1

WHITE PAPER

APPLICATION OF THE EMOLUMENTS CLAUSE TO DoD CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES 

AND MILITARY PERSONNEL

INTRODUCTION

In 1787, the Founding Fathers, concerned about the possibility of undue influence caused 

by foreign governments providing gifts to United States ambassadors, included a provision in the 

U.S. Constitution that prohibits Federal personnel from accepting compensated positions with a 

foreign state or from accepting any items of value -- such as travel and gifts -- from a foreign 

government, except as authorized by Congress. This little known provision, the “Emoluments 

Clause,” is still in effect today and applies to Federal civilian employees and active-duty military 

personnel. It also applies to retired military officers and enlisted personnel from the active and 

reserve components including military officers, enlisted retirees and retired Reservists. Ethics 

counselors advising DoD personnel need to understand the Emoluments Clause, especially when 

advising retiring military personnel.

This paper explains how the U.S. Constitution’s Emoluments Clause applies to DoD

personnel. Specifically, the paper: (1) introduces the Emoluments Clause; (2) describes the 

categories of DoD employees to which the Clause applies; (3) identifies common payments 

subject to the Emoluments Clause; (4) summarizes the types of entities that are considered 

“foreign states;” (5) outlines the requirement and process for receiving advance approval before 

accepting an emolument from a foreign government; (6) describes the penalty for violating the 

Emoluments Clause, along with the debt collection procedures that are followed in situations of 

noncompliance; and (7) describes the waiver process and appeal rights for situations where 

Federal personnel may have unwittingly accepted an emolument without prior approval. Finally, 

the paper explores several related issues that may arise once an employee obtains consent to 

receive an emolument.

DISCUSSION

I. The Emoluments Clause, U. S. Constitution

The Emoluments Clause, U.S. Constitution, Art. I § 9, cl. 8 states: 

No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding 

any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the 

Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind 

whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.
2

Without the consent of Congress, an individual who holds an "Office of Profit or Trust"1in the 

Government may not accept a compensated position (an “emolument”) from a foreign state

unless Congressional consent is obtained. When Congressional consent is obtained, no violation 

of the Constitution occurs.

“Emoluments” is defined as “the profit arising from office or employment; that which is 

received as a compensation for services, or which is annexed to the possession of office as

salary, fees, and perquisites; advantage; gain, public or private,” except as authorized by 

Congress.2 Thus, for example compensation3in the form of honoraria, travel expenses, 

household goods shipments at employer’s expense, housing allowances, and gifts from a foreign 

state, except as authorized by Congress, are considered emoluments. As a result, most federal 

personnel, including retired military personnel, cannot accept outside compensated employment 

with, or receive gifts in excess of the minimal value from, a foreign government.4 

Significantly, the Constitution provides an exception to this absolute ban on receipt of 

foreign gifts by authorizing Congress to consent to certain activities, gifts or honors through 

legislation. An example of Congressional consent is set forth in the Foreign Gifts and 

Decorations Act5. This statute permits all Federal personnel6to accept certain gifts from a 

foreign government: (1) a gift of “minimal value” or less (as of publication date, minimal value 

is $375); (2) travel paid for by a foreign government, provided that none of the travel takes place 

 

1

 See Application of the Emoluments Clause of the Constitution and the Foreign Gifts and 

Decorations Act, 6 Op. O.L.C. 156, 158, February 24, 1982 (see footnote 4, infra)

2 Black’s Law Dictionary, 2nd Edition.

3

“Emolument” has been interpreted to include compensation for employment. See, e.g., 40 Op. 

Atty. Gen. 513 (1947). DoD Financial Management Regulation (FMR) Vol. 7B, Ch. 5, 050304, 

at pp. 5-6 defines “compensation.” 

4

See footnote 4, infra. 

5

5 U.S.C. § 7342

6 Note that 5 U.S.C. § 7342 covers all civilian appointees appointed under 5 U.S.C § 2105 and all 

members of the uniformed services. See 6 Op. O.L.C. 156, 157-58 (1982) (accepting Congress’ 

assumption that the Emoluments Clause applies to “any employee” who takes a gift from a 

foreign government). See discussion at II.
3

leaving from or coming back to the United States;7(3) meals provided by a foreign government; 

and (4) lodging provided by a foreign government overseas.8 

Congress’ consent is also set forth at 37 U.S.C. § 908, “Employment of Reserves and 

Retired Members by Foreign Governments.” Retired members of the uniformed services and 

reservists may accept compensated civil employment from a foreign government if they obtain 

advance approval from both the Service and the Secretary of State. 

