A former longtime EPA career employee has agreed to pay nearly $22,000 to resolve allegations that he violated conflict-of-interest requirements while negotiating for a new job.
John Reeder, who served at EPA for decades including as deputy chief of staff, agreed to the payment after investigators found that he failed to immediately disclose his negotiations for a teaching position as required under federal ethics law, the Justice Department and the EPA Office of Inspector General announced this week.
“The EPA Office of Inspector General takes allegations of conflicts of interest seriously and will thoroughly investigate potential misconduct,” EPA’s acting Inspector General Nicole Murley said in a statement. “American taxpayers have the right to expect the highest standards of ethical behavior from federal officials. Any conflict of interest undermines that trust, and we are committed to upholding integrity and accountability at the EPA.”
Reeder spent more than 30 years at EPA under Democratic and Republican administrations, starting in 1988 as a program analyst, according to his LinkedIn profile. His positions included directing the Superfund site cleanup program and stints in the offices of water and congressional affairs.
