2. solicit or consider any recommendation or statement, oral or written, with respect to any individual who requests or
is under consideration for any personnel action unless such recommendation or statement is based on the personal
knowledge or records of the person furnishing it and consists of—
A. an evaluation of the work performance, ability, aptitude, or general qualifications of such individual; or
B. an evaluation of the character, loyalty, or suitability of such individual;
3. coerce the political activity of any person (including the providing of any political contribution or service), or take
any action against any employee or applicant for employment as a reprisal for the refusal of any person to engage in
such political activity;
4. deceive or willfully obstruct any person with respect to such person's right to compete for employment;
5. influence any person to withdraw from competition for any position for the purpose of improving or injuring the
prospects of any other person for employment;
6. grant any preference or advantage not authorized by law, rule, or regulation to any employee or applicant for
employment (including defining the scope or manner of competition or the requirements for any position) for the
purpose of improving or injuring the prospects of any particular person for employment;
7. appoint, employ, promote, advance, or advocate for appointment, employment, promotion, or advancement, in or to
a civilian position any individual who is a relative (as defined in section 3110 (a)(3) of this title) of such employee if
such position is in the agency in which such employee is serving as a public official (as defined in section 3110
(a)(2) of this title) or over which such employee exercises jurisdiction or control as such an official;
8. take or fail to take, or threaten to take or fail to take, a personnel action with respect to any employee or applicant for
employment because of—
A. any disclosure of information by an employee or applicant which the employee or applicant reasonably
believes evidences—
i. a violation of any law, rule, or regulation, or
ii. gross mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, an abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific
danger to public health or safety, if such disclosure is not specifically prohibited by law and if
such information is not specifically required by Executive order to be kept secret in the interest of
national defense or the conduct of foreign affairs; or
B. any disclosure to the Special Counsel, or to the Inspector General of an agency or another employee
designated by the head of the agency to receive such disclosures, of information which the employee or
applicant reasonably believes evidences—
i. a violation of any law, rule, or regulation, or
ii. gross mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, an abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific
danger to public health or safety;
9. take or fail to take, or threaten to take or fail to take, any personnel action against any employee or applicant for
employment because of—
A. the exercise of any appeal, complaint, or grievance right granted by any law, rule, or regulation—
(i) with regard to remedying a violation of paragraph (8); or
(ii) other than with regard to remedying a violation of paragraph (8);
B. testifying for or otherwise lawfully assisting any individual in the exercise of any right referred to in
subparagraph (A);
C. cooperating with or disclosing information to the Inspector General of an agency, or the Special Counsel, in
accordance with applicable provisions of law; or
D. for refusing to obey an order that would require the individual to violate a law;