DoD has told its political appointees to either sign the Obama administration’s ethics pledge, which has restrictions on post-separation employment, or resign their posts by April 30.
"Every appointee in every executive agency appointed on or after January 20, 2009, shall sign, and upon signing shall be contractually committed to," not accepting gifts from registered lobbyists or lobbying organizations for the duration of service as an appointee, Obama said in a January executive order establishing the mandatory pledge.
By signing the pledge, appointees agree to not participate for two years in any matter related to former employers or contracts, or any matters for which they lobbied in the two years prior to appointment.
"Those who choose not to sign the ethics pledge and leave before April 30, 2009 (or those who choose to sign the pledge and are replaced after April 30, 2009) will be asked to submit their resignations and the department will treat their separations as involuntary," according to an email from Robert Rangel, a special assistant to defense secretary Robert Gates.
