PURE Executive Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8544
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-04-28: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-19T19:47:34Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The PURE Executive Act (H.R. 8544) aims to strengthen post-employment restrictions on lobbying by former senior executive branch officials. It seeks to prevent the "revolving door" where government officials quickly become lobbyists, and to block lifelong foreign influence through lobbying by these individuals.
Key Provisions
- 5-Year Lobbying Ban: Extends the cooling-off period (waiting time before lobbying) to 5 years after leaving government service for certain senior executive branch personnel.
- Lifetime Foreign Lobbying Ban: Prohibits these same officials permanently from lobbying, advising, or representing foreign governments or any entities owned, controlled, or influenced by foreign governments.
- Effective Date: Applies to individuals leaving covered positions on or after the date of enactment.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
Amends 18 U.S.C. § 207 (federal law on restrictions following government employment):
- Changes the 1-year ban in subsection (c)(1) to 5 years (applies to top executives like Cabinet secretaries, prohibiting contacts with their former department).
- Changes the 2-year ban in subsection (d)(1) to 5 years (applies to other senior executives, prohibiting representation on matters they handled).
- Adds a new subsection (f)(3), creating a lifetime ban on foreign-related activities for those covered by (c) or (d), expanding prior foreign agent rules (which had time limits or exceptions).
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: May improve trust in executive branch decisions by reducing perceptions of officials currying favor with future employers.
- Citizens: Could limit undue foreign influence in U.S. policy, enhancing national security and public confidence in government.
- International Relations: Might strain ties with foreign governments reliant on U.S. ex-officials for advocacy, but strengthen U.S. posture against foreign lobbying.
- No direct fiscal impact noted; focuses on ethics enforcement.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Former Senior Executive Branch Personnel: High-level officials (e.g., agency heads, deputy secretaries) face longer restrictions and permanent foreign bans, limiting post-government career options in lobbying.
- Lobbying Firms and Clients: Reduced access to ex-officials' expertise, especially for foreign interests.
- Foreign Governments/Entities: Barred from hiring these officials indefinitely.
- U.S. Government: Office of Government Ethics and DOJ gain stronger tools for enforcement.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Builds on upheld "cooling-off" rules under § 207; lifetime foreign ban targets national security without broad speech restrictions (lobbying regs distinguish from pure advocacy).
- Constitutional: Likely withstands First Amendment challenges, as courts have approved similar time-based limits on former officials to prevent corruption or conflicts.
- Political: Addresses bipartisan concerns over revolving doors and foreign agents (e.g., via FARA enforcement); could set precedent for stricter ethics across branches but face opposition from those valuing ex-officials' expertise in private sector.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Rep. Golden, Jared F. [D-ME-2]
Recent Actions
- 2026-04-28: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2026-04-28: Introduced in House
- 2026-04-28: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Promoting the Unbiased Role of Employees in the Executive Act — issued 2026-04-28 — PDF (3 pages)