Legal Definitions - OGE

The term OGE stands for the Office of Government Ethics.

The Office of Government Ethics (OGE) is an independent agency within the U.S. executive branch. Its core mission is to prevent conflicts of interest in the executive branch by establishing and enforcing ethical standards for federal employees. The OGE provides leadership and oversight to the ethics programs of over 130 executive branch agencies, offering guidance, training, and policy direction to ensure that government business is conducted impartially and without the appearance of impropriety or the misuse of public office for private gain.

Here are some examples illustrating the role of the OGE:

• Example 1: Financial Conflicts of Interest

  A senior official at the Department of Defense holds a significant investment in a technology company that is currently bidding on a major government contract. Before the official can participate in any discussions or decisions related to this contract, their agency's ethics officer would consult the OGE's regulations and guidance. The OGE's framework would help determine if a conflict of interest exists and prescribe actions, such as recusal from the decision-making process or divestment of the investment, to ensure the official's private financial interests do not improperly influence government procurement.

  This example demonstrates how the OGE sets the standards and provides the framework for executive branch agencies to identify and manage potential financial conflicts, thereby upholding the integrity of government operations.

• Example 2: Post-Employment Restrictions (The "Revolving Door")

  After serving as a high-level policy advisor in the Department of the Treasury, an individual leaves government service and is offered a lucrative position by a private financial lobbying firm. The OGE's rules on post-employment restrictions would dictate specific limitations on what this former advisor can do, such as a "cooling-off period" during which they cannot lobby their former agency or engage in certain activities on behalf of their new employer. These rules prevent former officials from immediately leveraging their government connections and inside knowledge for private gain.

  This illustrates the OGE's role in establishing guidelines to prevent the exploitation of government experience and contacts for personal benefit after an individual leaves public service, maintaining public trust in the government's impartiality.

• Example 3: Gifts from Outside Sources

  An employee at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is offered an all-expenses-paid trip to a conference by an environmental advocacy group that frequently interacts with the EPA. The OGE provides detailed regulations and advisories regarding the acceptance of gifts from prohibited sources. The EPA employee would need to consult these rules to determine if accepting the trip is permissible, or if it constitutes an impermissible gift that could create the appearance of undue influence or a conflict of interest.

  This example highlights the OGE's function in setting clear, comprehensive rules on gifts to prevent federal employees from being improperly influenced by external entities and to ensure that official decisions are made solely on merit.