[Code of Federal Regulations] [Title 5, Volume 3] [Revised as of January 1, 2008] From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access [CITE: 5CFR2641.201] [Page 671-675] TITLE 5--ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL CHAPTER XVI--OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT ETHICS PART 2641_POST-EMPLOYMENT CONFLICT OF INTEREST RESTRICTIONS--Table of Contents Subpart B_Substantive Provisions Sec. 2641.201 One-year restriction on a former senior employee's representations to employees of former agency concerning matter, regardless of prior involvement. (a) Basic prohibition of 18 U.S.C. 207(c). For one year after service in a ``senior'' position terminates, no former ``senior'' employee may knowingly make, with the intent to influence, any communication to or appearance before an employee of a department or agency in which he served in any capacity during the one-year period prior to termination from ``senior'' service, if that communication or appearance is made on behalf of any other person (except the United States) in connection with any matter on which he seeks official action by any employee. (b) Applicability. 18 U.S.C. 207(c) applies to all former ``senior employees'' as defined in Sec. 2641.101 of this part. Certain individuals who served in ``very senior'' positions are subject to the one-year bar set forth in section 207(d) in lieu of that set forth in section 207(c). See definition of ``very senior employee'' in Sec. 2641.101. (1) Special Government employees. 18 U.S.C. 207(c) does not apply to an individual as a result of service as a special Government employee unless the individual: (i) Served in a senior employee position while serving as a special Government employee; and (ii) Served 60 or more days as a special Government employee during the one-year period before terminating service as a senior employee. (2) Exemption from 18 U.S.C. 207(c). 18 U.S.C. 207(c) does not apply to an individual as a result of service in a senior position if that position has been exempted from section 207(c) pursuant to the waiver procedures set forth in Sec. 2641.201(d) of this part. (c) Measurement of restriction. 18 U.S.C. 207(c) is a one-year restriction. The one-year period is measured from the date when the employee ceases to be a senior employee, not from the termination of Government service, unless the two occur simultaneously. (d) Waiver of 18 U.S.C. 207(c). Certain positions or categories of positions can be exempted from 18 U.S.C. 207(c) through the grant of a waiver by the Director of the Office of Government Ethics. 18 U.S.C. 207(c)(2)(C). (1) Effect of exemption. When an eligible position is exempted from 18 U.S.C. 207(c) by the Director of the Office of Government Ethics, the one-year restriction of section 207(c) will not be triggered upon any employee's termination from the position. (2) Eligible senior employee positions. Any senior employee position is eligible for exemption except the following: (i) Positions for which the rate of pay is specified in or fixed according to 5 U.S.C. 5311-5318 (the Executive Schedule); (ii) Positions whose occupants are appointed by the President pursuant to 3 U.S.C. 105(a)(2)(B); or (iii) Positions whose occupants are appointed by the Vice President pursuant to 3 U.S.C. 106(a)(1)(B). (3) Procedure. An exemption shall be granted in accordance with the following procedure: (i) Initial exemption. An agency's designated agency ethics official shall forward to the Director of the Office of Government Ethics a written request [[Page 672]] that a certain senior employee position or category of positions be exempted from 18 U.S.C. 207(c). Any such request shall address the criteria set forth in paragraph (d)(5) of this section. A designated agency ethics official may also request that a current exemption be revoked. (ii) Agency update. Designated agency ethics officials shall by November 30 of each year forward to the Office of Government Ethics a letter stating whether positions or categories of positions currently exempted should remain exempt from the application of 18 U.S.C. 207(c) in light of the criteria set forth in paragraph (d)(5) of this section. (iii) Action by Office of Government Ethics. The Director of the Office of Government Ethics shall promptly provide to the designated agency ethics official a written response to each initial request for exemption or revocation. The Director shall annually publish in appendix A to this part an updated compilation of all exempted positions or categories of positions. The Director shall publish notice in the Federal Register when he determines to revoke an exemption based on his finding that the position or positions no longer qualify for exemption. (4) Effective date of exemption. Exemptions issued under paragraph (d) of this section shall be effective as of the date of the Director's written response to the designated agency ethics official indicating that the request for exemption has been granted. An exemption shall inure to the benefit of the individual who holds the position when the exemption takes effect, as well as to his successors, but shall not benefit individuals who terminated senior service prior to the effective date of the exemption. Revocation of an exemption shall be effective 90 days after the date that the Director publishes notice of the revocation in the Federal Register. Individuals who formerly served in an exempted position will not become subject to 18 U.S.C. 207(c) in the event the position's exempted status is revoked subsequent to the individual's termination from the position. (5) Criteria for exemption. Before exempting a position or positions from 18 U.S.C. 207(c), the Director of the Office of Government Ethics must find that with respect to the position or category of positions: (i) The granting of the exemption would not create the potential for use by former senior employees of undue influence or unfair advantage based on past Government service; and (ii) The imposition of the restrictions would create an undue hardship on the department or agency in obtaining qualified personnel to fill such position or positions as shown by relevant factors which may include, but are not limited to: (A) The payment of a special rate of pay to the incumbent of the position pursuant to specific statutory authority; or (B) The requirement that the incumbent of the position have outstanding qualifications in a scientific, technological, or other technical discipline. (e) Separate departmental or agency components. For purposes of 18 U.S.C. 207(c) only, the Director of the Office