Skip directly to search Skip directly to A to Z list Skip directly to navigation Skip directly to page options Skip directly to site content

Conflicting Financial Interests

Executive branch employees are prohibited from participating in any matter that will affect certain financial interests including:  

  • the employee
  • the employee's spouse or minor child
  • the employee's general partner
  • an organization in which the employee serves as an officer, director, trustee, general partner or employee, and
  • anyone with whom the employee is negotiating for or has an arrangement concerning prospective employment.


 

Potential Conflicts of Interest

Employees cannot participate in any matter that would pose a conflict of interest or “recusal”. Options available to avoid recusal include:

  • Obtaining a waiver from the agency
  • Selling off or "divesting" the conflicting interest
  • Resigning from the conflicting position.

Agencies may, by supplemental regulation, prohibit or restrict the holding of certain financial interests by all agency employees or a group of employees, and extend such restrictions to the employee's spouse and minor children.

Reference: 18 U.S.C. § 208; 5 C.F.R. § § 2635.401-403.

Top