Close the Revolving Door Act of 2025
The Close the Revolving Door Act of 2025 tightens the boundary between government service and lobbying by Congress. Key provisions would impose a lifetime ban on former members of Congress from lobbying Congress on behalf of others, extend the post-employment cooling-off period for congressional staff from 1 year to 6 years, strengthen lobbying disclosures, create a publicly accessible joint database for lobbyist information, impose a new reporting regime for “substantial lobbying entities,” and raise penalties for lobbying disclosure violations. The bill also provides a mechanism for waivers on the revolving-door prohibition for compelling national needs. Overall, it aims to reduce the influence of former lawmakers and top staff on current legislation and increase transparency and enforcement around lobbying activity. The bill would increase prohibitions, broaden reporting, and boost penalties, potentially reducing the ability of former officials and registered lobbyists to move directly into influential lobbying roles. It also expands data collection and public accessibility around lobbying activity, with an emphasis on increasing accountability for high-level former officials and large lobbying entities.
Key Points
- 1Lifetime ban on lobbying Congress: Former Senators, House Members, and elected officers would face a lifetime prohibition on lobbying Congress on behalf of others, with penalties tied to existing criminal provisions (18 U.S.C. 216).
- 2Extended cooling-off period for staff: The post-employment lobbying ban for certain congressional staff would be increased from 1 year to 6 years.
- 3Public lobbying disclosures and transparency: Creation of a joint, easily searchable lobbyist disclosure website (lobbyists.gov) and a $100,000 appropriation for FY2026 to support it.
- 4Prohibition on hiring former lobbyists after substantial lobbying contact: A registered lobbyist or agent of a foreign principal may not be hired by a Member or committee within 6 years if they had substantial lobbying contact with that Member/committee; waivers by ethics bodies are possible for compelling national needs; definition of substantial lobbying contact includes targeted legislative engagement, earmark solicitations, and coordinated meetings, while simple social contacts do not count.
- 5Expanded reporting by substantial lobbying entities: Introduction of a new reporting requirement (Sec. 6A) for entities with substantial lobbying activity to disclose, annually, the key employees or contractors who are former high-level officials or meet certain compensation/tenure thresholds; creation of a “Substantial Lobbying Entities” database on lobbyists.gov; potential oversight by the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia to check for underreporting; threshold criteria define a “substantial lobbying entity” as an organization with more than 3 registered lobbyists.
- 6Higher penalties for lobbying violations: Lobbying Disclosure Act penalties would be increased, with the maximum penalty raised from $200,000 to $500,000.