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Trump Admin to Bar Lobbyists, Prevent Officials From Joining K Street for 5 Years

Donald Trump
AP
November 17, 2016

Donald Trump's transition team announced Wednesday that registered state and federal lobbyists will be barred from serving in the Trump administration—a preliminary step by the president-elect to "drain the swamp" in Washington.

Trump will also require administration officials to agree to terms that would ban them from working as a lobbyist for five years after leaving their post in the government, CNN reported.

"It goes back to Mr. Trump's goal of making sure that people aren't using the government to enrich themselves and using their service in government to do that," Republican National Committee spokesman Sean Spicer said.

Anyone vetted for a position with the administration will be required to sign a contract stating they are not a registered lobbyist. Those who are must submit a termination of lobbying form.

The policy is an expansion of current ethics rules that prevents lawmakers and administration officials from becoming lobbyists for two years after leaving the government.

Still, Trump's policy could be worked around. Officials in D.C. often avoid registering as a lobbyist after leaving the government by instead working as a consultant or adviser on K Street, CNN noted.

Trump acknowledged on Sunday that his transition team included a number of D.C. insiders, but he pledged to "clean up the system" to make the so-called revolving door from government to K Street more difficult to pass through.

Published under: Donald Trump , Lobbyists