Section 2635.704 - Use of Government property(a)Standard. Employees have a duty to protect and conserve Government property and may not use such property, or allow its use, for other than authorized purposes.(b)Definitions. For purposes of this section: (1)Government property includes any form of real or personal property in which the Government has an ownership, leasehold, or other property interest as well as any right or other intangible interest that is purchased with Government funds, including the services of contractor personnel. The term includes but is not limited to office supplies, telephone and other telecommunications equipment and services, Government mail, computers and other electronic devices, printing and reproduction facilities, Government records, Government email and social media accounts, and Government vehicles.(2)Authorized purposes are those purposes for which Government property is made available to members of the public or those purposes authorized in accordance with law or regulation. Authorized purposes include but are not limited to those uses of Government property that are in accordance with an agency's limited or de minimis personal use policy. Example 1 to paragraph (b): As permitted under their agency's de minimis personal use policy, an employee may send an email from a Government email account to a former college roommate to schedule lunch for the following day.
Example 2 to paragraph (b): An employee of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission whose office computer provides access to a commercial service providing information for investors may not use that service for personal investment research.
Example 3 to paragraph (b): In accordance with Office of Personnel Management regulations at part 251 of this title, an attorney employed by the Department of Justice may be permitted to use their office computer and agency photocopy equipment to prepare a paper to be presented at a conference sponsored by a professional association of which they are a member.