2.3: Financial Disclosure
Administer an effective confidential financial disclosure system. Other Information:
OGE administers a second financial disclosure system that is directed to employees who serve in positions with important decision-making
authority and responsibility but who are not in positions that require public financial disclosure. This system involves
the submission and review of confidential financial disclosure reports. Like public financial disclosure reports, confidential
reports are used as a tool to identify potential conflicts of interest and to counsel employees about avoiding such conflicts.
Agencies make extensive use of this system; for example, the confidential reports are filed by temporary employees and thousands
of members of advisory committees to ensure that advice received by the Government is objective. As with the public financial
disclosure reporting system, OGE’s challenge is to ensure that the system is as effective and efficient as possible, while
at the same time ensuring that it meets its primary purpose of preventing conflicts of interest. Strategies for Objective
2.3: Use technology to improve the confidential financial disclosure system. As with the public financial disclosure reporting
system, the confidential system could be improved by on-line preparation, submission, review and certification of reports.
OGE plans to develop a confidential financial disclosure form that can be filed electronically. Encourage agencies to use
alternative confidential financial disclosure reporting where appropriate. OGE has, by regulation, established a uniform system
of confidential financial disclosure reporting for the entire executive branch. However, because agency missions (or the
components of agencies) vary greatly, it may be more practical and useful for identifying conflicts to tailor the confidential
disclosure requirements to the needs of a particular agency. This may be true particularly in cases involving disclosure
by members of advisory committees. OGE regulations permit such deviations where circumstances dictate that an alternative
reporting system would enhance agency operations. OGE will encourage the increased use of these alternative systems by advertising
existing approved alternatives; identifying, through our program review process, agencies that might benefit from the use
of an alternative system; and by assisting agencies in developing such systems for their own needs.
Indicator(s):
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