Revocation of Executive Order 12834

This executive order revokes President Clinton's ethics rules for executive branch appointees, eliminating post-employment lobbying restrictions and other ethics commitments that applied to political appointees. The revocation takes effect at noon on Inauguration Day 2001, when the new administration begins.

Federal Register Open PDF 66 FR 697

Impact dates

Jan 20, 2001
Revocation takes effect; ethics commitments cease

Key directives

Revoke Executive Order 12834 effective at noon January 20, 2001
Release employees and former employees from commitments in EO 12834 after effective date

Timeline

Immediate

Revocation takes effect at noon January 20, 2001
Ethics commitments in EO 12834 cease to apply

Near term (90d)

Outgoing Clinton appointees freed from post-employment lobbying restrictions
Incoming Bush appointees not bound by previous ethics pledge requirements

Long term

Precedent for incoming administrations to revoke predecessor ethics rules
Potential cyclical pattern of ethics regime changes with administrations

Risks & tensions

Removes cooling-off periods and lobbying restrictions for departing political appointees
Creates tension between anti-corruption norms and political transition prerogatives
Timing on Inauguration Day suggests coordinated handoff rather than policy reconsideration
Vague whether 'former employees' includes those who left before revocation date