Reauthorization of the Office of Government Ethics

In response to a congressional request, testimony was given on a 5-year extension of authorization for the Office of Government Ethics, and questions were answered concerning the Office's staffing, responsibilities, independence, and whether the Office has discouraged highly qualified nominees from accepting positions in the Government. GAO has long supported the Office in its efforts to provide overall direction of the conflict-of-interest policies for the executive branch. Its responsibilities have included the development of regulations on conflicts of interest and ethics, monitoring and review of compliance with public disclosure laws, consulting agency officials on conflict-of-interest cases, recommending corrective action, and recommending appropriate amendments of the conflict-of-interest laws. GAO found that during the last presidential transition the Office spent nearly all of its time preparing for the transition and reviewing nominees' disclosure reports. While there was adequate staffing to review the reports, concentration of this activity resulted in a cessation of other important activities. However, GAO found that reviewing nominees' statements during nontransition years did not cause the same amount of interruption. GAO did not believe that the Office should be required to schedule and help conduct briefings for all nominees, but that the briefings should be held by agency officials. However, the Office could assist agencies in designing the briefings and could ensure that agencies conduct them. GAO would support any appropriate steps designed to give the Office further independence. Officials interviewed by GAO could not identify any candidates who had refused Government service specifically because of Ethics in Government Act requirements. However, one official stated that prospective candidates are often only generally aware of the act's concepts and do not know the specific requirements of the act.