Executive Order 13490 Ethics Commitments by Executive Branch Personnel
Executive Order 13490 of January 21, 2009
Ethics Commitments by Executive Branch Personnel
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the
laws of the United States of America, including section 301 of title 3,
United States Code, and sections 3301 and 7301 of title 5, United States
Code, it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1. Ethics Pledge. Every appointee in every executive agency appointed
on or after January 20, 2009, shall sign, and upon signing shall be contractually committed to, the following pledge upon becoming an appointee:
‘‘As a condition, and in consideration, of my employment in the United
States Government in a position invested with the public trust, I commit
myself to the following obligations, which I understand are binding on
me and are enforceable under law:
‘‘1. Lobbyist Gift Ban. I will not accept gifts from registered lobbyists or
lobbying organizations for the duration of my service as an appointee.
‘‘2. Revolving Door Ban—All Appointees Entering Government. I will not
for a period of 2 years from the date of my appointment participate in
any particular matter involving specific parties that is directly and substantially related to my former employer or former clients, including regulations and contracts.
‘‘3. Revolving Door Ban—Lobbyists Entering Government. If I was a registered
lobbyist within the 2 years before the date of my appointment, in addition
to abiding by the limitations of paragraph 2, I will not for a period of
2 years after the date of my appointment:
(a) participate in any particular matter on which I lobbied within the
2 years before the date of my appointment;
(b) participate in the specific issue area in which that particular matter
falls; or
(c) seek or accept employment with any executive agency that I lobbied
within the 2 years before the date of my appointment.
‘‘4. Revolving Door Ban—Appointees Leaving Government. If, upon my departure
from the Government, I am covered by the post-employment restrictions
on communicating with employees of my former executive agency set forth
in section 207(c) of title 18, United States Code, I agree that I will abide
by those restrictions for a period of 2 years following the end of my appointment.
‘‘5. Revolving Door Ban—Appointees Leaving Government to Lobby. In addition
to abiding by the limitations of paragraph 4, I also agree, upon leaving
Government service, not to lobby any covered executive branch official
or non-career Senior Executive Service appointee for the remainder of the
Administration.
‘‘6. Employment Qualification Commitment. I agree that any hiring or other
employment decisions I make will be based on the candidate’s qualifications,
competence, and experience.
‘‘7. Assent to Enforcement. I acknowledge that the Executive Order entitled
’Ethics Commitments by Executive Branch Personnel,’ issued by the President
on January 21, 2009, which I have read before signing this document, defines
certain of the terms applicable to the foregoing obligations and sets forth
the methods for enforcing them. I expressly accept the provisions of that
Executive Order as a part of this agreement and as binding on me. I understand that the terms of this pledge are in addition to any statutory or
other legal restrictions applicable to me by virtue of Federal Government
service.’
THE WHITE HOUSE,
January 21, 2009.
http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-1719.pdf