Banning Gratuities to Federal Officials
Legislation Impacting Relations With Government Employees
The current restriction under Federal statutory law on the receipt or solicitation of "gifts" by Federal employees and officials was enacted as part of the Ethics Reform Act of 1989. The underlying statutory restriction, in some respects, merely codified similar gifts standards which have been applicable to Executive Branch employees since 1965.The current law, codified at 5 U.S.C. Section 7353, prohibits any Federal officer or employee from receiving any gift of any amount from a prohibited source, that is, from someone who is seeking action from, doing business with, or regulated by one’s agency, or whose interests may be substantially…