Public Participation Opportunities
The public plays a critical role in Government and the executive branch ethics program.
Current Participation Opportunities
The public plays a critical role in Government and the executive branch ethics program. How can you get involved? Comment, in writing or thru attendance at a meeting, on our regulations, forms, and other strategic documents. Bookmark this page to stay up-to-date with opportunities to engage with OGE.
Status of Current Rulemaking Activities
This table provides the status of any OGE rulemaking related to the ethics regulations. To see OGE’s most recent regulatory information, see our Unified Agenda.
See also OGE’s Notice Pursuant to Executive Order 14294(PDF)
| Schedule Policy/Career Reporting Exemption |
Status/History |
| OMB Review Stage |
3/17/2026
As required by Executive Order 12866 governing the regulatory review process, OGE submitted the draft Interim Final Rulemaking to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance. Consultation with DOJ is running concurrently with the OMB Review Stage.
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| EIGA Review Stage: Consultation with DOJ and OPM |
3/3/2026
Consultation with OPM completed. OGE submitted draft to DOJ.
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1/8/2026
As required by the Ethics in Government Act (EIGA), OGE submitted draft interim final rule to Office of Personnel Management (OPM) for consultation. Consultation with DOJ and OPM is a requirement for all OGE's pending proposed rules pertaining to conflicts of interest and ethics in the executive branch. |
Past Rulemaking Activities
| Legal Expense Funds |
Status/History |
| Final Rule Stage |
11/21/2023
LEF Regulation went into effect.
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05/25/2023
Final rule published by the Federal Register and can be found here.
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05/02/2023
OMB formally concluded the Executive Order 12866 review process and cleared the draft Final Rulemaking for publication in the Federal Register.
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10/24/2022
As required by Executive Order 12866 governing the regulatory review process, OGE has submitted the draft Final Rulemaking to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance.
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| Proposed Rule Stage |
07/13/2022
Written comments submitted during the public comment period can be found here.
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06/22/2022
The public comment period closed yesterday, 6/21/2022. Comments will be posted here in the near future. |
04/21/2022
OGE published a proposed rule governing legal expense funds for executive branch employees. Written comments will be accepted until June 21, 2022. Instructions for submitting a written comment can be found here.
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| OMB Review Stage |
03/22/2022
OMB formally concluded the Executive Order 12866 review process and cleared the draft Proposed Rulemaking for publication in the Federal Register.
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12/08/2021
As required by Executive Order 12866 governing the regulatory review process, OGE re-submitted the draft Proposed Rulemaking to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance.
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09/21/2021
The Office of Government Ethics has withdrawn the Legal Expense Fund Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) from OMB/OIRA Executive Order 12866 review to allow the new administration an opportunity to complete a full review of the proposed rule. OGE is actively working on rulemaking and plans to submit a new draft for OIRA review in the near future. To that end, the Legal Expense Fund rulemaking remains in OGE’s Unified Agenda that the Administration published in June.
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05/29/2020
As required by Executive Order 12866 governing the regulatory review process, OGE submitted the draft Proposed Rulemaking to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance.
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| EIGA Review Stage: Consultation with DOJ and OPM |
05/21/2020
Consultations completed.
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01/30/2020
As required by the Ethics in Government Act (EIGA), OGE submitted the draft proposed rule to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) for consultation. Consultation with DOJ and OPM is a requirement for all of OGE’s pending proposed rules pertaining to conflicts of interest and ethics in the executive branch.
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| Pre-Rulemaking Stage: Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Public Hearing, and Public Meetings |
11/05/2019
The public comment period closed today. Written comments can be found here (pdf).
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10/22/2019
OGE hosted a public meeting to engage in dialogue with interested members of the public regarding the development of a legal expense fund regulation. The meeting agenda, a list of attendees, and a list topics discussed can be found here (pdf). |
10/17/2019
OGE hosted a public meeting to engage in dialogue with interested members of the public regarding the development of a legal expense fund regulation. The meeting agenda, a list of attendees, and a list topics discussed can be found here (pdf). |
09/26/2019
OGE announced two public meetings to discuss the development of a legal expense fund regulation. The meetings will be held on October 17, 2019, and October 22, 2019. OGE is also accepting additional written comments until November 5, 2019. Instructions for participating in the public meetings and for submitting comments can be found here (pdf). |
07/17/2019
OGE met with agency ethics officials to hear their views on a possible legal expense fund regulation.
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06/14/2019
The public comment period closed today. Written comments can be found here (pdf). |
05/22/2019
OGE held the virtual public hearing in connection with the Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. The transcript can be found here (pdf). |
04/15/2019
The Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking was published. The public comment period is open until June 14, 2019. OGE will also hold a virtual public hearing on May 22, 2019. Instructions for submitting comments and participating in the public hearing can be found here. |
12/20/2018
As required by Executive Order 12866, the regulatory and review process, OGE sent a draft Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to the Office of Management and Budget for clearance.
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| Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch |
Status/History |
| Final Rule Stage |
08/15/2024
The Final Rule goes into effect.
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05/17/2024
OGE published a Final Rule updating the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch (5 CFR part 2635), which can be found here.
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03/18/2024
OMB formally concluded the Executive Order 12866 review process and cleared the draft Final Rulemaking for publication in the Federal Register.
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12/04/2023
As required by Executive Order 12866 governing the regulatory review process, OGE has submitted the draft Final Rulemaking to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance.
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| Proposed Rule Stage |
05/09/2023
Written comments submitted during the public comment period can be found here.
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04/24/2023
The public comment period closes today. Comments will be posted here in the near future.
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02/21/2023
OGE published a proposed rule updating part 2635 of the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch. Written comments will be accepted until April 24, 2023. Instructions for submitting a written comment can be found here.
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| OMB Review Stage |
11/22/2022
OMB formally concluded the Executive Order 12866 review process and cleared the draft Proposed Rulemaking for publication in the Federal Register.
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03/10/2022
As required by Executive Order 12866 governing the regulatory review process, OGE submitted the draft Proposed Rulemaking to the Office of Management and Budget for clearance.
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| EIGA Review Stage: Consultation with DOJ and OPM |
10/16/2020
Consultations completed.
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03/04/2020
As required by the Ethics in Government Act (EIGA), OGE submitted a draft rule proposing modernization updates to the Standards of Conduct to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) for consultation. The proposed amendments seek to update the Standards based on OGE’s experience gained from application of the regulation since its inception. The proposed amendments would also incorporate past interpretive guidance, add and update regulatory examples, improve clarity, update citations, and make technical corrections. Consultation with DOJ and OPM is a requirement for all of OGE’s pending proposed rules pertaining to conflicts of interest and ethics in the executive branch.
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Translations
OGE provides translated copies of key ethics documents.