Sponsors (2)
The bill strengthens protections against foreign influence and revolving-door conflicts to bolster government integrity and public trust, but does so by restricting post‑government employment for officials, imposing costs on employers and enforcers, and creating potential legal uncertainty for affected workers.
Taxpayers and the general public are protected because covered former federal employees are permanently barred from lobbying or advising foreign-controlled entities, reducing foreign influence and risks to national security.
Taxpayers and the integrity of government decision-making benefit because senior federal officials face a 5-year cooling-off period before lobbying their former agencies, reducing revolving-door influence.
Government institutions and the public see fewer conflicts of interest overall because the bill prevents ex-officials from using insider knowledge to benefit external or foreign actors, supporting impartial decisionmaking and public confidence.
Former senior federal employees face reduced private-sector employment and advisory opportunities (including with foreign businesses), which can lower individuals' income prospects and career options.
The lifetime ban on working for or advising entities influenced by foreign actors is broad and may create legal uncertainty about what outside work is permissible, complicating career planning for former officials and their employers.
Employers (businesses and nonprofits) lose or have reduced access to experienced former officials as consultants or advocates for a longer period, which could raise costs or reduce industry expertise available to them.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Extends senior official cooling‑off periods to five years and imposes a lifetime ban on representing or advising foreign entities for affected former officials.
Official title: To amend title 18, United States Code, to establish a 5-year post-employment ban on lobbying by former senior executive branch personnel and to prohibit such personnel from lobbying at any time on behalf of foreign governments or entities controlled by foreign governments, and for other purposes.
Introduced April 28, 2026 by Ashley Hinson · Last progress April 28, 2026
Extends post‑employment lobbying limits for certain former senior executive branch officials by lengthening cooling‑off periods from 1 or 2 years to 5 years and adds a new lifetime ban on representing, aiding, or advising foreign entities for individuals who were already subject to those post‑employment restrictions. The changes apply to persons who leave covered positions on or after the law's enactment date. The measure amends the criminal conflict‑of‑interest statute (18 U.S.C. § 207) to increase temporary cooling‑off windows and to create a permanent prohibition against working for or on behalf of foreign entities for the affected former officials, while leaving other existing restrictions in place.