# 5 CFR § 2635.202: General prohibition on solicitation or acceptance of gifts

> Federal · Regulations · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-5-2635.202

## Section

- **Citation:** 5 CFR § 2635.202
- **Heading:** General prohibition on solicitation or acceptance of gifts
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Regulations
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** September 22, 2026
- **Source:** Publisher's official text
- **Location:** Title 5—Administrative Personnel > CHAPTER XVI—OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT ETHICS > SUBCHAPTER B—GOVERNMENT ETHICS > PART 2635—STANDARDS OF ETHICAL CONDUCT FOR EMPLOYEES OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH > Subpart B—Gifts From Outside Sources

## Text

(a) Prohibition on soliciting gifts. Except as provided in this subpart, an employee may not, directly or indirectly:
(1) Solicit a gift from a prohibited source; or
(2) Solicit a gift to be given because of the employee's official position.
(b) Prohibition on accepting gifts. Except as provided in this subpart, an employee may not, directly or indirectly:
(1) Accept a gift from a prohibited source; or
(2) Accept a gift given because of the employee's official position.
(c) Relationship to illegal gratuities statute. A gift accepted pursuant to an exception found in this subpart will not constitute an illegal gratuity otherwise prohibited by 18 U.S.C. 201(c)(1)(B), unless it is accepted in return for being influenced in the performance of an official act. As more fully described in § 2635.205(d)(1), an employee may not solicit or accept a gift if to do so would be prohibited by the Federal bribery statute, 18 U.S.C. 201(b).
Example 1 to paragraph (c): A Government contractor who specializes in information technology software has offered an employee of the Department of Energy's information technology acquisition division a $15 gift card to a local restaurant if the employee will recommend to the agency's contracting officer that the agency select the contractor's products during the next acquisition. Even though the gift card is less than $20, the employee may not accept the gift under § 2635.204(a) because it is conditional upon official action by the employee. Pursuant to this paragraph (c) and § 2635.205(a), notwithstanding any exception to the rules in this part, an employee may not accept a gift in return for being influenced in the performance of an official act.

## Nearby sections

- [5 CFR § 2635.101 § 2635.101 Basic obligation of public service.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-5-2635.101.md)
- [5 CFR § 2635.102 § 2635.102 Definitions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-5-2635.102.md)
- [5 CFR § 2635.103 § 2635.103 Applicability to enlisted members of the uniformed services.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-5-2635.103.md)
- [5 CFR § 2635.104 § 2635.104 Applicability to employees on detail.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-5-2635.104.md)
- [5 CFR § 2635.105 § 2635.105 Supplemental agency regulations.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-5-2635.105.md)
- [5 CFR § 2635.106 § 2635.106 Disciplinary and corrective action.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-5-2635.106.md)
- [5 CFR § 2635.107 § 2635.107 Ethics advice.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-5-2635.107.md)
- [5 CFR § 2635.201 § 2635.201 Overview and considerations for declining otherwise permissible gifts.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-5-2635.201.md)
- [5 CFR § 2635.202 § 2635.202 General prohibition on solicitation or acceptance of gifts.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-5-2635.202.md)
- [5 CFR § 2635.203 § 2635.203 Definitions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-5-2635.203.md)
- [5 CFR § 2635.204 § 2635.204 Exceptions to the prohibition for acceptance of certain gifts.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-5-2635.204.md)
- [5 CFR § 2635.205 § 2635.205 Limitations on use of exceptions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-5-2635.205.md)
- [5 CFR § 2635.206 § 2635.206 Proper disposition of prohibited gifts.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-5-2635.206.md)
- [5 CFR § 2635.301 § 2635.301 Overview.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-5-2635.301.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-5-2635.202. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.