United States Office of Government Ethics, Preventing Conflicts of Interest in the Executive Branch

Public Financial Disclosure

The Ethics in Government Act of 1978, as amended, requires senior officials in the executive, legislative and judicial branches to file public reports of their finances as well as other interests outside the Government. Executive branch personnel file such reports using the OGE Form 278e (previously the OGE Form 278) and the OGE Form 278-T. Unlike confidential financial statements filed by some mid-level employees, the OGE Form 278e and the OGE Form 278-T are available to the public.

Reviewing officials within each agency certify and maintain these reports. Agencies do, however, forward reports of Presidential appointees confirmed by the Senate and certain other reports to OGE for additional review and certification. Although a financial disclosure report sometimes reveals a violation of law or regulation, the primary purpose of disclosure is to assist agencies in identifying potential conflicts of interest between a filer's official duties and the filer's private financial interests and affiliations. If a reviewing official identifies a potential conflict of interest, several remedies are available to avoid an actual or apparent violation of Federal ethics laws and regulations.


Public Financial Disclosure Forms

You can download the following from the OGE Forms Library
  • OGE Form 278e (Excel and PDF versions)
    These versions of the OGE Form 278e, the Public Financial Disclosure Report, are for employees of those agencies that do not offer electronic filing.

  • OGE Form 278-T
    The OGE Form 278-T is used by employees within the executive branch who must file public periodic transaction reports.


Integrity
Integrity is an electronic financial disclosure system for preventing conflicts of interest.


Public Financial Disclosure Guide
The Public Financial Disclosure Guide is an interactive tool to assist individuals who file or review public financial disclosure reports (OGE Form 278e or OGE Form 278-T).


Helpful Resources for Public Financial Disclosure
OGE has developed numerous materials to assist both the employees who are required to file public financial disclosure reports and the ethics officials responsible for reviewing the forms.