May 14, 2026
Who files public financial disclosure reports in the executive branch?
There are approximately 26,000 public financial disclosure filers in the executive branch. These are senior government officials, including the President, Vice President, Senate-confirmed Presidential appointees, and members of the Senior Executive Service.
What types of documents do they file?
Today, the annual public financial disclosure reports (OGE form 278) of filers who served 60 days or more in filing positions during 2025 are due to be filed. These are in addition to required nominee reports, new entrant, periodic transaction reports, and termination reports, which are required to be filed at various dates throughout the year.
Senate-confirmed Presidential appointees must also sign ethics agreements and complete certifications of ethics agreement compliance. These documents describe the steps that these officials will take to avoid conflicts of interest and confirm that those steps have been taken.
How do these documents relate to one another?
These documents combine to tell the financial story of the most senior government officials. The new entrant/nominee reports provide current interests and a look-back at the period directly before an official enters a filing position.
Nominee reports also provide the basis for creating the ethics agreement, a letter detailing steps required to prevent conflicts of interest like selling securities or resigning positions.
The Certification of Ethics Agreement Compliance is just that, an assurance that these steps have been taken.
The periodic transaction reports provide a near-real-time look at certain purchases, exchanges, and sales of most types of securities. The annual reports provide a comprehensive look at the previous year’s financial interests. And finally, the termination report provides a final look at the filer’s financial interests at the conclusion of public service.
Together, these documents paint a clear picture of the financial holdings and engagements of the most senior government officials.
When can the public access these reports?
Reports become publicly available from the agency where they are filed 30 days after they are received by that agency. Today is the deadline for filing of annual reports. This deadline can be extended by agency ethics officials for up to 90 days.
Reports requiring a second-level review by OGE become available from OGE 30 days after OGE receives them, or upon certification by OGE, whichever is sooner.
How can I request these reports?
All reports may be requested from the agency where a filer works using the OGE form 201 (PDF).
Reports available from OGE, can also be accessed on OGE’s Individual Records Search Collection.
Why are public financial disclosure reports important?
These reports are important for two related reasons. First, they provide ethics officials with an opportunity to review the financial holdings of senior government officials, identify potential conflicts of interest, and require steps to prevent them from becoming actual conflicts of interest.
Second, they allow the public to exercise their rights and hold their government accountable through the public request process.