What types of outside activities require prior approval?
This letter from OGE to a federal employee is intended to provide a broad outline of some of the restrictions on employees’ outside activities. The employee established a limited liability corporation (LLC) that performs computer systems security reviews and requested clarification as to whether he would be permitted to engage in outside consulting while employed by the federal government. The letter concludes that the proposed activities are within the scope of the relevant agency’s supplemental regulation and that he should therefore consult his DAEO to seek prior approval. Regardless of whether an agency has a supplemental regulation in this area, the letter notes that other limitations should be considered. First, the ethics standards, particularly 5 U.S.C. ยงยง 2635.802, 2635.402 and 2635.502, require an assessment of whether official and outside employment conflict in a way that would require disqualification from certain government matters. In addition, the Federal Acquisition Reg
