Office of Government Ethics

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. OGEs 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 provides that 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 agency in the executive branch. The program ensures that executive branch leaders are aware of their ethical obligations and role in creating an ethical culture in their organizations as they begin government service. It ensures that public servants at all levels remain free from conflicts of interest and even the appearance of conflicts of interest, as t...