§5.73. Avoiding bias.
49 C.F.R. § 5.73
Consistent with all applicable laws and ethical standards relating to recusals and disqualifications, no Federal employee or contractor may participate in a DOT enforcement action in any capacity, including as ALJ, adjudication counsel, adversarial personnel, or decisional personnel, if that person has:
A financial or other personal interest that would be affected by the outcome of the enforcement action;
Personal animus against a party to the action or against a group to which a party belongs;
Prejudgment of the adjudicative facts at issue in the proceeding; or
Any other prohibited conflict of interest.
Notes, amendments, and revision history
Authority
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 322(a).
Source
Source: 91 FR 22437, Apr. 27, 2026, unless otherwise noted.