Can an Executive Branch employee accept a gift valued at $20 or less from the same outside source (not cash)?

Can an Executive Branch employee accept a gift valued at $20 or less from the same outside source (not cash)?

• A. Yes, as long as it is not cash
• B. Yes, always
• C. No, never
• D. Yes if previously approved

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that there is a nominal-value gift allowance for outside sources. An Executive Branch employee may accept a gift from a non-federal source as long as the gift is not cash and its value is $20 or less. This keeps social courtesy from becoming a lever of influence while allowing everyday, non-solicitous gifts. Since the gift meets the $20 threshold and isn’t cash, it’s permissible without additional approvals. If someone receives multiple gifts from the same outside source, remember there are aggregation rules for annual totals, but a single gift of $20 or less from that source is allowed.

The key idea is that there is a nominal-value gift allowance for outside sources. An Executive Branch employee may accept a gift from a non-federal source as long as the gift is not cash and its value is $20 or less. This keeps social courtesy from becoming a lever of influence while allowing everyday, non-solicitous gifts. Since the gift meets the $20 threshold and isn’t cash, it’s permissible without additional approvals. If someone receives multiple gifts from the same outside source, remember there are aggregation rules for annual totals, but a single gift of $20 or less from that source is allowed.