News Releases

This section is an online media resource providing access to information about recent and past developments that may be of interest to the media on government ethics matters in the Executive Branch. These releases also provide tailored links to information on OGE’s website. This media resource is part of OGE’s continuing commitment to provide the media with increased communication, support and transparency.

2013 News Releases

 April 18, 2013 

• OGE Releases the Fourth Annual Report Pursuant To Executive Order 13490 “Ethics Commitments by Executive Branch Personnel”. This report provides information about the efforts of the U.S. Office of Government Ethics to ensure that agency officials implemented the Ethics Pledge appropriately. The report covers the time period January 1 through December 31, 2012.

April 17, 2013 

• OGE Launches New Twitter Account. The U.S. Office of Government Ethics (OGE) has launched a new twitter account! Follow @OfficeGovEthics on Twitter to get the latest executive branch ethics news and updates from OGE.

April 15, 2013 

• President Signs Bill Limiting Online Posting Requirement of the STOCK Act   On April 15, 2013, President Obama signed into law S. 716, a bill that, among other things, limits the STOCK Act’s requirement for online posting of public financial disclosure reports.

April 12, 2013 

• Congress Passes Bill Limiting Online Posting Requirement of the STOCK Act; Bill Heads to President. Congress has passed a bill that, among other things, would limit the STOCK Act’s requirement for online posting of public financial disclosure reports that is set to go into effect on April 15, 2013.

 April 5, 2013 

•  U.S. Office of Government Ethics Sends Letter to Congress Concurring with National Academy of Public Administration Report Recommendation on STOCK ACT Posting. On April 5, 2013, the Director of the U.S. Office of Government Ethics (OGE), Walter M. Shaub, Jr., sent a letter to congressional leadership concurring with the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) study recommendation to indefinitely suspend a STOCK Act provision that would require online posting of the personal financial data of approximately 28,000 federal employees.   

April 1, 2013 

• National Academy of Public Administration Releases Report on STOCK Act. On March 28, 2013, in accordance with section 2 of Public Law 112-178, the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) submitted an independent study on the impact of the STOCK Act to Congress and the President of the United States. Read the NAPA Report. 

March 19, 2013 

• OGE Issues Legal Advisory about Furlough Periods and Ethics Laws and Regulations. On March 18, 2013, OGE issued a legal advisory reminding executive branch employees that the ethics laws and regulations continue to apply while they are in a furlough status.

January 9, 2013 

• President Obama Appoints Walter M. Shaub, Jr., as New OGE Director. On January 8, 2013, President Obama appointed Mr. Walter M. Shaub, Jr., as Director of the U.S. Office of Government Ethics. He was sworn into office January 9, 2013.

2012 News Releases 

 December 7, 2012 

• On December 7, 2012, President Obama signed into law H.R. 6634, which extends the date by which certain Executive Branch public financial disclosure forms must be made available on the internet to April 15, 2013. December 6, 2012. 

December 6, 2012 

• On December 5, 2012, the House passed H.R. 6634, which extends the date by which certain Executive Branch public financial disclosure forms must be made available on the internet to April 15, 2013.  The Senate passed the bill on December 6, 2012; it goes to the President next for signature. 

September 28, 2012  

• President Signs Amendment to Extend STOCK Act Posting Deadline to December 8th. On September 28, 2012, President Obama signed into law S. 3625, which extends the date by which certain Executive Branch public financial disclosure forms must be made available on the internet to December 8, 2012. 

September 28, 2012 

• Congress Passes Bill to Extend STOCK Act Posting Deadline to December 8. On September 28, 2012, Congress passed S. 3625, which extends the date by which certain Executive Branch public financial disclosure forms must be made available on the internet to December 8, 2012.

September 22, 2012 

• Senate Passes Bill to Extend STOCK Act Posting Deadline to December 8. On September 22, 2012, the Senate passed S. 3625, which extends the date by which certain Executive Branch public financial disclosure forms must be made available on the internet to December 8, 2012. The bill goes to the House next for consideration.

August 17, 2012 

• President Signs Amendment to Extend STOCK Act August 31st Posting Deadline to September 30th. On August 16, 2012, President Obama signed into law S. 3510, which extends the date by which executive branch public financial disclosure forms must be made available on the internet to September 30, 2012.

August 3, 2012 

• Congress Votes to Extend STOCK Act August 31st Posting Deadline to September 30th. On August 2, 2012, Congress passed S. 3510, which extends the date by which public financial disclosure forms must be made available on the internet to September 30, 2012.

May 25, 2012 

•  President Obama Announces Intent to Nominate New OGE Director. On May 24, 2012, President Obama announced his intent to nominate Walter M. Shaub, Jr. as the new Director of the Office of Government Ethics.

April 4, 2012 

• President Signs the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act of 2012 (STOCK Act) (S. 2038). On April 4, 2012, the President signed the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act of 2012 (STOCK Act) (S. 2038).

March 22, 2012 

• Senate passes House version of STOCK Act; bill heads to President. On March 22, 2012, the Senate passed the House version of the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act of 2012 (STOCK Act) (S. 2038). The bill will now proceed to the President. Should the President sign this bill, OGE will develop implementing guidance.

March 12, 2012 

• Copies of Public Financial Disclosure Reports Now Available Online. Members of the public can now view and download from the OGE website the certified copies of the SF 278/OGE Form 278 for individuals who have been nominated by President Obama to executive branch positions requiring Senate confirmation. The reports of Presidential candidates are also available. (posted March 12, 2012)

February 9, 2012 

• OGE Response to Senate Committee on STOCK Act. OGE responds to questions from the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee regarding the scope of certain provisions of the STOCK Act (S. 2038), as amended and passed by the Senate on February 2, 2012.

2011 News Releases 

December 16, 2011 

• Proposed Lobbyist Gift Ban Rule. On September 13, 2011, OGE issued in the Federal Register a proposed rule that would implement the lobbyist gift ban in Executive Order 13490 for all executive branch employees by imposing limits on the use of gift exceptions when a gift is from a registered lobbyist or lobbying organization. The comment period is now closed. All comments received before the end of the comment period have been posted.