| Serving
as an expert witness. An employee shall not serve, other than on behalf of the United States, as an expert witness, with or without compensation, in any proceeding before a court or agency of the United States in which the United States is a party or has a direct and substantial interest, unless the employee's participation is authorized by the agency. |
5 CFR § 2635.805
Serving as an expert witness.
(a) Restriction. An employee shall not serve, other than on behalf of the United States, as an expert witness, with or without compensation, in any proceeding before a court or agency of the United States in which the United States is a party or has a direct and substantial interest, unless the employee's participation is authorized by the agency. Except as provided under (b), this restriction shall apply to a special Government employee only if he has participated as an employee or special Government employee in the particular proceeding or in the particular matter that is the subject of the proceeding.
(b) Additional restriction applicable to certain special Government employees.
(1) In addition to the restriction described in paragraph (a), a special Government employee described in paragraph (b)(2) shall not serve, other than on behalf of the United States, as an expert witness, with or without compensation, in any proceeding before a court or agency of the United States in which his employing agency is a party or has a direct and substantial interest, unless the employee's participation is authorized by the agency under paragraph (c).
(2) the restriction in paragraph (b)(1) shall not apply to a special Government employee who:
(i) Is appointed by the President;
(ii) Serves on a commission established by statute; or
(iii) Has served or is expected to serve for more than 60 days in a period of 365 consecutive days.
(c) Authorization to serve as an expert witness. Provided that the employee's testimony will not result in compensation for an appearance in violation of 5 CFR § 2636.201 or violate any of the principles or standards set forth in this part, authorization to provide expert witness service otherwise prohibited by paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section may be given by the designated agency ethics official of the agency in which the employee serves when:
(1) After consultation with the agency representing the Government in the proceeding or, if the Government is not a party, with the Department of Justice and the agency with the most direct and substantial interest in the matter, the designated agency ethics official determines that the employee's service as an expert witness is in the interest of the Government; or
(2) The designated agency ethics official determines that the subject matter of the testimony does not relate to the employee's official duties within the meaning of 5 CFR § 2635.807(a)(2)(i).
(d) Nothing in this section prohibits an employee from serving as a fact witness when subpoenaed by an appropriate authority.