2.1: Presidential Appointments

Enhance assistance to the President and the Congress in the Presidential appointments process.

Other Information:

The public financial disclosure process provides assurance to the President and Congress that appointees to the highest level Government positions will be free from conflicts of interest.  OGE reviews draft public financial disclosure reports filed by individuals selected by the President for these positions in the executive branch.  Potential conflicts of interest are identified and the individual agrees to take the steps necessary to resolve any conflicts.  OGE is responsible for informing the appropriate Senate committee that the individual will be in compliance with applicable ethics rules and laws.  In addition to preventing conflicts of interest, the review process also provides an opportunity to familiarize the prospective nominee with the ethics program. Strategies for Objective 2.1: Use technology to improve the financial disclosure reporting and review process.   OGE will improve the administration of the financial disclosure system.  One of the primary initiatives in this area is using technology to make the filing and reviewing of financial disclosure forms more efficient by reducing the need for paper filing and evaluation.  OGE has formed a partnership with the Department of the Army to develop an electronic filing system.  The system will allow for on-line completion and submission of the report, as well as on-line certification.  Once the electronic system is fully tested, it will be made available to all agencies for use by public financial disclosure filers.   Promote proposed improvements to the financial disclosure law. OGE has issued two reports to Congress (April 2001 and March 2005) recommending improvements to simplify the public financial disclosure reporting requirements.  In the reports, OGE concluded that the current public financial disclosure system requires reporting more detailed information than is useful or necessary to achieve its fundamental goals of preventing conflicts of interest and maintaining the public’s confidence in Government.  Such unnecessary detail could be eliminated without reducing compliance with applicable conflict of interest requirements and without harming the public interest in disclosure.  OGE will continue to pursue proposed legislation to implement these improvements.   Ensure timely compliance with ethics agreements. OGE monitors compliance by Presidential appointees with ethics agreements entered during the nominee review process.  The agreements outline the steps an appointee must take to insulate himself and protect the agency processes from conflict of interest.  This system not only aids the appointee and the agency, but it assures the public and the Senate committee responsible for holding the confirmation hearing, that potential conflicts will be resolved.  OGE will establish mechanisms to ensure timely compliance with ethics agreements by all Presidential appointees.

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