Defense to Bush holdovers: Sign ethics pledge, or leave

[The Straight Story]

Defense to Bush holdovers: Sign ethics pledge, or leave
By Robert Brodsky [e-mail] April 9, 2009

Bush administration political appointees at the Defense Department have until the end of the week to sign President Barack Obama's ethics pledge, or they will be asked to resign, according to internal correspondence.

In an April 7 e-mail, Robert Rangel, special assistant to Defense Secretary Robert Gates, gave all Bush holdovers until the close of business on Friday to sign the agreement, which puts restrictions on post-government employment.

Politicos who refuse to comply will be required to leave their position by the end of April.

"Those who choose not to sign the ethics pledge and leave before April 30, 2009 (or those who choose to sign the pledge and are replaced after April 30, 2009), will be asked to submit their resignations, and the department will treat their separations as involuntary," Rangel wrote.

In December, Rangel asked political appointees to remain at the department until the new administration made a decision regarding their status. But in a Feb. 27 e-mail to those appointees, he recognized that some might be unwilling to abide by the ethics pledge.

"While Secretary Gates continues to encourage you to stay if possible, it is also understood that the post-government employment restrictions imposed by the executive order may result in a reassessment of your decision," Rangel wrote. "Whatever your decision, your willingness to serve and contribute to the continuity of the operation of the department will be honored and appreciated."

http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=42459&dcn=todaysnews

[BeFree]

1. What pledge?

Is there a copy of this pledge anywhere?

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

2. --->

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/ExecutiveOrder-EthicsCommitments/

[lamp_shade]

3. The "Bush Holdovers" don't concern me nearly as much as the "Cheney Stay Behinds". n/t

[ProgressiveProfessor]

4. Key issue is political appointee vice Civil Service & SES