Should you be selected for a federal position, you will need to work with Office of the General Counsel (GC) ethics officials to come into immediate compliance with all applicable rules. This may include initial restrictions on what you can work on and prompt divestiture of conflicting assets.
CONFLICTING FINANCIAL INTERESTS
- You may not participate in any matter that that would have a direct and predictable effect on your financial interests, or the interests of those imputed to you: your spouse or minor child; any entities for which you serve as officer, director, or trustee, general partner; or entities with which you are negotiating or have an arrangement for future employment. This prohibition carries criminal penalties.
- A GC ethics official will work with your regarding identifying and mitigating these conflicts. You must prioritize your public service and immediately divest yourself of any assets that prevent you from carrying out the duties of your position.
- If you’re aware of any financial interests that conflict with the duties of the position to which you are applying, please promptly inform the hiring official, who will work with GC regarding mitigation strategies. Do NOT divest of any assets that might create a conflict of interest before talking to a GC ethics official about the possibility of favorable tax treatment that you and your family members may be able to receive as a result of a required divestiture.
IMPARTIALITY IN PERFORMING OFFICIAL DUTIES
- You may not participate in any matters that would call into question your impartiality as a federal official. You cannot work on anything likely to affect the financial interests of close friends or relatives, recent former employers, organizations with which you are closely associated, etc.
- A GC ethics official will work with you regarding identifying, and if possible, mitigating these conflicts. This may involve temporary recusal from certain duties.
- If you’re aware of any associations that conflict with the duties of the position to which you are applying, please promptly inform the hiring official, who will work with a GC ethics official regarding mitigation strategies.
OUTSIDE ACTIVITIES
- You are expected to prioritize your official duties over any outside activity or endeavor. You cannot engage in outside employment or any outside activity if it conflicts with the official duties of your government job. Outside activities require written approval from your supervisor and a GC ethics official.
- You may be required to resign from certain positions or place an existing outside business into a dormant status.
POST EMPLOYMENT
Following your service as a federal official, there will be post-employment restrictions on your future career endeavors. Please be aware that what you work on as a federal employee has the potential to restrict your ability to work on the same or similar matters in the future. This will be fact specific and require consultation with a GC ethics official.
Please free to contact the Office of the Assistant General Counsel for Ethics and Personnel Law, GC-21, at any
time for more information. We can be reached at [email protected].