Recommendations Contained in Report on Appropriate Limits of Participation by Former Agency Official in Matters Before Agency

GAO comments were requested on a report concerning the appropriate limits on participation by former agency officials in matters before agencies they previously served. The report was viewed favorably, particularly with regard to the question of whether the Government's policy on post-Federal employment should be based largely on a criminal statute. GAO agreed with the idea that a proper balance must be struck between the need to protect the public from officials with conflicting interests and the need to hire and retain the most qualified persons for Government service. The basic problem in this area, in the view of GAO, was a lack of information on which to make meaningful judgments concerning possible rules, regulations, standards, or statutes governing post-Federal employment. GAO has suggested that the Office of Government Ethics either monitor or establish an agency-implemented monitoring system to study post-Federal employment and define its characteristics and parameters. To help in the development of needed information in this area, GAO is in the process of examining the post-Federal employment activities of former employees of several agencies.