Guerrilla Government in EPA's Seattle Regional Office In the case study of the 'Guerrilla Government in EPA's Seattle Regional Office', the primary ethical violation seems to be the appointment of John Spencer himself as he was handpicked for the post of EPA regional administrator for Seattle. Spencer was handpicked by Roland Regan and Gorsuch as he was believed to be Gorsuch's good friend. There was no competition for the post and seemingly no consideration of others for the post.

While administering his duty as the head of regional head of EPA at Seattle, Spencer engaged in a number of activities that were not only ethical but also illegal to certain extent. According to the U.S. federal ethics law, an official in public service has to conduct himself so that public trust is maintained and the actions should be conversant with the Constitution, the laws and the ethical principles which should be placed well above private gains for any individual (Office of Government Ethics (OGE), n.d.).

The officials and the employees should conduct themselves in ways that should not allow for any financial conflict of interest with the performance of duty.

One of the most important ethical considerations in this federal law is the non-engagement in financial transactions where nonpublic Government information is used or allowing of the improper use of such information that can allow for financial or other forms of gain for other private entities or any private interest (Office of Government...

Moreover Spencer's trips for supposedly private reasons on government money and his demand for a personal driver were examples of misuse of public money for personal benefits. All of the above were not granted by federal law related to spending of public money. Spencer also engaged in management by stark terror which was evident by the sudden transfer of the director of the Management Division of EPA as the director had objected repeatedly to Spencer's use of public money for personal benefits. The director was also denied finalization of his SES appointment.
Spencer also violated federal ethical law that entails that no preferential treatment should be given to any private organization or individual. Spencer directed his subordinates to part with confidential information about a private company lying with the EPA office to another private company supposedly for private gains.

Employees who are dissatisfied with the actions of public organizations, programs or people and those who strategically choose not to reveal themselves even while they go public with their concerns are termed as guerrilla government.

There are several motivations that drove the employees at the EPA office to…