September 27, 2016
On September 27, 2016, the U.S. Office of Government Ethics (OGE) issued a Legal Advisory discussing the post-Government employment restrictions, particularly those found in 18 U.S.C. § 207.
Executive branch employees may be affected by conflict of interest restrictions after leaving Government service (or after leaving certain high-level positions). 18 U.S.C. § 207 is the primary source of restrictions that may prohibit former executive branch employees from engaging in certain activities after leaving Government service. None of the statute’s restrictions bar former employees from accepting employment with any private or public employer, but the statute does prohibit former employees from engaging in certain communications and appearances to the Government on behalf of other people or organizations.
Written in a way that is accessible to agency ethics officials, departing employees, and former employees alike, OGE’s new Legal Advisory explains the primary post-Government employment restrictions and answers common questions that departing and former employees have about these restrictions. The Legal Advisory can be found on OGE’s website at https://www.oge.gov/web/oge.nsf/Legal%20Docs/F38156B03E4055EE852585BA005BEC54/$FILE/LA-16-08.pdf?open.