Revocation of Executive Order 13770

This executive order revokes EO 13770, which had imposed ethics commitments on executive branch appointees including lobbying restrictions and gift bans. The revocation takes effect at noon on January 20, 2021, immediately releasing current and former employees from those obligations.

Federal Register Open PDF 86 FR 6835

Impact dates

Jan 20, 2021
EO 13770 revocation takes effect; appointees no longer subject to ethics commitments

Key directives

Revoke Executive Order 13770 effective at noon January 20, 2021
Release employees and former employees from commitments in EO 13770 after effective time

Timeline

Immediate

EO 13770 revoked
ethics commitments no longer binding on appointees and former appointees

Near term (90d)

—

Long term

—

Risks & tensions

Removes 5-year lobbying ban and gift restrictions for appointees leaving government
Creates asymmetry: appointees who left under Trump administration now freed from commitments while earlier/later appointees may face different rules
Timing on last full day of Trump presidency suggests procedural rather than substantive policy origin; Biden administration subsequently issued its own ethics EO