Congress also provided statutory consent for retired military members of the armed 

forces to accept employment by, or hold an office in, the military forces of a newly democratic 

nation9provided advance approval is obtained.10

 Is An Honorific Title an Emolument? 

DoD personnel may accept an “honorific” title from a foreign government provided: (i) he or 

she has no duties that must be performed for the foreign government that are connected to the 

title and (ii) he or she obtains advance approval to accept the honorific title from the head of the 

component consistent with DoD Directive 1005.13 . Provided these conditions are met, then 

receipt of the honorific tile would not be considered a violation of the Emoluments Clause to the 

Constitution. For example, a DoD employee was offered the title of Honorary member of the 

Department of the Army for Bolivia. The employee is not from Bolivia, and did not perform any 

work for the Bolivian government. In this instance, the employee may accept the honorific title 

provided he or she receives advance approval from the head of the component.

II. Who is Covered by the Emoluments Clause?

Only those persons holding an “Office of Profit or Trust” under the United States are 

subject to the Constitution’s Emoluments Clause.

Civilian Employees

The Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) has opined that the term 

"Office of Profit or Trust" includes all full-time Federal employees.11 It further concluded that 

 

7

In other words, travel expenses may be paid by a foreign state only for travel which originates 

and ends outside of the U.S.

8 See 5 U.S.C. § 7342.

9

(10 U.S.C. § 1060)

10 (See infra Section IV(d))

11 See 6 Op. O.L.C., 156, 158 (1982)
4

the problem of divided loyalties can arise at any management level in the Government. Indeed 

OLC pointed out that Congress presumes that the Emoluments Clause applies to all Federal 

personnel because it enacted the Foreign Gifts and Decorations Act which applies to all Federal 

personnel in the Federal Government.

12

 At DoD, this includes all civilian appointees.

Military Personnel

Like their civilian counterparts, active-duty military personnel (officers and enlisted 

members) hold an “Office of Profit or Trust,” and are therefore subject to the Emoluments 

Clause.13 

Significantly, retired regular military officers are also subject to the Emoluments Clause 

because they are subject to recall, and, therefore, hold an “Office of Profit or Trust” under the 

Emoluments Clause.14 Retired regular military enlisted personnel are subject to the 

Emoluments Clause for the same reason as retired regular military officers.15 Finally, reservists

are also subject to the Emoluments Clause, even after reservists complete the requisite number of 

years to be eligible for retired pay and are transferred to inactive status.

16

 

III. Types of Employment That May Involve an “Emolument:” Traps for the 

Unwary

As noted above, an emolument includes compensation or other items of value. Whereas 

foreign travel, meals and lodging may present straightforward issues under the Emoluments 

Clause, other situations are less obvious, especially where the retired military member has not 

personally provided representational services to a foreign government. There are several types 

of scenarios in which an employee will be deemed to have received an “emolument” where the 

payment is indirectly received from a foreign state. Such scenarios include consulting, law, or 

other partnership distributions, as well as payments (such as salary) from domestic professional 

 

12

 Id.

13 See generally Applicability of the Emoluments Clause to Employment of Government 

Employees by Foreign Public Universities, 18 Op. O.L.C. 13, 18 (March 1, 1994). 

14 See Applicability of 18 U.S.C. § 219 to Retired Foreign Service Officers, 11 Op. O.L.C. 67 

(1987), footnotes 5 and 6. 

15 See Comptroller General to the Secretary of the Navy, 44 Comp. Gen. 227 (1964).

16 37 U.S.C. § 908. This statute requires advance approval before accepting an emolument from 

a foreign government “by members of a reserve component of the armed forces.” Other military 

members that may obtain advance approval under this statute include “retired members of the 

uniformed services.” Note that active duty military members may not obtain advance approval 

under this statute.
5

other partnership distributions, as well as payments (such as salary) from domestic professional 

corporations. Federal personnel, especially retired military personnel, need to be aware of these 

potential traps for the unwary. 

Partnership Distributions 

Query: Does a retired military officer violate the Emoluments Clause by becoming a 

partner in a large U.S. law firm and accepting pro rata partnership profits that include 

representation of foreign government clients? Yes. OLC has opined that this would violate the 

Emoluments Clause. 

