White House to roll back ban on lobbyists in government


A firewall between registered lobbyists and the government is set to fall as the White House will soon scale back its prohibition on the former serving on panels that influence policymaking by the latter, according to Politico.
The Office of Management and Budget is expected to release new guidance Wednesday that would allow lobbyists to serve on an array of federal advisory boards, giving the private sector more direct access to policymaking. The tweak would impact a policy Obama announced to no small amount of fanfare in 2010 that was aimed at limiting corporate influence in government. Though lobbyists will now be able to participate in such panels — of which there are more than 1,000 — they'll only be permitted to do so when working directly on behalf of a company or interest group, and not when acting as private citizens.
The change comes more than two years after lobbyists sued the White House over the ban. An appeals court earlier this year questioned whether the ban was acceptable, and ordered a lower court to reconsider the case. As Politico noted in a separate story Tuesday on the administration's attitude toward Washington's infamous revolving door, the White House has already hired around 70 former registered lobbyists.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Jon Terbush is an associate editor at TheWeek.com covering politics, sports, and other things he finds interesting. He has previously written for Talking Points Memo, Raw Story, and Business Insider.
-
Trump reignites Jan. 6 furor by awarding military honors to killed rioter
IN THE SPOTLIGHT With military funeral honors for Ashli Babbitt, the president makes good on campaign promises designed to animate his political base while relitigating history
-
'Is it OK to be happy when the world is falling apart?'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Will online age checks doom internet freedom?
Today's Big Question Or do they protect children from harm?
-
Trump crypto token launch earns family billions
Speed Read The World Liberty Financial token is now the Trump family's 'most valuable asset'
-
RFK Jr. names new CDC head as staff revolt
Speed Read Kennedy installed his deputy, Jim O'Neill, as acting CDC director
-
DC prosecutors lose bid to indict sandwich thrower
Speed Read Prosecutors sought to charge Sean Dunn with assaulting a federal officer
-
White House fires new CDC head amid agency exodus
Speed Read CDC Director Susan Monarez was ousted after butting heads with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over vaccines
-
DOGE put Social Security data at risk, official says
Speed Read DOGE workers made the personal information of hundreds of millions of Americans vulnerable to identity theft
-
Court rejects Trump suit against Maryland US judges
Speed Read Judge Thomas Cullen, a Trump appointee, said the executive branch had no authority to sue the judges
-
Trump expands National Guard role in policing
Speed Read The president wants the Guard to take on a larger role in domestic law enforcement
-
Trump says he's firing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook
Speed Read The move is likely part of Trump's push to get the central bank to cut interest rates