Restrictions on Post-Government Employment
After You Leave Federal Service
After you leave Federal service, 18 U.S.C. § 207 imposes certain post-employment restrictions that may limit the type of work you may perform for your new employer for certain periods of time. (See 5 C.F.R. part 2641).
The Procurement Integrity Act (see 41 U.S.C. § 2104 and 48 C.F.R. §§ 3.104-3(d)) imposes additional restrictions for certain employees who participated in costly procurement work (valued in excess of $10 million).
Former employees who are carrying out official duties as an employee or as an elected or appointed official of a tribal organization or inter-tribal consortium are not subject to 18 U.S.C. § 207 restrictions if they advise the Government, in writing, of any personal and substantial involvement they had as a Government employee in connection with the matter.
(See 25 U.S.C. § 450i(j)).
Lifetime Restriction – 18 U.S.C. § 207(a)(1)
If you participated personally and substantially in any particular matter involving specific parties (grants, contracts, licenses, permits, applications, litigation, etc.), you may never appear or communicate on behalf of another to any Federal department, agency, or court (any Federal agency, not just your bureau or DOI) regarding that same particular matter.
Two-Year Restriction – 18 U.S.C. § 207(a)(2)
For particular matters involving specific parties under your official responsibility during your last year of Government service, you are restricted for two years after you leave Government service from appearing or communicating on behalf of another to any Federal department, agency, or court regarding those same particular matters.
One-Year Restriction on Aiding and Advising – 18 U.S.C. § 207(b)
For one year after Government service terminates, you may not aid or advise any entity (other than the United States) concerning any ongoing trade or treaty negotiation in which you participated personally and substantially during your last year of Government service.
ADDITIONAL LAWS THAT APPLY FOR FORMER SENIOR EMPLOYEES
Levels II through V of the Executive Schedule and those paid equal to or greater than 86.5% of the rate for Level II of the Executive Schedule) and Former Very Senior Employees (Level 1 of the Executive Schedule)
One-Year Restriction on Communication with One’s Former Agency – 18 U.S.C. § 207(c)
For one year after leaving senior service, no former “senior” employee may make, with the intent to influence, any communication to or appearance before the department or agency in which he or she served in the one year period prior to termination from senior service. Consult your Associate Ethics Counselor for certain limited exceptions to this prohibition.
One Year Restriction Relating to Foreign Entities – 18 U.S.C. § 207(f)
For one year after leaving Government service, a former senior employee may not knowingly aid, advise, or represent a foreign entity, with the intent to influence the official actions of any employee of any U.S. agency or department.
Two-Year Restriction for Very Senior Employees – 18 U.S.C. § 207(d)
For two years after service in a very senior position, former Executive Level I employees and certain very senior employees in the Executive Office of the President are prohibited from making with the intent to influence, any communication to or appearance before:
- Any individual appointed to an Executive Level position; or
- Any employee of a department or agency in which the former very senior employee served
during his or her last year of Government service.
