Overview

      The Ethics and Appeals Division of the Office of General Counsel provides advice
      and counsel to HUD employees, Principal staff and management officials across
      the nation on extremely confidential and sensitive issues. These issues
      relate to employee standards of conduct, financial disclosures and the criminal
      conflicts of interest under Federal law. Ethics staff also provides counseling,
      training and legal opinions on political and official travel, the Hatch
      Act, gift acceptance, post-government employment restrictions, and the HUD
      Reform Act. The Division also provides advice and guidance to the Secretarial
      Designee who has the authority to render opinions on appeals of administrative
      decisions. Additionally, the office is responsible for handling appeals
      of FOIA decisions.