SEER Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 2894
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-04-10: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Last Updated
- 2026-01-14T05:05:16Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The SGE Ethics Enforcement Reform Act of 2025 aims to address ethical concerns with special Government employees (SGEs)—temporary or part-time federal workers who serve less than full-time. It seeks to reduce financial conflicts of interest, increase transparency through public disclosures and databases, and ensure SGEs in high-level roles follow stricter ethics rules similar to full-time employees. The bill targets issues like undisclosed business ties, overuse of SGE status for senior duties, and limited public oversight.
Key Provisions
- Expanded Conflict-of-Interest Rules (Amendments to 18 U.S.C. §§ 202 and 208):
- Clarifies the definition of an SGE to include only those officially designated as such on personnel forms.
- Applies conflict-of-interest prohibitions (under § 208) to SGEs not on advisory committees (or serving as chairs/vice chairs) even for smaller "components" of broader issues if their organization has a financial stake.
- Requires waivers for conflicts to be approved with input from the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) for SGEs and made publicly available online within 14 days for certain SGEs.
- Excludes advisory committee chairs/vice chairs from some exemptions.
- Restrictions on Communications (New Section):
- Bars SGEs (not on advisory committees or as chairs/vice chairs) from official communications with federal agencies that contract with, regulate, or enforce actions against "large companies" they own or lead as senior executives/directors.
- Defines "large company" as those with over $1 billion in average market cap/revenue (past 3 years), federal contractors with over $100 million in annual federal revenue, or those with monopolistic market control (as defined by OGE regulations).
- OGE must issue rules to implement this, including what counts as "ownership."
- Public Database for SGEs (Amendment to 5 U.S.C. § 1103):
- Requires OGE, in coordination with other offices, to create and maintain a free, searchable online database of "covered" SGEs (those not on advisory committees and not in low-level exempt positions).
- Database includes names, a running count of service days, and reasons for SGE designation (vs. full-time status).
- Financial Disclosure Requirements (Amendments to 5 U.S.C. §§ 13103 and 13109):
- Mandates public financial disclosure reports for SGEs not on advisory committees (or as chairs/vice chairs) and not in low-level, supervised roles (below GS-9 grade).
- Agency ethics officers must review exemption claims to ensure they apply correctly.
- Exempts most advisory committee members from public filing but requires online access for covered SGEs' reports under the STOCK Act.
- Full Ethics Rules Application (New Section):
- After 60 days of service in a 365-day period, all federal ethics rules apply to SGEs as if they were full-time employees.
- After 130 days, bans on outside compensation (18 U.S.C. § 209) and certain disclosure rules (5 U.S.C. Chapter 131, Subchapter III) fully apply, regardless of pay status.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Broadens Conflict Scope: Previously, § 208 only applied to "particular matters" (specific cases or issues); now it covers sub-components for certain SGEs, closing loopholes for broader conflicts.
- Enhances Transparency: Adds mandatory public waivers, a new SGE database, and public/online financial disclosures for high-level SGEs—unlike current rules where most SGEs file confidential reports.
- Limits SGE Flexibility: Enforces the 130-day annual service cap more strictly by triggering full-time ethics rules earlier (at 60 days) and applying compensation bans beyond it; previously, SGEs could sometimes exceed limits without full accountability.
- New Restrictions: Introduces communication bans tied to "large companies," which did not exist before, and requires OGE regulations for enforcement.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Increases administrative burdens for ethics reviews, waiver approvals, and database maintenance; may limit use of SGEs for senior roles, pushing agencies toward full-time hires or stricter vetting.
- On Citizens/Public: Boosts transparency by making SGE identities, finances, and conflicts more accessible online, helping monitor potential undue influence from business interests; could build public trust in government ethics.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though it may indirectly affect U.S. regulatory or contracting processes involving foreign-linked "large companies," potentially slowing decisions in international trade/enforcement.
- No major economic effects noted, but could deter business executives from SGE roles due to disclosure and communication limits.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Special Government Employees: Face stricter conflict rules, mandatory disclosures, service limits, and communication bans, especially those in senior or business-tied roles.
- Executive Branch Agencies: Must comply with new tracking, reviews, and OGE coordination; advisory committees may see fewer high-profile SGEs.
- Office of Government Ethics (OGE): Gains responsibilities for regulations, waiver concurrences, and database management.
- Congress and Oversight Committees: Benefits from findings on SGE misuse and public notifications, aiding future reforms.
- Public and Watchdog Groups: Empowered by accessible data to scrutinize conflicts.
- Large Companies and Executives: Potentially restricted from influencing agencies via SGE employees/owners.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens enforcement of existing ethics statutes (e.g., §§ 208, 209) without creating new crimes, but expands their reach; relies on OGE rulemaking, which could face challenges if seen as overreach. Ensures due process via ethics officer reviews for exemptions.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Article I's ethics oversight by Congress; promotes transparency under First Amendment principles by facilitating public access to government info, without restricting speech.
- Political: Highlights executive branch practices (e.g., undisclosed high-level SGE use), potentially pressuring administrations to justify SGE appointments; bipartisan sponsorship (Democrats) may spark debates on revolving-door issues between government and industry, influencing future ethics legislation. No overt partisan bias in text, focusing on systemic reforms.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1]
Cosponsors (4)
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8], Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]
Recent Actions
- 2025-04-10: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-04-10: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-04-10: Introduced in House
- 2025-04-10: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- SGE Ethics Enforcement Reform Act of 2025 — issued 2025-04-10 — PDF (10 pages)