Accepting a share of partnership profits is considered an emolument where some portion 

of the share is derived from the partnership’s representation of a foreign government.17 OLC has 

determined that because the partnership would “be a conduit” for that foreign government 

payment, a portion of the recipient’s income could be attributed to a foreign government. This is 

so even if the individual subject to the Emoluments Clause did not actually provide services to 

the foreign government. In other words, a distribution from a partnership that includes some 

proportionate share of revenues generated from the partnership's foreign government clients is an 

emolument.18 We believe that this same rationale applies to distributions from limited liability 

corporations although this view has not been officially sanctioned by the Department of Justice

 Payments from a Professional Corporation

The Emoluments Clause also applies to payments received by a professional corporation for 

services rendered to a foreign government. The Comptroller General found that retired Marine 

Corps lawyers, who were “of counsel” to a law firm that had been formed as a professional 

corporation (PC), were subject to the Clause if they represented a foreign government.19 The 

Comptroller General concluded that the law firm’s incorporation did not shield these former 

officers from the applicability of the Clause. While the monies from the foreign government 

would be paid to the PC, these attorneys would benefit from the payments. The opinion states

that “where equity dictates, the corporate entity will be disregarded, for example, where there is 

such interest and ownership that the separate personalities of the corporation and its shareholders 

no longer exist.”20 In addition, the Comptroller General pointed out that the attorneys’ loyalty 

was to their client directly, so the structure of the professional corporation did not shield the 

 

17 Applicability of the Emoluments Clause to Non-Government Members of the Administrative 

Conference of the United States (ACUS), 17 Op. O.L.C. 114, at 120 (October 28, 1993).

18 Id. 

19 Matter of Retired Marine Corps Officers, Comp. Gen. B-217096 (Mar. 11, 1985) (1985 Comp. 

Gen. Lexis 1483).

20 Id.
6

attorneys from the Emoluments Clause. The retired Marine Corps lawyers were required to 

obtain consent under 37 U.S.C. § 908 if they wanted to represent the foreign government. 

IV. What is a “Foreign State?”

Except as authorized by Congress, the Emoluments Clause prohibits covered personnel

from accepting a position with, or an emolument from, any king, prince, or “foreign state.” A 

foreign state includes any organization that is owned or operated by a foreign government, 

including federal, regional and local level governments. Both OLC and the Comptroller General 

have opined that the term “foreign state” in the Emoluments Clause applies to both national 

governments and to sub-national governmental units.21 Thus, foreign governmental entities, 

such as commercial entities owned or controlled by a foreign government and foreign public 

universities controlled by a foreign government, can be considered instrumentalities of “foreign 

states” for purposes of the Emoluments Clause. 

Foreign Corporation

In general, business corporations owned or controlled by foreign governments are 

considered part of a foreign state for purposes of the Emoluments Clause.22 By contrast, the 

Emoluments Clause does not apply to privately-owned foreign corporations. 

OLC has articulated several factors to consider when assessing whether a foreign entity 

should be deemed a “foreign state” for purposes of the Emoluments Clause.23 

These factors include: (1) whether a foreign government has an active role in the management of 

the decision–making entity; (2) whether a foreign government, as opposed to a private 

 

21 See Memorandum Opinion For Assistant General Counsel for the Department of Commerce 

from Daniel Koffsky, Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Office of Legal Counsel, Applicability 

of the Emoluments Clause and the Foreign Gifts and Decorations Act to the Goteborg Award for 

Sustainable Development (“Goteborg Award”) 34 Op. O.L.C. at 3 (Oct. 6, 2010); Foreign 

Public Universities, 18 Op. O.L.C. 13, 19 (noting that “foreign state” should include any political 

governing entity within that foreign state)(March 1, 1994); Major James D. Dunn, B-251084, 

1993 WL 426335, at *3 (Comp. Gen. Oct. 12, 1993). 

22 Applicability of the Emoluments Clause to Non-Government Members of the American 

Conference of the United States (ACUS), 17 Op. O.L.C. 114, at 121 (1993).

23 See Goteborg Award, 34 Op. O.L.C. at 3 (October 6, 2010) (neither the Emoluments Clause 

nor the Foreign Gifts and Decorations Act barred an employee of NOAA from accepting the 

2010 Goteborg Award on Sustainable Development because the award was not from a king, 

prince, or foreign state). 
7

intermediary, makes the ultimate decision regarding the gift or emolument; and (3) whether a 

foreign government is a substantial source of funding for the entity.24 

DoD Financial Management Regulation: What Constitutes Foreign Control 

One way to show foreign control is through an employer-employee relationship. At 

DoD, to determine whether an employer-employee relationship exists between the retired 

military member and a foreign government, DoD relies upon the DoD Financial Management 

Regulation 7000.14-R (DoD FMR) which implements the Clause. DoD FMR 7000.14-R 

provides that the employment analysis will follow the common law rules of agency. The 

analysis involves the evaluation of the following factors:

the selection and engagement of the employee;

the payment of wages;

the power to discharge;

the power to control the employee’s conduct; and

the relationship of the work to the employer’s business, whether the work is a

part of the regular business of the employer.

