H.R. 391House116th Congress (2019-2021)In Committee

White House Ethics Transparency Act of 2019

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Updated April 14, 2026 at 12:23 AM UTC

The White House Ethics Transparency Act of 2019 requires that any waiver or authorization that exempts a senior White House or executive‑branch appointee from the ethics rules in Executive Order 13770 be made public. Within 30 days, the issuing officer must send a written copy to the Office of Government Ethics and post it on the employee’s agency website. The Office of Government Ethics must then post the waiver on its own website within 14 days. The rule applies retroactively to waivers issued from Jan. 20, 2017, onward and covers most senior non‑career presidential and vice‑presidential appointees, SES and Schedule C staff, but not senior foreign‑service or uniformed officers.

Key Provisions

Issuing officers must transmit a written copy of any ethics waiver or authorization to the Director of the Office of Government Ethics within 30 days and post it on the employee’s agency website.
The Office of Government Ethics must publish the received waiver on its website within 14 days of receipt.
The requirements apply retroactively to waivers issued between Jan. 20, 2017 and the law’s enactment, with compliance due 30 days after enactment.
Defines “covered employee” as full‑time, non‑career presidential or vice‑presidential appointees, senior executive service members, and Schedule C or similar policy‑making positions, excluding senior foreign‑service members and uniformed officers.

Legislative Activity

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HouseCommittee Latest Action

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 23 - 16.

Oversight and Government Reform Committee

June 12, 2019

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

January 9, 2019

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.

Oversight and Government Reform Committee

January 9, 2019

HouseCommittee

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

Oversight and Government Reform Committee

June 12, 2019

HouseCommittee

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 23 - 16.

Oversight and Government Reform Committee

June 12, 2019

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued January 9, 2019

116th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 391

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 9, 2019

Mr. Lynch (for himself and Mr. Cummings) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform

A BILL

To provide transparency regarding waivers granted to individuals from the ethics requirements of Executive Order 13770 or any subsequent similar order, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the White House Ethics Transparency Act of 2019.

Procedure for waivers and authorizations relating to ethics requirements

(a)

In general

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, not later than 30 days after an officer or employee issues or approves a waiver or authorization pursuant to section 3 of Executive Order 13770 (82 Fed. Reg. 9333), or any subsequent similar order, such officer or employee shall—

(1)

transmit a written copy of such waiver or authorization to the Director of the Office of Government Ethics; and

(2)

make a written copy of such waiver or authorization available to the public on the website of the employing agency of the covered employee.

(b)

Retroactive application

In the case of a waiver or authorization described in subsection (a) issued during the period beginning on January 20, 2017, and ending on the date of enactment of this Act, the issuing officer or employee of such waiver or authorization shall comply with the requirements of paragraphs (1) and (2) of such subsection not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act.

(c)

Office of Government Ethics public availability

Not later than 14 days after receiving a written copy of a waiver or authorization under subsection (a)(1), the Director of the Office of Government Ethics shall make such waiver or authorization available to the public on the website of the Office of Government Ethics.

(d)

Definition of covered employee

In this section, the term covered employee—

(1)

means a full-time, non-career Presidential or Vice Presidential appointee, non-career appointee in the Senior Executive Service (or other SES-type system), or an appointee to a position that has been excepted from the competitive service by reason of being of a confidential or policymaking character (Schedule C and other positions excepted under comparable criteria) in an executive agency; and

(2)

does not include any individual appointed as a member of the Senior Foreign Service or solely as a uniformed service commissioned officer.