Sponsors (7)
The bill reduces revolving‑door influence on U.S. arms transfers to protect national interest and public trust, but it restricts post‑government employment and expert input and creates added compliance burdens for affected individuals and organizations.
Former State and DoD employees who handled foreign military sales are barred from using insider contacts to influence U.S. arms transfer decisions for 3 years after leaving government, reducing the risk that private relationships sway sensitive arms-transfer outcomes.
Military personnel and the broader public benefit because the restriction reduces favoritism and undue influence in foreign military sales, helping ensure decisions prioritize national interest over private gain.
Taxpayers and the public see strengthened accountability and trust in government by limiting revolving‑door lobbying between DoD/State and parties handling arms sales.
Former State and DoD employees are barred from advising or advocating on AECA-related matters for 3 years, which may materially limit their post‑government employment options and earnings.
Congress, agencies, and nonprofits may lose access to recent hands-on technical expertise because the rule can prevent private‑sector or NGO experts with recent AECA experience from providing advice on complex sales reviews.
Former employees and their employers (including small businesses) may face higher compliance costs and legal uncertainty as they navigate who and what activity is covered by the restriction.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Bars certain former State and Defense employees from influencing foreign military sales decisions for 3 years after leaving government if they worked on FMS in the prior 3 years.
Official title: To amend section 207 of title 18 to prohibit former employees of the State Department and the Department of Defense from lobbying the Federal Government on matters of foreign military sales, and for other purposes.
Introduced May 23, 2025 by Warren Davidson · Last progress May 23, 2025
Prohibits certain former State Department and Defense Department employees from communicating or appearing to influence U.S. foreign military sales decisions for three years after they leave government service if they worked on foreign military sales in the three years before separation. The rule bars knowingly making communications or appearances intended to influence any Federal determination under the Arms Export Control Act, including contacts with Federal officers, agency staff, or Congress.