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By: FEDweek StaffThe Office of Government Ethics has posted a summary of changes in ethics laws in the 2019-2020 Congress, mainly focused on conflicts of interest and government integrity.
Government-wide provisions include: continued requirements for certain agencies to submit to IG or ethics offices information regarding the costs and contracting procedures related to each conference when the cost of the conference exceeds $100,000, along with the date, location, and number of employees attending any conference when the cost exceeds $20,000; new conflict of interest restrictions on presidential transition team members; and making certain senior officials and family members ineligible for emergency relief and taxpayer protections for entities in which they have a controlling interest.
Agency-specific restrictions, most of them enacted in the DoD authorization bill, include:
* Requiring VA, Justice Department and OGE to review of the rules governing the circumstances under which attorneys employed by the federal government can provide free legal assistance to veterans.
* Requiring DoD to review authorities under which its employees may be subject to post-employment restrictions with foreign governments and with organizations subject to foreign ownership, control, or influence.
* Clarifying that participants in public-private talent exchange programs may not use knowledge related to DoD acquisition or procurement for the benefit of a participating private-sector organization and prohibiting private-sector participants from performing work that is considered inherently governmental.
* Prohibiting certain DoD officials from owning or trading stocks in certain companies.
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