Trump’s Promise to Ban Federal Workers from Regulated Jobs Remains Unfulfilled

During his 2024 presidential campaign, Donald Trump pledged to implement a ban on federal workers from taking jobs at companies they regulate. In a March 2023 video, Trump stated, "I will work to ban federal bureaucrats from taking jobs at the companies they deal with and that they regulate." However, as of now, there has been little progress toward fulfilling this promise.

Politifact

Federal law already includes certain "revolving door" restrictions that prevent former federal employees from immediately lobbying on issues related to their previous roles. These restrictions vary based on the individual's seniority and involvement in specific topics. During his first term, Trump established a five-year lobbying ban for former executive branch employees, which was revoked upon his departure from the White House in January 2021.

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In contrast, President Joe Biden introduced an ethics pledge that prohibits appointees from engaging in matters related to their former work for two years after leaving office. Trump subsequently signed an executive order that revoked Biden's ethics pledge but has not proposed a new or updated version to replace it.

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Critics have pointed out that the current administration has not taken ethics restrictions seriously. Max Stier, CEO of the Partnership for Public Service, a nonprofit organization focused on enhancing democracy in government, remarked on the lack of enforcement regarding these ethics rules. Additionally, the Campaign Legal Center has highlighted that 21 former lobbyists now hold senior positions in federal agencies that oversee issues pertinent to their previous clients, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest.

Politifact

The White House has not provided any information regarding plans to introduce new or stricter regulations on employment for former federal employees. This lack of clarity leaves the status of Trump's promise uncertain, as he has allowed Biden's ethics rules to lapse without implementing alternative measures.

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As Trump continues his campaign for a second term, there remains the possibility that he could issue an order to enforce a ban on former federal employees taking jobs with regulated companies. However, without immediate action or a clear plan, the fulfillment of this promise appears stalled.

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• “This administration has really not treated these ethics restrictions seriously,” — Max Stier, CEO of Partnership for Public Service.

Politifact