Partly public

Asset declarations in United States: who declares and whether it is public

Laws

Who must declare

The President and Vice President, executive branch employees in positions classified above GS-15, certain senior uniformed service members, Members and employees of Congress, federal judges and judicial employees, nominees to Senate-confirmed positions, and candidates for President, Vice President and Congress. Lower-level employees may file confidential reports under separate rules.^1,5

What is declared

Sources and value categories of income, gifts and travel reimbursements above set thresholds, assets held for investment or income above $1,000, liabilities above $10,000, purchases and sales of securities and property above $1,000, outside positions, and agreements on future employment or continued payments. Some information on the spouse and dependent children is included. Values are reported in ranges, not exact amounts.^2,5

How often

On entry (within 30 days of taking a covered position), annually on or before 15 May for the preceding year, on termination (within 30 days of leaving), on nomination, and periodic transaction reports within 30 days of notice and no later than 45 days after a covered transaction.^5,1

Public access

Public reports are available to any person on written application, within 30 days of receipt, and are kept for six years. The requester must state their identity and acknowledge prohibited uses, which include commercial use other than by news media, credit rating and solicitation. Reports of the President, Vice President and officials at Executive Pay Levels I and II are posted online by the Office of Government Ethics. Other public reports are obtained by request using OGE Form 201. Confidential reports filed by lower-level staff are not public.^4,6

Where to find declarations

Executive branch: U.S. Office of Government Ethics, Officials' Individual Disclosures search (https://www.oge.gov/web/OGE.nsf/Officials%20Individual%20Disclosures%20Search%20Collection?OpenForm), or OGE Form 201 to OGE or the employing agency. Congress and the judiciary file with their own offices under the same statute.^7,6

Who verifies

The employing agency's ethics official reviews and certifies reports, and the Office of Government Ethics provides a second-level review for Senate-confirmed nominees and certain senior White House officials.⁶

Sanctions in law

The Attorney General may seek a civil penalty of up to $50,000 against a person who knowingly and willfully falsifies or fails to file required information. Knowingly and willfully falsifying information is a criminal offence punishable by a fine, up to one year in prison, or both, and knowingly and willfully failing to file is punishable by a fine. Misuse of a report obtained from the public file carries a civil penalty of up to $10,000.^3,4

Checked 28 October 2026.

Sources

Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School (text of the U.S. Code), 5 U.S. Code 13103, Persons required to file
Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School (text of the U.S. Code), 5 U.S. Code 13104, Contents of reports
Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School (text of the U.S. Code), 5 U.S. Code 13106, Failure to file or filing false reports
Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School (text of the U.S. Code), 5 U.S. Code 13107, Custody of and public access to reports
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, 5 CFR Part 2634, Executive Branch Financial Disclosure, Qualified Trusts, and Certificates of Divestiture
U.S. Office of Government Ethics, FAQs, Public Financial Disclosure
U.S. Office of Government Ethics, U.S. Office of Government Ethics home page
Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School (text of the U.S. Code), 5 U.S. Code 13101, Definitions, with source credits