DoD FMR Vol. 7B 5-5 to 5-6. The regulation further provides that the “decisive test” is whether 

the employer has “the right to control and direct the employee in the performance of his or her 

work and in the manner in which the work is to be done.” 25

a. Foreign Public University

Payments from a foreign public university influenced or controlled by a foreign 

government may be a prohibited emolument.

26

 OLC opinions addressing whether the 

Emolument Clause extends to foreign public universities have come to contrary conclusions 

depending on the facts. The key for OLC has been the extent of influence or control by the 

foreign government. OLC reasoned that improper “influence” occurs when the foreign 

government, and not the university, is making the payment. OLC explained that “control” is 

based on whether the foreign government selects the faculty members. OLC enumerated two 

factors to be considered in determining when a foreign government influences or controls a 

university: 1) whether a foreign government, as opposed to a private intermediary, makes the 

ultimate decision regarding the gift or emolument; and 2) whether a foreign government has an 

 

24 Goteborg Award, p. 3.

25 DoD FMR Vol. 7B 5-5 to 5-6. 

26 ACUS, 17 Op. O.L.C. 114, at 121-22. 
8

active role in the management of the entity, such as choosing the faculty or the Board of 

Governors.

27

By contrast, for example, OLC opined that two NASA scientists could teach at the 

University of Canada without violating the Emoluments Clause. OLC concluded that evidence 

clearly demonstrated that the University acted independently from the Canadian Government, 

and the University selected its own faculty members independent from the Canadian 

government.28 Similarly, a Federal officer serving as a consultant at Harvard on a project funded 

by the Government of Indonesia did not violate the Clause because the Indonesian Government 

had no veto power over Harvard’s selection of consultants. In other words, Indonesia funded a 

Harvard study. Harvard selected a Federal employee who also was a consultant to Harvard. 

Harvard determined which consultant would participate in the project. The Indonesian 

Government never took part in the selection or rejection of the consultant; rather, it just provided 

funding to Harvard for the study. Because Harvard selected the Federal employee, and the 

Indonesian Government did not select or reject whom Harvard offered, the Federal employee 

was not considered to have violated the Emoluments Clause.29 In sum, the foreign public 

university is generally considered part of a foreign state unless there is evidence that the 

university is independent of the foreign government on decisions regarding the terms and 

conditions of faculty appointments, and it is clear that the gift given is from the university and 

not from the foreign government. 

b. Consultant to a Foreign Government 

OLC also focuses on “control” for purposes of determining if an employee is subject to 

the Clause when he or she consults for a foreign government. Ultimate control is exercised when 

a foreign government selects the consultant. For example, the Government of Mexico 

specifically wanted a Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) employee to serve as a consultant 

on a project.30 Knowing that paying him directly could be a problem, the Mexican Government 

hired a consulting firm, and requested that the Federal employee be hired by the consulting firm

for the sole purpose of providing consulting services to the Mexican Government. OLC 

concluded that, in this instance, the “ultimate control, including selection of personnel, remains 

with the Mexican government. That is because the principal reason for the Mexican government 

 

27 Applicability of the Emoluments Clause and the Foreign Gifts and Decorations Act to the 

President’s Receipt of the Nobel Peace Prize, December 7, 2009 (“Nobel”).

28 Applicability of Emoluments Clause to Employment of Government Employees by Foreign 

Public Universities (“Public University”), 18 Op. O.L.C. 13 (1994)

29 Nobel at page 9.

30 6 Op. O.L.C 156 (1982).
9

to hire the consulting firm was the selection of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s 

employee.” Therefore, OLC concluded that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission employee

would violate the Emoluments Clause if he served as a consultant in this circumstance.

31

 Note 

that Congress has not provided the option of advance approval for the career NRC employee. 

By contrast, as discussed above, the Indonesian government paid Harvard for consulting 

services without selecting or rejecting any consultant Harvard assigned to the project. Harvard 

assigned the project to the Federal employee who happened also to be a consultant to Harvard. 

