DHS, who posted the proposed rule in the Federal Register, seeks to supplement Office of Government Ethics rules introduced in 1992 and to prevent the possibility of conflicts of interest among its federal employees.
"Because DHS provides millions of dollars in grants and engages in enforcement, regulatory and security functions across a multitude of industry sectors, requiring prior approval is necessary to ensure that a reasonable person will not question the integrity of DHS programs and operations," the notice stated.
Additional restrictions were proposed for Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) employees. CBP and ICE employees must avoid certain activities related to immigration and agriculture and would be required to notify their supervisors if a spouse or dependent engaged in these activities. The proposed rule prohibits FEMA employees from working for FEMA contractors.
The rules are not finalized and DHS is accepting comments on the proposals. Comments can be submitted online at www.regulations.gov or emailed to ferne.mosley@dhs.gov with "Proposed DHS Supplemental Standards" in the subject line.
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