Notice2026-04439
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Proposed Collection; Comment Request for a Modified OGE Form 201 Request an Individual's Ethics Documents
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
March 6, 2026
Issuing agencies
Government Ethics Office
Abstract
After publication of this second-round notice, the U.S. Office of Government Ethics (OGE) plans to submit a proposed modified OGE Form 201, Request an Individual's Ethics Documents (OGE Form 201) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval of a three-year extension under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The OGE Form 201 is used by persons requesting access to executive branch public financial disclosure reports and other covered records.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 44 (Friday, March 6, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 44 (Friday, March 6, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11074-11075]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-04439]
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OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT ETHICS
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB
Review; Proposed Collection; Comment Request for a Modified OGE Form
201 Request an Individual's Ethics Documents
AGENCY: Office of Government Ethics (OGE).
ACTION: Notice of request for agency and public comments.
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SUMMARY: After publication of this second-round notice, the U.S. Office
of Government Ethics (OGE) plans to submit a proposed modified OGE Form
201, Request an Individual's Ethics Documents (OGE Form 201) to the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval of a
three-year extension under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The OGE
Form 201 is used by persons requesting access to executive branch
public financial disclosure reports and other covered records.
DATES: Written comments by the public and agencies on this proposed
extension are invited and must be received by April 6, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Submit written comments and recommendations for the proposed
information collection within 30 days of publication of this notice to
<a href="http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain">www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain</a>. Find and comment on this particular
information collection by using the ``Select Agency'' drop-down menu
under the ``Currently Under Review'' section to locate ``Office of
Government Ethics,'' click the ``Submit'' button, and then click the
``Comment'' button. Alternatively, click the ``Currently under Review--
Open for Public Comments'' link, locate the information on the page
related to OMB Control Number 3209-0002, and click the ``Comment''
button to the right of such information.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: McEvan Baum at the U.S. Office of
Government Ethics; telephone: 202-482-9287; TTY: 800-877-8339; Email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5f2a2c30383a1f30383a71383029"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d6a3a5b9b1b396b9b1b3f8b1b9a0">[email protected]</span></a>. An electronic copy of the OGE Form 201 version used to
manually submit access requests to OGE or other executive branch
agencies by mail or FAX is available in the Forms Library section of
OGE's website at <a href="http://www.oge.gov">http://www.oge.gov</a>. A paper copy may also be obtained,
without charge, by contacting Mr. Baum.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: OGE Form 201 Request an Individual's Ethics Documents.
Agency Form Number: OGE Form 201.
OMB Control Number: 3209-0002.
Type of Information Collection: Extension with modifications of a
currently approved collection.
Type of Review Request: Regular.
Respondents: Individuals requesting access to executive branch
public financial disclosure reports and other covered records.
Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 12,461.
Estimated Time per Response: 10 minutes.
Estimated Total Annual Burden: 2,077 hours.
Abstract: The OGE Form 201 (the form) collects information from,
and provides certain information to, persons who seek access to OGE
Form 278 Public Financial Disclosure Reports, including OGE Form 278-T
Periodic Transaction Reports, and other covered records. The form
reflects the requirements of the Ethics in Government Act, subsequent
amendments pursuant to the STOCK Act, and OGE's implementing
regulations that must be met by a person before access can be granted.
These requirements include the address of the requester, as well as any
other person on whose behalf a record is sought, and acknowledgement
that the applicant is aware of the prohibited uses of executive branch
public disclosure financial reports. See 5 U.S.C. 13107(b) and (c) and
13122(b)(1) and 5 CFR 2634.603(c) and (f). Executive branch departments
and agencies are encouraged to utilize the form for individuals seeking
access to public financial disclosure reports and other covered
documents. OGE permits departments and agencies to use or develop their
own forms as long as the forms collect and provide all of the required
information.
OGE currently has OMB approval for six versions of the form: OGE's
online application (English, Arabic, Chinese, French, and Spanish), and
a PDF version in English.
A Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting
comments on this information collection was published on September
[[Page 11075]]
9, 2025 (90 FR 43445). OGE received one set of comments containing
several recommendations. OGE appreciates the feedback and considered
each recommendation. The proposed modifications discussed below
incorporate recommendations received that OGE believes will increase
clarity, improve user experience, and/or reduce the burden on
requesters utilizing the form. OGE declined to adopt other
recommendations because they could not be implemented due to technical
limitations, the suggested course of action fell outside of the scope
of the form renewal process, or because OGE reached a different
conclusion than the commenter regarding the utility of the specific
form inquiry on which action was recommended.
Proposed changes to the PDF and online English language versions:
<bullet> Modifying the language of the Privacy Act Statement for
clarity.
<bullet> Modifying the Ethics in Government Act citation for
accuracy.
Proposed changes to the PDF version only:
<bullet> Adding language to the Supplemental Information section to
(1) better capture the full scope of records available from OGE upon
request and (2) inform requesters of general retention periods that may
impact the availability of the documents they are requesting.
<bullet> Removing the following text from the ``Should I use the
online system or fill out the PDF Form?'' portion of the Supplemental
Information section because it is no longer relevant: ``Note: Currently
OGE is unable to fill any request using the PDF Form that does not
provide an email address for the requestor.''
<bullet> Replacing sub-section numbering with standard numbering to
improve user experience.
<bullet> Adding a parenthetical containing the word ``optional''
next to the ``Your telephone number'' section heading to clarify that
providing such information is optional.
<bullet> Combining sections 1a and 6 into a single section with
updated language (section 2 of proposed form) to reduce the number of
responses needed to complete the form and explain why the requested
information is sought.
<bullet> Relocating section 4 on page 3 of the current form down to
section 8 of the proposed form and adding an explanatory parenthetical
clarifying that a response is optional and informing that the requested
information is for statistical purposes only.
<bullet> Combining sections 5 and 5a into a single section (section
7 of proposed form), updating the language of that section to better
align it with the requirements of the Ethics in Government Act, and
adding language to inform that documents are generally retained for 6
to 7 years under Federal law such that older documents may not be
available.
<bullet> Updating the language of the form's Continuation Page to
align it with section 7 of the proposed form, discussed above.
<bullet> Modifying text, formatting and spacing in several places
to improve accuracy, clarity, consistency, and/or alignment with plain
language principles.
To view a draft of the pdf version with proposed changes, visit the
download link at https://www.oge.gov/Web/OGE.nsf/0/
912FAA19EB55D09185258D940067A5AC/$FILE/
OGE%20Form%20201%20Renewal_Draft_2nd%20Round%20FR%20(Feb)_.pdf.
Proposed removal of the translated online versions of the form:
Because OGE does not have the resources available to update its
translated online versions of the form, OGE is proposing to remove the
Arabic, Chinese, French and Spanish language versions of its Form 201
online application.
Request for Comments: Agency and public comment are invited
specifically on the need for and practical utility of this information
collection, the accuracy of OGE's burden estimate, the enhancement of
quality, utility and clarity of the information collected, and the
minimization of burden (including the use of information technology).
Comments received in response to this notice will be summarized for and
included with the OGE request for extension of OMB paperwork approval.
The comments will also become a matter of public record.
Specifically, OGE seeks public comment on the following:
<bullet> What problems do you have using the form?
<bullet> Are there sections of the form or instructions that are
unclear?
<bullet> Is there information provided that is confusing?
<bullet> What additional information would be helpful?
Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.; 5 U.S.C. 13107(b) and (c); 5
U.S.C. 13122(b)(1); 5 CFR 2634.603(c) and (f).
Approved: February 27, 2026.
James Cooper,
Chief Information Officer, Office of Government Ethics.
[FR Doc. 2026-04439 Filed 3-5-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6345-04-P
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