BASIC Act

Ban and transparency rules for SGEs

If enacted, this legislation would bar a special Government employee (SGE) from knowingly seeking, accepting, or agreeing to receive a covered Federal award from their own agency. A covered Federal award would mean a contract, grant, cooperative agreement, or similar award that gives the recipient more than $1,000,000 a year. The ban would also cover indirect awards given to close relatives or household members with the SGE's knowledge, and awards to organizations the SGE is affiliated with if the SGE helps or is paid from the award. The bill would exempt SGEs who only serve on advisory committees, SGEs with duties like GS-10 or lower, and student-only positions. Agencies would have to revise FAR part 3 and 2 CFR part 200 within 60 days and the Office of Government Ethics would issue guidance. Agencies would publish SGE position data, make most SGE financial disclosure reports filed after enactment public, and the Director would maintain a free online database of covered SGEs, days served, and why they were designated as SGEs.