Because the Indonesian government did not select or reject the consultant who provided 

consulting services to Harvard, OLC concluded that the Federal employee did not violate the 

Clause because the Indonesian government had no veto power over Harvard’s selection of 

consultants.32 

c. International Organizations

OLC has concluded that the Emoluments Clause does not apply to emoluments from 

international organizations such as the World Bank, the United Nations, and other entities in 

which the United States is a member because those organizations are not deemed to be “foreign 

governments.”

33

 OLC reached that conclusion by making four points. First, the United States 

could not be a member of a “foreign state.” Second the organization in which the United States 

is a member plays an important role in carrying out United States foreign policy. Third, the 

United States actually participates in the governance of the organization and undertakes a 

leadership role in its decision-making. Finally, OLC reasoned that because Congress approved 

participation by the United States in the World Bank, employment of government employees by 

the organization would not directly raise the concerns about divided loyalty that the Emoluments 

Clause was designed to address. By contrast, OLC advised that the Emoluments Clause would 

prohibit employees from receiving a salary or a gift from an international organization in which 

the U.S. is not a member because that organization could be considered a foreign state when 

none of the four points above would be applicable and there is evidence of foreign government 

control.

d. Newly Democratic Nations

Finally, a retired military member may be able to work for a “newly democratic nation”

without violating the Emoluments Clause, but must comply with 10 U.S.C. § 1060, which also

 

31 6 Op.O.L.C. 156, 158 (1982).

32 Nobel at 9. 

33 Memorandum for John E. Huerta, General Counsel, Smithsonian Institution. from Daniel 

Koffsky, Acting Assistant Attorney General, May 24, 2001.
10

requires advance approval from the Service Secretary and the Secretary of State. This statute 

does not extend to non-retired Reservists.34 

V. Getting Advance Approval for an Emolument from a Foreign Government

If current personnel violate the Emoluments Clause by accepting a salary, payment or gift 

in excess of the minimal value from a foreign state, they would be subject to debt collection 

procedures. That is because the Congress has not consented to current employees’ accepting 

such foreign payments or gifts. By contrast, Congress has consented to permitting retired 

military personnel to accept foreign state salary, payment or gifts in excess of the minimal value 

provided that advance approval is obtained from the Service Secretary and the Department of 

State.

35

 

The process for obtaining advance approval is slightly different for each of the Services 

and requires contacting specific components within each Service as follows: 

a. Air Force

The Department of the Air Force Instruction, AFI 36-2913, Request for Approval of 

Foreign Government Employment (19 Nov. 2003), provides guidance and explicitly requires 

advance approval from the Secretary of the Air Force and the Secretary of State for military 

retirees to accept an emolument. To request advance approval, contact:

AFPC/DPSOR

550 C Street West 

Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, TX 78150-4739 

Telephone: COM 210-565-2461 or DSN 665-2461

 

b. Army

An Army regulation36governs the need for and process by which a military retiree should 

obtain advance approval before working for a foreign government.37 

To request advance approval, contact: 

 

34 See 0505 of Volume 7B, of Chapter 5, http://www.defenselink.mil/comptroller/fmr/07b/index.html (last 

viewed on September 10, 2012).

35 37 U.S.C. 908.

36 AR 600-291.

37 See http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/r600_291.pdf(last viewed on September 10, 2012).
11

U.S. Army Human Resources Command

ATTN: AHRC-PDR 

1600 Spearhead Division Avenue

Department 420

Fort Knox, KY 40122-5402

Telephone: 502-613-8980

c. Navy

The Department of the Navy has no pertinent instruction. However, in 1981, then-Navy 

Secretary Lehman delegated authority to the Chief of Naval Personnel (CNP) to act on requests

from Navy retirees to accept emoluments from foreign governments. The delegation letter 

provides some guidance on how the Navy will process requests. When the Navy receives an 

inquiry, it provides a questionnaire to the requesting individual. Then, after reviewing the 

request, Navy counsel makes a recommendation to CNP. If CNP approves, the Navy transmits 

the matter to the State Department (Political/Military) for a final determination. To seek advance 

approval, a retired Navy member should submit a written request to:

Navy Personnel Command, Office of Legal Counsel (Pers-OOL)

Naval Support Facility Arlington 

701 South Courthouse Road, Room 4T035 

Arlington, VA 22204

(703) 604-0443

The request should contain a full description of the contemplated employment and the nature and 

extent of the involvement of the foreign government. 

