§ 0.735-15 - Misuse of employment or information.

(a) Use of Government employment. An employee shall not use his Government employment for a purpose that is, or gives the appearance of being, motivated by the desire for private gain for himself or another person, particularly one with whom he has family, business, or financial ties.

(b) Use of inside information. For the purpose of furthering a private interest, an employee shall not, except as provided in § 0.735-12(c), directly or indirectly use, or allow the use of, information which has been or has the appearance of having been obtained through or in connection with his Government employment and which has not been made available to the general public.

(c) Coercion. An employee shall not use his Government employment to coerce, or give the appearance of coercing, a person to provide financial benefit to himself or another person, particularly one with whom he has family, business, or financial ties.

(d) Disclosure of restricted information. No employee shall divulge restricted commercial or economic information, or restricted information concerning the personnel or operations of any Government agency, or release any such information in advance of the time prescribed for its authorized release.

(e) Discrimination. No employee, acting in his official capacity, shall, directly or indirectly, authorize, permit, or participate in any act or course of conduct which, on the ground of race, color, creed, national origin, or sex, excludes from participation, denies any benefit to, or otherwise subjects to discrimination any person under any program or activity administered or conducted by the Department or one of its units, or such employee. (See Department Order 195.)