65 FR 53942: Proposed Exemption Amendments Under 18 U.S.C. 208(b)(2) for Financial Interests in Sector Mutual Funds, De Minimis Securities, and Securities of Affected Nonparty Entities in Litigation

The Office of Government Ethics is proposing to amend the regulation that describes financial interests that are exempt from the prohibition in 18 U.S.C. 208(a) by revising some existing exemptions as well as adding new exemptions. Section 208(a) generally prohibits employees of the executive branch from participating in an official capacity in particular matters in which they or certain others specified in the statute have a financial interest. Section 208(b)(2) of title 18 permits the Office of Government Ethics to promulgate regulations describing financial interests that are too remote or inconsequential to warrant disqualification pursuant to section 208(a). This proposed regulation would raise the de minimis exemption for matters affecting interests in securities to $15,000 and would identify additional financial interests that would be exempt from the prohibition in section 208(a), including, in limited circumstances, the holdings of sector mutual funds, and securities issued by a nonparty affected by a matter in litigation.

https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2000-09-06/pdf/00-22750.pdf