Close the Revolving Door Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 3554
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-05-21: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2025-12-05T21:34:31Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The "Close the Revolving Door Act of 2025" (H.R. 3554) aims to restrict the "revolving door" practice in lobbying, where former government officials move into lobbying roles that could influence their ex-colleagues. It seeks to prevent conflicts of interest by imposing longer bans, improving transparency in lobbying disclosures, and increasing penalties for violations, ultimately promoting ethical standards in Congress.
Key Provisions
- Lifetime Ban for Members of Congress: Former Senators, House Members, or elected congressional officers are permanently prohibited from lobbying or communicating with Congress on behalf of any non-government entity to influence official actions.
- Extended Restrictions for Congressional Staff: The cooling-off period (a required wait time before taking certain jobs) for senior congressional staff is increased from 1 year to 6 years for lobbying activities.
- Improved Lobbying Disclosure Website: Creates a user-friendly, searchable website called lobbyists.gov, jointly maintained by the Senate Secretary and House Clerk, to make lobbying information publicly accessible. Authorizes $100,000 in funding for fiscal year 2026.
- Ban on Hiring Former Lobbyists: Registered lobbyists or agents representing foreign interests (defined under the Foreign Agents Registration Act) cannot be hired by congressional Members or committees for 6 years if they had "substantial lobbying contact" (e.g., meetings, presentations, or fundraising coordination related to legislation or funding; simple social interactions do not count). Waivers are possible for national security needs via ethics committees.
- Reporting Requirements for Major Lobbying Firms: "Substantial lobbying entities" (firms with more than 3 registered lobbyists) must annually report to Congress any former high-level officials they hire, including those who earned $100,000+ annually, served 4+ years, or held key roles like Chief of Staff or Legislative Director. Reports include job descriptions and must be added to the lobbyists.gov database with search and download features. Copies go to the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia for oversight on underreporting.
- Higher Penalties: Increases maximum civil penalties for Lobbying Disclosure Act violations from $200,000 to $500,000 per violation.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends Section 207(e) of Title 18, U.S. Code (federal ethics law on post-government employment), by replacing the current 1-year ban for Members with a lifetime prohibition and extending staff bans to 6 years, while removing elected officers from staff provisions.
- Adds new sections to the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. § 1601 et seq.), including the lobbyists.gov database, hiring bans for lobbyists, and mandatory reporting by lobbying firms—requirements not previously in place.
- Enhances enforcement by involving the U.S. Attorney's office and boosting fines, shifting from lighter penalties and less detailed disclosures.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Congressional offices and committees may face challenges hiring experienced staff due to the 6-year lobbyist ban, potentially slowing legislative work but increasing internal expertise retention. Ethics committees gain more waiver authority, which could lead to case-by-case reviews.
- On Citizens: Greater transparency via lobbyists.gov could build public trust by making it easier to track influence peddling, though it might indirectly raise lobbying costs, affecting how industries advocate for policies impacting everyday issues like healthcare or taxes.
- On International Relations: Restrictions on foreign agents could limit their access to Congress, potentially straining diplomatic efforts if waivers are rarely granted, but it may deter undue foreign influence in U.S. legislation.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Former and Current Members of Congress and Staff: Face stricter career limitations post-service, which could discourage entry into public office or push talent toward non-lobbying roles.
- Lobbyists and Lobbying Firms: Major firms must comply with new reporting and face hiring barriers, increasing operational costs and scrutiny; smaller entities may be less affected.
- Citizens and Advocacy Groups: Benefit from enhanced transparency and reduced perceived corruption, empowering watchdogs like non-profits focused on government ethics.
- Congressional Ethics Committees: Take on expanded roles in waivers and oversight, potentially influencing enforcement consistency.
- Foreign Governments and Entities: Agents representing them encounter new hurdles in engaging U.S. lawmakers.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens federal ethics enforcement by integrating criminal penalties (under 18 U.S.C. § 216) with civil fines, but could lead to litigation over "substantial contact" definitions or waiver processes, requiring clear guidelines to avoid arbitrary application.
- Constitutional: Regulations target post-employment conduct rather than current speech, likely upholding First Amendment standards (as upheld in similar cases like United States v. Harriss), but lifetime bans might face challenges if seen as overly broad restrictions on professional activities.
- Political: Could reduce perceptions of insider influence in Congress, appealing to reform advocates, but may politicize ethics committees through waiver decisions. It risks deterring qualified candidates from public service due to career penalties, potentially shifting lobbying power to unregulated channels or long-term staffers.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (7)
Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2], Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17], Rep. Ryan, Patrick [D-NY-18], Rep. Scholten, Hillary J. [D-MI-3], Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, Alexandria [D-NY-14], Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17], Rep. Riley, Josh [D-NY-19]
Recent Actions
- 2025-05-21: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2025-05-21: Introduced in House
- 2025-05-21: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Close the Revolving Door Act of 2025 — issued 2025-05-21 — PDF (7 pages)