Office of Government Ethics — Stephen Feinberg's financial disclosure and ethics papers: refused under FOIA, pointed to other ways to get them (FY 26/102)
What we asked for: The public financial disclosure report (OGE Form 278e) that Stephen Feinberg filed for his appointment as Deputy Secretary of Defense, plus any ethics agreement, divestiture plan, or recusal statement filed with that appointment, dated from January 1, 2025 on.
What we got: A denial, with no records released. OGE received the request on August 28 and denied it on August 31. It cited Exemption 3 (a law that sets its own rules for these papers): the Ethics in Government Act, 5 U.S.C. § 13107. OGE said financial disclosure reports, ethics agreements, Certificates of Divestiture, and 18 U.S.C. § 208 conflict-of-interest waivers each have their own special way to be requested, so OGE "is not processing these records under the FOIA."
Where the letter says to get them instead: Reports for top officials (Executive Schedule Levels 1–2) and ethics agreements are posted on OGE's website. Certificates of Divestiture can be requested with OGE's online request tool. Conflict-of-interest waivers under § 208(b)(1) are requested from the official's own agency using OGE Form 201. An appeal of the denial can be filed within 90 days.
View the letter Download PDF, 2 pages