Summary

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO provided information on the Department of Defense's (DOD) regulation implementing conflict-of-interest provisions in the 1987 DOD authorizing legislation, which prohibits certain DOD procurement personnel from accepting compensation from major defense contractors for 2 years after leaving DOD.

GAO found that: (1) DOD revised early drafts of the regulation that limited coverage more than the act allowed; (2) a provision regarding part-time employees excludes those working less than 32 hours per week, but the act does not exempt part-time employees; (3) the regulation might not cover certain officials who participate in contract negotiations but do not have authority to obligate the federal government; and (4) the regulation would only cover the primary government representative in each major transaction and might not cover other involved personnel.