Acting government ethics chief takes subtle jab at Trump and those who ‘undermine the public’s trust’

In the message, titled “Keeping Our Oath,” David Apol, the acting director of the Office of Government Ethics, lamented federal workers who are working to seed the public’s doubt in the government.

“The good news is that most of you are carrying out the people’s business with honor and integrity. You’re keeping your oath. Thank you. Remember what is at stake and take pride in your service,” Apol wrote in the message.

“On the other hand, those who are doing things that undermine the public’s trust, even if they don’t violate a rule, need to stop,” he continued. “Nothing you could gain economically or politically could possibly justify putting our democracy at risk. These are perilous times.”

Apol cited a December survey from Transparency International that found 44 percent of Americans think “corruption is pervasive” in the White House, and 70 percent believe the government is “failing to fight corruption.”

The survey also found the president and officials in the White House were viewed as the most corrupt group, followed by members of Congress, government officials, and business executives.

“The success of our Constitution, the success of our government, depends on the trust of the people that we serve,” Apol wrote.

The acting head of the Office of Government Ethics ended his note to the federal workforce by urging them to “keep your oath and earn the public trust.”

“We, as public servants, hold our positions of trust ‘for such a time as this,’” he said.

The Office of Government Ethics gained attention last year when its former director, Walter Shaub, slammed Trump’s decision not to divest from his business and called an ethics plan rolled out by the president “meaningless.”

Shaub left his post at the Office of Government Ethics in July, and he has continued to speak out against the president.

Trump then named Apol as the agency’s acting director weeks later.