Trump revokes 5-year lobbying ban for administration officials on last day in office
President Trump signed an executive order lifting a five-year lobbying ban for members of his administration just hours before he leaves office and
Joe Biden is sworn in as the next president of the United States.
The order, issued early Wednesday along with a
flurry of pardons for former top campaign and White House officials, nullifies an ethics pledge made by all members of his administration that would have required them to adhere to a five-year cooling-off period before engaging in lobbying services.
“Employees and former employees subject to the commitments in Executive Order 13770 will not be subject to those commitments after noon January 20, 2021," the order reads.
Former President
Bill Clinton signed a similar waiver with only weeks left in his term, The Associated Press
noted.
Trump ran for president in 2016 partially on a promise to "drain the swamp" and regularly attacked politicians, lobbyists and members of the "political elite" who he said were out of touch with Americans and put their own interests above those of the nation.
President Trump signed an executive order lifting a five-year lobbying ban for members of his administration just hours before he leaves office and Joe Biden is sworn in as the next president of th…
thehill.com