Washington DC - Jan 20 2017: Inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45 President viewed from the Mall. Employees may not attend events in their personal capacity during on-duty time, says OGE. Image: eddtoro/Shutterstock.com
By: FEDweek StaffThe Office of Government Ethics reissued guidance for federal employees regarding gift acceptance and other ethics policies related to the upcoming Presidential Inauguration, guidance it issues every four years regardless of whether there is a change in party control of the White House.
It says that although employees may not solicit or accept a gift of free attendance at an event from a “prohibited source”—such as a company doing business with the agency—or because of the employee’s official position, such offers might fall within one of the exceptions to that rule. Those include for widely attended gatherings, gifts based on a personal relationship, gifts from an entity of the federal government, events that are free to the public or to federal employees, and more.
However, it adds that “Even if a gift satisfies one or more of the exceptions or exclusions listed above, an executive branch employee should consider declining an otherwise permissible gift if they believe that a reasonable person with knowledge of the relevant facts would question the employee’s integrity or impartiality as a result of accepting the gift.”
Further, employees may not attend events in their personal capacity during on-duty time, may not use government property, and “may not use or permit the use of their Government position or title, or any authority associated with their public office, in a manner that could reasonably be construed to imply that their agency or the Government sanctions or endorses their personal activities or those of another.”
Also, restrictions on fundraising apply to any fundraisers held in connection with the Inauguration, which may have implications under the Hatch Act, it says.
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