Ethics Commitments by Executive Branch Personnel
Appointees Required to Sign Government Ethics Pledge and Follow Revolving Door Rules
What it does
Agencies must ensure every new executive appointee signs the ethics pledge and adopt rules to enforce gift and revolving‑door restrictions.
Real-world impact
- Requires new appointees to refuse gifts from registered lobbyists during service.
- Limits post-government lobbying and employment for two years, stricter for senior staff.
- Requires OMB to grant waivers and ethics offices to report on pledge administration.
Topics
Summary
This order requires every executive-branch appointee appointed on or after January 20, 2021, to sign an ethics pledge that bans gifts from registered lobbyists and limits post‑government lobbying and work for former employers and clients. It defines who counts as an appointee and which agencies are included or excluded, and sets specific restrictions like two‑year revolving‑door bans and a golden parachute ban.
The order directs agency ethics officials to implement the pledge, allows the Office of Management and Budget to grant limited waivers, and authorizes enforcement and reporting by ethics officials and the Attorney General.
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?”