobbyists
- Federal agencies
What is the real world impact?
•
Increases public trust in government
Aims to show the public that government officials are working for them, not for special interests or their own future careers, by creating strict ethics rules.
•
Reduces the influence of special interests
Limits the ability of lobbyists to give gifts and prevents former officials from immediately lobbying their old agencies, which can weaken the power of special interest groups.
When does this start?
This order applies to all executive agency appointees appointed on or after January 20, 2009, and includes several time-based restrictions.
Reference
Text:
Section:
Header:
Revolving Door Ban—All Appointees Entering Government
Ban on working with former employers
For 2 years after their appointment, new officials cannot work on matters directly related to their former employer or clients.
Ban for former lobbyists
For 2 years after their appointment, former lobbyists cannot work on any matter they previously lobbied on.
Ban on contacting former agency
For 2 years after leaving government, former appointees cannot communicate with their old agency on official business.
Reference
Text:
Section:
Header:
Revolving Door Ban—Appointees Leaving Government to Lobby
Ban on lobbying the administration
After leaving government, former appointees cannot lobby top officials for the rest of the President's term.
Penalty for violating the pledge
Former appointees who violate the pledge can be banned from lobbying their former agency for up to 5 years.