Politics

Forgoing a government salary may seem like a noble choice, and in some cases it can be. But it can also be a way to take advantage of loopholes in our government ethics laws. Under 18 U.S.C. § 209, most government employees are prohibited from earning money from non-governmental sources. This is a commonsense ethics law that helps prevent conflicts of interest and corruption opportunities that arise when a government employee has private business ties. But the law creates exceptions from some ethics rules for Special Government Employees and other employees who are not taking a salary from the government. This means that if a White House employee forgoes their salary, they can earn outside income while working in powerful roles.

During Trump’s first term, this loophole enabled Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump to work in the White House while earning millions from outside sources, creating massive conflicts of interest. While Jared and Ivanka may not officially be serving in the White House this term, it seems like others in the Trump Administration have followed their lead by not accepting a White House salary and potentially continuing to earn non-governmental income, creating potential conflicts of interest.