d. Marines

Like the Navy, the Marine Corps has no specific instruction providing guidance on receipt of 

emoluments from foreign governments, but in keeping with the Navy guidance, the retired 

Marine is well-served by providing a full description of the contemplated employment and the 

nature and extent of the involvement of the foreign government. A retired Marine Corps 

member seeking advance approval for a payment from a foreign government should write to:

Judge Advocate Division (JAR)

Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps 

3000 Marine Corps Pentagon

Washington, DC 20350-3000

Telephone: 703-614-2510 
12

VI. Government Remedy for Failure to Obtain Advance Consent

The Government’s remedy when an employee accepts an emolument from a foreign state 

without consent varies depending upon the circumstances. 

a. Remedies

Generally, compensation received from a foreign government without advance approval

is deemed an “erroneous payment,” a payment that is not in compliance with applicable laws and 

regulations. Such an erroneous payment creates a debt in favor of the Government. Specifically, 

the DoD Financial Management Regulation38 explains how the Emoluments Clause applies to 

retired military personnel. “[I]f the compensation received from a foreign government without 

approval is considered received by the retired member for the United States, a debt in favor of 

the Federal Government is created which is to be collected by withholding from retired pay.”39 

The Comptroller General of the United States has issued opinions regarding debt 

collection when an employee accepts an emolument from a foreign government. For example, if 

the employee who accepts an emolument from a foreign government without consent is a retired 

military member, the Comptroller found that the Government can suspend the member’s

retirement pay up to the amount of the foreign salary (or other emoluments) received if the 

foreign salary is less than or equal to his retirement pay.

40

 By contrast, when the compensation 

earned during the period of unauthorized employment with a foreign state exceeds the amount of 

retired pay accrued during the same period, only the retired pay amount may be collected during 

the period of the violation.

41

 

In one particular case, a retired Marine major went to work for an American corporation, 

Frank E. Basil, Inc., where he served as an instructor for the Royal Saudi Naval Forces by way of 

an employment agreement with Frank E. Basil, Inc. Even though the retired officer was working 

 

38 (FMR) Volume 7B, Chapter 5 (June 2011).

39 FMR, Chapter 5, Section 0503.

40 65 Comp. Gen. 382 (1986, affirmed in 1990).

41 See Comp. Gen. Op., B-193562 (the penalty imposed on a retired officer who violated the 

Emoluments Clause was suspension of military pay at the time the violation occurred, but not the 

payments from the foreign government). See also Comp.Gen. Op., B-251084 (applying the same 

remedy). Also, see the DoD Financial Management Regulation (FMR), Vol. 7B, Ch. 13. Note 

that loss of citizenship may occur if an oath is taken to uphold allegiance to the foreign state by a 

Federal employee (Coast Guard employee agreed to teach a course in Tasmania while still a US 

employee on leave, but did not take the foreign oath so did not lose citizenship). Comp Gen B1542132 (December 28, 1964) and DoD FMR Vol. 7B, Ch. 6
13

for an American corporation, and had an employment agreement with the corporation, the 

Marine Corps found that the Saudi Arabian Government could control and direct him and then

pay him for his services. The agreement specifically stated that the Saudi Arabian government 

may direct the employee. The Marine Corps suspended the retired member’s retirement pay. 

The Comptroller General agreed with the Marine Corps view that the American corporation was 

just a shell or sham, and that the Saudi government’s payments to the shell corporation went

directly to the former retiree for work he performed on behalf of the Saudis. The Comptroller 

General advised the retired member to seek approval under 37 U.S.C. § 908 if he desired to have 

his retirement pay resumed.42 

Similarly, in another case,

43 a regular retired officer was employed and paid by a U.S. 

corporation, which then assigned him to work for Israeli Aircraft Industries (IAI), an 

instrumentality of the Government of Israel. It was shown that the U.S. corporation was, in 

effect, merely an employment agency that procured personnel for IAI. The Comptroller General 

concluded that the officer and IAI had an employee-employer relationship and that IAI had the 

right to exercise supervision and control over the retired military officer. The Comptroller 

General opined that the retired officer’s retired pay should be withheld until such time as the 

withholdings equaled the amount of foreign salary received since the foreign salary was less than 

the retired military pay. 

b. DoD Debt Collection Procedures

1. Army 

The Department of the Army’s Deputy General Counsel for Fiscal and Ethics Law works 

with Army Financial Management Command to establish the debt incurred by accepting the 

emolument. That information is then sent to the Defense Finance and Accounting Agency 

(DFAS). DFAS can waive a portion or all of the debt per AR 37-104-4, paragraph 32-6 e(3). 

