Ethics

USDA Office of Ethics - Science Ethics Branch

E-mail: Ethics-Science@usda.gov

We provide ethics guidance to the following USDA agencies:

• Agricultural Research Service
  
• Cooperative State Research, Education & Extension Service
  
• Economic Research Service
• Forest Service:
  • Research and Development
    
• National Agricultural Statistics Service
• Natural Resources Conservation Service:
  • Soil Survey & Resource Assessment
  • Science and Technology
    
    

• Confidential Financial Disclosure Campaign
• Contacts
• Ethics Advisor & Assistant Section
• Ethics Forms Library
• Ethics Training
• General Information
• References
• Related Sources (USDA/OGE/OSC links)
• Hatch Act Compliance
• Annual Ethics Training Notice
• CFC/Fundraising Notice

Topics

• Acceptance of Awards from Non-Federal Sources
• Activities with Foreign Entities
• Adjunct Professors
• Bribery
• Contractors
• Discounts
• Employee Welfare and Recreation Organizations
• Endorsement, Fundraising, and Solicitation
• Ethical Conduct
• Financial Disclosure
• Gifts
• Hatch Act/Political Activity
• Holiday Guidance
• Honoraria
• Letters of Recommendation/Support
• Lobbying
• Outside Activities and Employment
• Participation in Non-USDA Publications
• Participation in Outside Organizations and RGEG Evaluation
• Post Employment Restrictions
• Seeking Employment
• Special Government Employees (Collaborators and Panel Managers)
• Subpoenas
• Suggestions to Avoid Ethics Problems
• Training
• Travel
• Witness Testimony - Factual & Expert

General Information

• Code of Scientific Ethics
• Common Ethics Issues
• Compilation of Federal Ethics Laws
• Contacts
• Mission Statement
• What is Ethics?

Ethical Conduct

• Employee Responsibilities and Contact
• Standards of Ethical Conduct for the Executive Branch
• Standards of Official Conduct

Ethics Forms

• Ethics Forms Library

Financial Disclosure

• Confidential Financial Disclosure Campaign
• Criteria for Designating Positions/Functions for Confidential Financial Disclosure (Public & Confidential)
• Financial Disclosure Review

Gifts

• Departmental Gift Acceptance
• External Gifts
• Foreign Gifts and Decorations
• Gifts from Outside Sources
• Gifts of Free Attendance
• Holiday Guidance
• Internal Gifts

Outside Activities & Employment

• Activities with Foreign Entities
• Adjunct Professors
• Dual Compensation
• Farming
• General Information
• Participation in Non-Federal Organizations
• Participation in Outside Organizations and RGEG Evaluation
• Political Activities
• Prior Approval Required for Outside Employment and Activities
• Official Duty Activities With Outside Organizations
• Outside Employment/Activities
• Post Employment Restrictions
• Seeking Employment

References

• Ethics Forms Library
• Definition of Ethics Terms
• Policies & Procedures
• Reference Guides
• USDA Ethics Issuances

Related Sources of Information

• USDA Links
  
  • USDA Ethics Rules at a Glance
  • USDA Ethics Rules, Regulations, and Issuances
  • USDA Office of Ethics
  • USDA Online Ethics Training
  • USDA Post-employment Restrictions

• Office of Government Ethics
  
• Ethics Forms and Publications
• Ethics-Related Sections of 5CFR
• Home Page
• Title 18 USC
• What's New at OGE
  
  
• U.S. Office of Special Counsel

Last Updated: 04/04/2008