Ah what?
February 5, 2018When we become public servants– custodians of the people’s government–we take an oath.
We take an oath to faithfully perform our duties, an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.
The success of our Constitution, the success of our government, depends on the trust of the people that we serve. Today, our fellow citizens are suspicious of their government. A recent Transparency International report found that a clear majority of the American People think that corruption is getting worse.1
Fortunately, we know how to rebuild the public’s trust.
We build their trust by doing our jobs, faithfully.
We build their trust by acting solely for the public good and eliminating conflicts of interests.
We build their trust by telling the truth.
The good news is that most of you are carrying out the people’s business with honor and integrity. You’re keeping your oath. Thank you. Remember what is at stake and take pride in your service.
On the other hand, those who are doing things that undermine the public’s trust, even if they don’t violate a rule, need to stop. Nothing you could gain economically or politically could possibly justify putting our democracy at risk. These are perilous times.
So, keep your oath and earn the public’s trust. We, as public servants, hold our positions of trust “for such a time as this.”
But then…get a load of this document citing how bad things are and what is at the core of the matter.
So, if things are so great…then why these issues below?
Financial Conflicts of Interest & Impartiality
An executive branch employee’s personal or “imputed” financial interests or other circumstances may require that the employee be disqualified from working on a particular Government matter, be prohibited from holding specified property, or be prohibited from accepting a payment from a non-Federal source.
Learn More ›Gifts and Payments
An executive branch employee generally may not give (or solicit contributions for) a gift to an official superior or accept a gift from another employee who receives less pay; generally may not solicit or accept a gift from a “prohibited source” or given because of the employee’s official position, and may be prohibited from accepting a payment from a non-Federal source.
Learn More ›Use of Government Position & Resources
An executive branch employee is required to act impartially; may not make improper use of Government position, title, or authority; and may not use Government property, nonpublic information, or time (including the time of a subordinate) for other than authorized purposes.
Learn More ›Outside Employment and Activities
An executive branch employee may be required to seek approval before engaging in an outside activity; may be disqualified from working on a particular Government matter while engaged in the activity; may be prohibited from accepting compensation for an activity; or may be prohibited from engaging in a particular outside activity.
Learn More ›Post-Government Employment
An executive branch employee may be disqualified from working on a particular Government matter while seeking post-Government employment and, after leaving Government service, a former employee is prohibited from engaging in certain activities.
Learn More ›Selected Employee Categories
Executive branch ethics provisions generally apply only to Government “employees”; may apply only to certain categories of employees or may apply differently to certain categories of employees or not at all; and generally do not apply to “representatives” serving on an advisory committee or to independent contractors.
Learn More ›Enforcement
When ethics officials find evidence that an employee has violated an ethics criminal statute or regulation, they must refer that evidence to the appropriate authority for action.
Learn More ›
*** A program called Integrity? Yup…
Integrity
Integrity is an electronic financial disclosure system created by the U.S. Office of Government Ethics (OGE).
What is the purpose of financial disclosure?
Financial disclosure reports are the primary tool used to identify and resolve potential conflicts of interest between an employee’s official duties and his or her private financial interests and affiliations.
Why did OGE create Integrity?
The Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act of 2012, as amended, directed the President, acting through the Director of OGE, to develop an electronic system for filing executive branch public financial disclosure reports. As a result, OGE developed a system named Integrity to collect, manage, process, and store financial disclosures.
Who uses Integrity?
Senior officials in the executive branch who are required to file public financial disclosure reports use Integrity to file their reports. OGE and agency ethics officials use Integrity to review financial disclosure reports for conflicts of interest and manage the executive branch financial disclosure program.
What are the benefits of Integrity?
Integrity was designed to help produce quality reports, enhance oversight, and promote transparency.
- Integrity produces quality reports by helping filers more quickly, easily, and completely report required information.
- Integrity enhances oversight of the executive branch ethics program by allowing OGE to monitor agencies’ progress in administering their individual financial disclosure programs.
- Integrity promotes transparency by producing a clear and concise public financial disclosure report that allows the public to have confidence that their government leaders are making decisions free from conflicts of interest.