Title 5Government Organization and EmployeesRelease 119-73

§13123 Administrative provisions

Title 5 › Part PART IV— - ETHICS REQUIREMENTS › Chapter CHAPTER 131— - ETHICS IN GOVERNMENT › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT ETHICS › § 13123

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

When the Director asks, every executive agency must help as much as it can. Agencies must make staff, services, and facilities available and, unless the law forbids it, give the Director any records or information needed to do the Director’s job. The Director may accept and use gifts, donations, property, use of facilities, or services for the Office of Government Ethics on behalf of the United States. The Director cannot accept gifts that conflict with laws or rules or that would require spending appropriated funds the Office does not have. The Director must write rules to decide whether a gift would harm or make the Office look biased or unfair.

Full Legal Text

Title 5, §13123

Government Organization and Employees — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Upon the request of the Director, each executive agency is directed to—
(1)make its services, personnel, and facilities available to the Director to the greatest practicable extent for the performance of functions under this chapter; and
(2)except when prohibited by law, furnish to the Director all information and records in its possession which the Director may determine to be necessary for the performance of the Director’s duties.
(b)(1)The Director is authorized to accept and utilize on behalf of the United States, any gift, donation, bequest, or devise of money, use of facilities, personal property, or services for the purpose of aiding or facilitating the work of the Office of Government Ethics.
(2)No gift may be accepted—
(A)that attaches conditions inconsistent with applicable laws or regulations; or
(B)that is conditioned upon or will require the expenditure of appropriated funds that are not available to the Office of Government Ethics.
(3)The Director shall establish written rules setting forth the criteria to be used in determining whether the acceptance of contributions of money, services, use of facilities, or personal property under this subsection would reflect unfavorably upon the ability of the Office of Government Ethics, or any employee of such Office, to carry out its responsibilities or official duties in a fair and objective manner, or would compromise the integrity or the appearance of the integrity of its programs or any official involved in those programs.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 131235 U.S.C. App. (EGA § 403)Pub. L. 95–521, title IV, § 403, Oct. 26, 1978, 92 Stat. 1863; Pub. L. 98–150, § 5, Nov. 11, 1983, 97 Stat. 960; Pub. L. 100–598, § 9, Nov. 3, 1988, 102 Stat. 3035; Pub. L. 104–179, § 2, Aug. 6, 1996, 110 Stat. 1566.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

5 U.S.C. § 13123

Title 5Government Organization and Employees

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73