of Government Ethics is authorized by 18 U.S.C. 207(h) to designate departmental and agency ``components'' that are distinct and separate from the ``parent'' department or agency and from each other. Absent such designation, the representational bar of section 207(c) extends to the whole of the department or agency in which the former senior employee served. (1) Effect of designation. An eligible former senior employee who served in a ``parent'' department or agency is not barred by 18 U.S.C. 207(c) from making communications to or appearances before any employee of any designated component of that parent, but is barred as to employees of that parent or of other components that have not been designated. An eligible former senior employee who served in any designated component of a parent department or agency is barred from communicating to or making an appearance before any employee of that component, but is not barred as to any employee of the parent or of any other component. (2) Eligible senior employees. All former senior employees are eligible to benefit from this procedure except those who were senior employees by virtue of having been: (i) Employed in a position for which the rate of pay is specified in or fixed [[Page 673]] according to 5 U.S.C. 5311-5318 (the Executive Schedule); (ii) Appointed by the President to a position under 3 U.S.C. 105(a)(2)(B); or (iii) Appointed by the Vice President to a position under 3 U.S.C. 106(a)(1)(B). (3) Procedure. Distinct and separate components shall be designated in accordance with the following procedure: (i) Initial Designation. Initial designations of departmental and agency components are set forth in appendix B to this part and are effective as of January 1, 1991. (ii) Agency update. A designated agency ethics official may at any time recommend the designation of an additional component or the revocation of a current designation by forwarding a written request to the Director addressing the criteria set forth in paragraph (e)(6) of this section. Designated agency ethics officials shall by November 30 of each year forward to the Office of Government Ethics a letter stating whether components currently designated should remain designated in light of the criteria set forth in paragraph (e)(6). (iii) Action of Office of Government Ethics. The Director of the Office of Government Ethics shall by rule make or revoke a component designation after considering the recommendation of the designated agency ethics official. The Director shall annually publish in appendix B to this part an updated compilation of all designated departmental or agency components. (4) Effective date of designation. Initial component designations shall be effective as of January 1, 1991. Any subsequent designation shall be effective as of the effective date of the rule that creates the designation, but shall not be effective as to employees who terminated senior service prior to that date. Revocation of a component designation shall be effective 90 days after the effective date of the rule that revokes the designation, but shall not be effective as to individuals who terminated senior service prior to the expiration of such 90-days period. (5) Unauthorized designations. No. agency or bureau within the Executive Office of the President may be designated as a separate departmental or agency component. (6) Criteria for designation. Before designating an agency component as distinct and separate for purposes of 18 U.S.C. 207(c), the Director of the Office of Government Ethics must find that: (i) There exists no potential for use by former senior employees of undue influence or unfair advantage based on past Government service; and (ii) The component is an agency or bureau, within a department or agency, that exercises functions which are distinct and separate from the functions of the parent department or agency and from the functions of other components of that parent as shown by relevant factors which may include, but are not limited to: (A) The component's creation by statute or a statutory reference indicating that it exercises functions which are distinct and separate; or (B) The component's exercise of separate and distinct subject matter or geographical jurisdiction. (7) Supervisory relationship. Provided that a component has a separate statutory basis or exercises distinct and separate subject matter or geographical jurisdiction, the parent will generally be deemed by the Director of the Office of Government Ethics to be distinct and separate from that component notwithstanding that the parent may exercise general supervisory authority over the component. However, the degree of a parent's supervision over a component will be a factor in determining whether subject matter or geographical jurisdiction is in fact distinct and separate. The Director will not ordinarily consider two components as distinct and separate from one another where one component exercises supervisory authority over another. Appendix A to Part 2641--Positions Exempted From 18 U.S.C. 207(c) Pursuant to the provisions of 18 U.S.C. 207(c)(2)(C), each of the following positions is exempt from the provisions of 18 U.S.C. 207(c). All exemptions are effective as of the date indicated. Agency: Department of Justice. Positions: United States Trustee (21) (effective June 2, 1994). Agency: Securities and Exchange Commission Positions: [[Page 674]] Solicitor, Office of General Counsel (effective October 29, 1991). Chief Litigation Counsel, Division of Enforcement (effective October 29, 1991). Deputy Chief Litigation Counsel, Division of Enforcement (effective November 10, 2003). SK-17 positions (effective November 10, 2003). SK-16 and lower-graded SK positions supervised by employees in SK-17 positions (effective November 10, 2003). SK-16 and lower-graded SK positions not supervised by employees in SK-17 positions (effective December 4, 2003). [57 FR 3116, Jan. 28, 1992, as amended at 62 FR 31865, June 11, 1997; 72 FR 10341, Mar. 8, 2007] Appendix B to Part 2641--Agency Components for Purposes of 18 U.S.C. 207(c) Pursuant to the provisions of 18 U.S.C. 207(h), each of the following departments or agencies is determined, for purposes of 18 U.S.C. 207(c), to have within it distinct and separate components as set forth below. Except as otherwise indicated, all designations are effective as of January 1, 1991. Parent: Department of Commerce Components: Bureau of the Census Bureau of Industry and Security (formerly Bureau of Export Administration) (effective January 28, 1992) Economic Development Administration International Trade Administration