The regulation can be found on the web.

44

2. Air Force, Navy and Marines

These Services do not have separate instructions or regulations for debt collection. 

Rather, these Services follow the debt collection procedures in the DoD FMR, Chapter 28. 

 

42 65 Comp. Gen. 382 (1986).

43 53 Comp. Gen. 753 (1974).

44 http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/r37_104_4.pdf (last viewed on September 28, 2012).
14

Any debt collection of up to $10,000 is handled by the Defense Finance and Accounting 

Agency (DFAS).45 Any debts in excess of $10,000 (up to any amount) are handled by the 

Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals (DOHA). Regardless of the amount of the debt, all 

cases must go through DFAS because DFAS prepares information that DOHA would need if the 

debt is in excess of $10,000. DFAS debt collection procedures are set forth in Chapter 28 of the 

FMR. DFAS must receive notice of the debt, which would be the obligation incurred for 

violating the Clause. Consistent with Chapter 5, the debt submission to DFAS should include, in 

practice, the elements for determining if a violation has occurred: selection and engagement of 

the employee, payment of wages, power to discharge, power to control the employee’s conduct 

and the relationship of the work to the employer’s business. After it receives information about 

the debt, DFAS has five days to notify the debtor about the debt. The debtor then becomes 

subject to the due process procedures set forth at section 2805 of the FMR. The collection 

procedures for DFAS are set forth in chapters 2806 and 2807. 

VII. Waiver or Appeal of the Debt Collection Decision

a. Waivers

What if a retired military member did not know about the Emoluments Clause and has 

already accepted post-Government employment with a foreign-owned company? What if a

retired military member asked for advice about an upcoming foreign trip but was misinformed by 

his ethics official? In these types of scenarios, an individual may seek a waiver of the debt 

resulting from the erroneous payment and, in some circumstances, a waiver may be granted. 

Good faith and ignorance of the law are not defenses.46 However, equitable waiver of 

indebtedness may be granted in certain circumstances. 

For example, the Comptroller General waived a debt where the retired military officer 

asked for prior approval to work for a foreign company that was an instrumentality of the foreign 

government, but he did not receive approval in a timely manner from the Air Force. In this 

case,

47 a retired Air Force major worked for an independent oil company, ARAMCO, in Saudi 

Arabia. When the major learned that the Saudi Arabian Government was preparing to 

nationalize his employer, ARAMCO, the Air Force major requested advance approval from the 

Air Force to perform work for the nationalized ARAMCO. At the time the major submitted his 

advance approval request, ARAMCO was yet to be nationalized. 

 

45 10 U.S.C. § 2774. The DFAS web site for debt collection can be found at:

http://www.dfas.mil/civilianpay/debts/informationondebtwaivers.html.

46 Comp. Gen. Op. B-154213 (Dec. 28, 1964).

47 Matter of: Major Gilbert S. Sanders, U.S.A.F. (Retired) (Deceased) – Employment by a 

Federal Government, Comp. Gen. B-231498 (June 21, 1989) (1989 WL 240844).
15

Ultimately, while the major was waiting to hear from the Air Force, the Government of 

Saudi Arabia took over control of ARAMCO. The major then worked for the nationalized 

entity, ARAMCO. The major subsequently passed away, and the question was whether the 

estate was responsible for the Emoluments Clause debt. While the major never received advance 

approval during his lifetime to work for the nationalized ARAMCO, the major had responded 

each time the Air Force had questions about his application for advance approval. The 

Comptroller General held that the retired major had acted in good faith by seeking advance 

approval -- the Air Force had not given it, but was not withholding its approval. Concluding that 

a “waiver was in equity and in good conscience, and [the retired major] responded whenever Air 

Force contacted him to complete the requisite form,” the Comptroller General waived the debt 

pursuant to 10 U.S.C. § 2774 and the estate did not have an obligation to pay. 

