Ethics Commitments by Executive Branch Appointees
Appointees Must Sign Ethics Pledge Restricting Post-Government Lobbying
What it does
Agencies must require new executive appointees to sign the ethics pledge and set up rules to ensure compliance and recordkeeping.
Real-world impact
- Limits former appointees from lobbying their agency for five years after leaving.
- Bans accepting gifts from registered lobbyists while serving as an appointee.
- Requires agencies to collect and retain signed pledges in personnel files.
Topics
Summary
This executive order requires every new executive-branch appointee to sign an ethics pledge that limits certain activities during and after their government service. The pledge includes multi-year bans on lobbying former agencies, restrictions on working for foreign governments, a gift ban from registered lobbyists, and recusal rules related to former employers or clients.
The order affects non-career presidential and senior appointees across the executive branch, directs agency heads to adopt rules to ensure signing and compliance, and permits the President to grant waivers.
Questions, answered
Ask questions about this executive order and its implications. Try:
- “What agencies are affected by this order?”
- “How does this order change existing policy?”
- “What are the practical implications of this order?”