Minority Business Development Administration National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Telecommunications and Information Administration Patent and Trademark Office Technology Administration (effective January 28, 1992) Parent: Department of Defense Components: Department of the Air Force Department of the Army Department of the Navy Defense Information Systems Agency Defense Intelligence Agency Defense Logistics Agency Defense Threat Reduction Agency (effective February 5, 1999) National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (formerly National Imagery and Mapping Agency) (effective May 16, 1997) National Reconnaissance Office (effective January 30, 2003) National Security Agency Parent: Department of Energy Component: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Parent: Department of Health and Human Services Components: Administration on Aging (effective May 16, 1997) Administration for Children and Families (effective January 28, 1992) Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (formerly Agency for Health Care Policy and Research) (effective May 16, 1997) Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (effective May 16, 1997) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (effective May 16, 1997) Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (formerly Health Care Financing Administration) Food and Drug Administration Health Resources and Services Administration (effective May 16, 1997) Indian Health Service (effective May 16, 1997) National Institutes of Health (effective May 16, 1997) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (effective May 16, 1997) Parent: Department of the Interior Components: \1\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ All designated components under the jurisdiction of a particular Assistant Secretary shall be considered a single component for purposes of determining the scope of 18 U.S.C. 207(c) as applied to senior employees serving on the immediate staff of that Assistant Secretary. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bureau of Indian Affairs (effective January 28, 1992) Bureau of Land Management (effective January 28, 1992) Bureau of Reclamation (effective January 28, 1992) Minerals Management Service (effective January 28, 1992) National Park Service (effective January 28, 1992) Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (effective January 28, 1992) U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (effective January 28, 1992) U.S. Geological Survey (effective January 28, 1992) Parent: Department of Justice Components: Antitrust Division. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (effective November 23, 2004). [[Page 675]] Bureau of Prisons (including Federal Prison Industries, Inc.). Civil Division. Civil Rights Division. Community Relations Service. Criminal Division. Drug Enforcement Administration. Environment and Natural Resources Division. Executive Office for United States Attorneys \2\ (effective January 28, 1992). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \2\ The Executive Office for United States Attorneys shall not be considered separate from any Office of the United States Attorney for a judicial district, but only from other designated components of the Department of Justice. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Executive Office for United States Trustees \3\ (effective January 28, 1992). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \3\ The Executive Office for United States Trustees shall not be considered separate from any Office of the United States Trustee for a region, but only from other designated components of the Department of Justice. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Federal Bureau of Investigation. Foreign Claims Settlement Commission. Independent Counsel appointed by the Attorney General. Office of Justice Programs. Office of the Pardon Attorney (effective January 28, 1992). Offices of the United States Attorney (94).\4\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \4\ Each Office of the United States Attorney for a judicial district shall be considered a separate component from each other such office. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Offices of the United States Trustee (21).\5\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \5\ Each Office of the United States Trustee for a region shall be considered a separate component from each other such office. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Office on Violence Against Women \6\ (effective March 8, 2007). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \6\ The Office on Violence Against Women shall not be considered separate from the Office of Justice Programs, but only from other designated components of the Department of Justice. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tax Division. United States Marshals Service (effective May 16, 1997). United States Parole Commission. Parent: Department of Labor Components: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employee Benefits Security Administration (formerly Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration) (effective May 16, 1997) Employment and Training Administration Employment Standards Administration Mine Safety and Health Administration Occupational Safety and Health Administration Office of Disability Employment Policy (effective January 30, 2003) Parent: Department of State Component: Foreign Service Grievance Board Parent: Department of Transportation Components: Federal Aviation Administration Federal Highway Administration Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (effective January 30, 2003) Federal Railroad Administration Federal Transit Administration Maritime Administration National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation Surface Transportation Board (effective May 16, 1997) Parent: Department of the Treasury Components: Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (effective November 23, 2004.) Bureau of Engraving and Printing Bureau of the Mint Bureau of the Public Debt Comptroller of the Currency Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) (effective January 30, 2003) Financial Management Service Internal Revenue Service Office of Thrift Supervision [56 FR 3963, Feb. 1, 1991, as amended at 57 FR 3116, Jan. 28, 1992; 57 FR 11673, Apr. 7, 1992; 58 FR 33755, June 21, 1993; 62 FR 26917, May 16, 1997; 62 FR 31865, June 11, 1997; 64 FR 5710, Feb. 5, 1999; 68 FR 4683, 4684, Jan. 30, 2003; 69 FR 68055, 68056, Nov. 23, 2004; 72 FR 10341, 10342, Mar. 8, 2007] [[Page 677]]