Title: Maj Thomas R' Serrano
1(No Transcript)
2Post Government Employment Issues
3Topics Well Cover
- Criminal and regulatory restrictions on
post-government employment - seeking employment / having discussions
- employment during PTDY and transition leave
- post-Government limitations on job duties
- Use of military title
- Termination SF 278
4Post-Government Employment Limitations
- Applicable to everyone in the federal government
(military and civilian) - Why have ethics rules regarding post government
employment ? - preserve public confidence in Government
integrity - prevent activity that conflicts with the
interests of the United States - The evolving revolving door...
5Criminal Statutes
- 18 US Code 208
- seeking employment
- switching sides
- 18 US Code 207
- representational restrictions vary (lifetime, 2
year, 1 year - senior and very senior employees
- 18 US Code 203
- limits compensation for lobbying or consulting
activities while employed by Government
6Ethics Opinions
- Request opinion before taking action
- Extremely fact-specific
- different facts lead to different results
- Opinions are advisory and are only as good as the
information you provide - Department of Justice makes prosecutorial
decisions, but ethics advisory opinions will
usually control
7Pre-retirement considerations --
8Seeking Employment
- Realize the limitations placed on you regarding
job searching - Be proactive
- inform prospective employers of the date that
you will start to seek employment - Prepare and widely distribute disqualification
letters - list all potential employers
9The Seeking Employment Rule
- 18 US Code 208 - criminal statute
- 5 CFR 2635.604
- You cant do Government work
- on a particular matter
- that could affect the financial interests
- of a prospective employer
- when looking for employment
10For 18 US Code 208 purposes, involvement in
government work must be personal and substantial
- Deciding, approving, making recommendation,
rendering advice, investigating. - INCLUDES actions taken by subordinates when
their actions are directed by you
11What is seeking employment ?
- Communications mutually conducted for the purpose
of reaching an agreement regarding potential post
Government employment - Submitting a job application? (yes)
- Going to a job interview ? (yes)
- Submitting a resume ? (it depends)
12Remedies
- Disqualify yourself from any further involvement
(template in notebook) - Report employment offers involving potential
contractors to Ethics Counselor - Reject any employment offer, if made
- Note - rejection cant be delayed
- (e.g., call me in 6 months)
13Procurement Integrity Act Notification
Requirement
- If contract involves 100,000
- Employment offers must be reported whether
initiated by you or the potential contractor - Includes contractors with pending option years or
performance awards - Avoid the appearance of any impropriety
- Err on the cautious side
14Interview / Travel Expenses
- Can you accept meals, lodging and transportation
from a prospective employer ? - Yes, if it is their customary practice to pay
such expenses for similarly situated potential
employees
15Use of Government Property
- Government computers and e-mail may be used in
job search - On your personal time
- with no adverse effect on DoD
- BUT, a subordinates time may not be used to help
your job search - 5 CFR 2635.705 (Standards of Ethical Conduct for
the Employees of the Executive Branch)
16Transition PTDY
- Authorization, NOT an entitlement
- May be disapproved if unit mission dictates a
soldier must be present to perform critical tasks - AR 600-8-10, para 5-35(d) (NEW, 31 July 2003)
- Increments of 10 days plus 10 days
- You may not work during PTDY
- Transition PTDY may be used for
- house hunting (only if relocating) or
- job hunting
17Transition Leave
- During transition leave work is permitted
- so long as there is no conflict of interest
- 18 US Code 208 analysis
- treated as off-duty employment
- Obtain supervisory approval before you begin work
18After retirement
1918 US Code 207 Representation Ban
- Does not impose restrictions on behind the
scenes advice, that is, you can give advice and
help prepare proposals - BUT, be careful about contacts
- purely social matters or informational requests
are OK - Attending meetings can lead to problems
2018 US Code 207(a)(1)
- Lifetime Ban
- SIMPLIFIED RULE After you leave Government
service, you may not represent someone else to
the Government regarding particular matters that
you worked on while in Government service.
2118 US Code 207(a)(2)
- Official responsibility - 2 year ban
- SIMPLIFIED RULE For 2 years after leaving
Government service, you may not represent someone
else to the Government regarding particular
matters that you did not work on yourself, but
were pending under your responsibility during
your last year of Government service.
2218 US Code 207(b)
- Trade or Treaty - 1 Year ban
- SIMPLIFIED RULE For 1 year after leaving
Government service, you may not aid, advise, or
represent someone else regarding trade or treaty
negotiations that you worked on during your last
year of Government service.
2318 US Code 207(c)
- Senior employees - 1 year ban
- SIMPLIFIED RULE For 1 year after leaving
Government service, senior employees may not
represent anyone before their agency for anything
2418 US Code 207(c)
- DoD has 9 component agencies -- the restriction
doesnt apply to other components - Air Force
- Army
- Navy
- Defense Information Systems Agency
- Defense Intelligence Agency
- Defense Logistics Agency
- National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (formerly
the National Imagery and Mapping Agency) - Defense Threat Reduction Agency
- National Security Agency
- National Reconnaissance Office
2518 US Code 203
- No compensation for representational services,
which were provided by anyone while you were a
Government employee, before a Federal agency or
court regarding particular matters in which the
Government was a party or had a substantial
interest. - Examples
- lobbyists, consulting companies,law firms
26Dont work for a foreign government . . .
- Unless you obtain prior permission of the
Department of the Army (Sec Army) and Department
of State - JER 9-701
- Penalty - Loss of retired pay
- Beware of companies controlled by foreign
governments - Case of Major Stephen M. Harnett (1990)
27Use of Military Title
- AR 25-50, paragraph 6-6
- Must clearly reflect retired status
- Must not be interpreted as official sponsorship
or recommendation from the DoD or the Army - Must not bring discredit upon the DoD or the Army
28Termination SF 278
- File within 30 days after retirement
- You cant file an SF 278 until the date of your
official retirement - Exiting current position is not the triggering
event - Potential 200 fine for late filing
- Download form from Office of Government Ethics
website http//www.usoge.gov/pages/for
ms_pubs_otherdocs/forms_pubs_other_pg3.html
29 Questions?