Representations to the Government

The criminal law (18 USC 205) prohibits employees from representing a non-Federal party, with or without compensation, before any Federal agency or court on any particular matter in which the United States is a party or has a direct and substantial interest, such as a Government proceeding, application, contract, claim, rulemaking, or investigation. A similar statute (18 USC 203) prohibits employees from receiving any compensation for representational services by the employee or anyone else to a Federal agency or court on a particular Government matter.

Example: An NRC employee could not write to the NRC or any other Federal agency on behalf of a private organization to urge approval of its grant application, even if the employee were not receiving any fee for this service. It also makes no difference that the organization is a charity in which the employee has no financial interest or holds no office.

Page Last Reviewed/Updated Thursday, March 12, 2020