At DoD, DFAS has authority to grant waivers for all or a portion of an individual’s debt, 

including Emolument Clause debt, pursuant to chapter 2810 for debts of $10,000 or less as part 

of the debt collection procedures. Likewise, DFAS may grant waivers of the debt incurred

because of the Emoluments Clause violation, especially where the employee did not know about 

the Emoluments Clause and/or did not know he had a debt. Chapter 2810 includes instructions 

on how to apply for a waiver, as well as a link to DD Form 2789, which is a form that must be 

completed to begin seeking the waiver. The debtor has an opportunity to challenge whether he 

or she is subject to debt collection before DFAS consistent with the FMR.

b. Appeals

A current or former DoD employee who wants to challenge the initial determination 

denying all or part of a waiver application may appeal the decision. Appeals for waivers of a 

debt created by receiving an emolument are governed by DoD Instruction 1340.23 (Feb. 14, 

2006). 

Final administrative appeals, pursuant to 31 U.S.C. § 3702, may be made to the Defense 

Office of Hearings and Appeals (DOHA) under its Claims Division pursuant to DoD Directive 

1340.20 (July 14, 2003) and codified at 32 C.F.R. part 281. Detailed procedures for the 

settlement of claims are set forth in DoD Instruction 1340.21 (effective May 12, 2004) and 

codified at 32 C.F.R. part 282. 

VIII. Other Issues to Consider

There are several other legal restrictions that a military retiree may face if he or she 

decides to do work for a foreign entity. These are not related to the Emoluments Clause but 

might be helpful to share during the post-government employment briefing. These include:

registering as a foreign agent; representing a foreign government concerning an ongoing trade or 
16

treaty negotiation; enhanced representational restrictions for political appointees; and receiving 

representational funds earned from Government contracts by his or her new private employer.

1. An employee cannot act as an “agent of a foreign principal” as defined by the Foreign 

Agents Registration Act (FARA) (22 U.S.C. § 611) or as a “lobbyist” for a foreign 

entity required to register under the Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA). The FARA ban 

prohibits representation of a foreign government or foreign political party before the 

United States Government as well as other activities conducted on behalf of foreign 

entities with respect to influencing the United States Government. Retired officers 

who represent a foreign government or foreign entity before the United States are

required to register as foreign agents under FARA.

48

 

2. For a period of 1 year after leaving Government service, former employees or officers 

may not knowingly represent, aid, or advise someone else on the basis of covered 

information, concerning any ongoing trade or treaty negotiation in which the 

employee participated personally and substantially in his last year of Government 

service. (18 U.S.C. § 207(b))

3. Retired officers who represent a foreign government or government-controlled entity 

may face post-employment restrictions under 18 U.S.C. § 207(f) because they cannot 

represent those entities before the Federal Government during their first year after 

retirement if the entity at issue is either a foreign government or it exercises control 

and sovereignty like a foreign government.

49

4. Non-career SES members and Presidential appointees confirmed by the Senate have 

enhanced representational restrictions that prohibit them from representing another 

before the Defense Department for two years after leaving service.50

5. Retired military officers who are employed by a representational entity (e.g., law, 

public relations, lobbying, advertising firms) that represents clients before the 

Executive or Judicial branches of the Federal Government and who are paid in the 

form of partnership shares based on those representations may violate 18 U.S.C. § 

203 unless they accept their first year’s compensation in the form of a straight salary.

 

48 28 C.F.R. § 5.2. The FARA Registration Unit, Criminal Division, Department of Justice, 

fara.public@usdoj.gov can provide further information.

49 See Applicability of 18 U.S.C. 207(f) to Public Relations Activities Undertaken by a Foreign 

Corporation Controlled by a Foreign Government, Op. O.L.C. (August 13, 2008).

50 Executive Order 13490.
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CONCLUSION

The Emoluments Clause to the Constitution applies to all Federal personnel. The Clause

prohibits receipt of foreign gifts unless Congress consents such as in the Foreign Gifts and 

Decorations Act, 5 U.S.C. § 7342. For retired military personnel, the Emoluments Clause 

continues to apply to them because they are subject to recall. The Justice Department opinions 

referred to in this paper construe the Emoluments Clause broadly. Specifically, the Justice 

Department construes the Clause to include not only gifts of travel and food, but also payments 

such as proportionate profit-sharing. To avoid an Emoluments Clause problem resulting in 

suspension of retired pay, retired military personnel should seek advance consent through their 

respective Service consistent with 37 U.S.C. § 908. It is prudent for retired military personnel to 

obtain advance approval even when there is uncertainty about the Clause’s applicability. 

Finally, if a retired military member suspects that he or she has violated the Clause, but 

wants to continue to perform compensated work for a foreign state, he or she should 

expeditiously seek advance consent for future compensated work, and terminate current 

compensated employment with the foreign government until such approval is granted. This 

would be done to avoid increasing the amount of an erroneous payment.