Office of Government Ethics
Understanding the Current State of Ethics in the Executive Branch
The U.S. Office of Government Ethics (OGE), established by the Ethics in Government Act of 1978, provides overall leadership and oversight of the Executive Branch ethics program, which is designed to prevent and resolve conflicts of interest. OGE’s mission is part of the very foundation of public service. The first principle in the Fourteen General Principles of Ethical Conduct for Government Officers and Employees is, “Public service is a public trust, requiring employees to place loyalty to the Constitution, the laws and ethical principles above private gain.” Each day, some part of the ethics program is at work in every…
