**GAO-08-855**                      Published: Jul 30, 2008. Publicly Released: Jul 30, 2008.                  

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## Highlights

Congress has enacted post-government employment restrictions and foreign agent registration requirements with the objectives of protecting the U.S. government against the improper use of government information by former federal employees and ensuring the American people know the identity of persons trying to influence U.S. government policy in the United States on behalf of foreign entities. This report discusses (1) the extent to which selected agencies have information on the post-government employment activities of former senior federal employees who represent foreign principals and (2) the challenges the agencies face in enforcing these requirements. We reviewed federal ethics guidance, laws, and other documents, and interviewed officials at the Departments of State and the Treasury, the U.S. Agency for International Development and the U.S. Trade Representative.

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## Topics

Government Operations

Data collectionData integrityEmploymentExecutive agenciesFederal agenciesFederal employeesFederal regulationsForeign governmentsGovernment employeesInformation disclosureInternational cooperationInternational relationsLobbying activitiesNoncompliancePolicy evaluationPostemployment restrictionProfessional ethicsRecordsRecords managementReporting requirementsInformation securityAccess controlPolicies and proceduresProgram goals or objectives