Sponsor
Tony Wied
Representative · R-WI
Representative · R-WI
The bill tightens ethics by imposing long post‑employment bans to reduce conflicts and boost public trust, but does so at the cost of limiting former lawmakers' career options and expertise available to government projects, while leaving enforcement and coverage gaps that may encourage circumvention.
Taxpayers and the federal government: a 10-year ban on former Members/officers serving as paid lobbyists or federal contractors reduces direct conflicts of interest and the appearance of pay‑to‑play in legislation and procurement.
The public (taxpayers and middle‑class families): stronger post‑employment ethical boundaries between congressional service and private pay elevate public confidence and perceived integrity of Congress.
Taxpayers and citizens: limiting short‑term influence by ex‑members creates more space for independent policy deliberation, potentially producing legislation less shaped by recently departed officeholders' private‑sector advocacy.
Former Members and officers, and firms that hire them: the 10‑year bans reduce post‑government employment opportunities and earnings and shrink the pool of experienced professionals available to federal contractors and agencies.
Taxpayers and government programs: loss of experienced former lawmakers from contractor/agency roles could slow program delivery or raise costs if replacements lack comparable institutional knowledge.
Taxpayers and the legislative process: a long, across‑the‑board ban may push influence into harder‑to‑regulate channels (consulting, informal advocacy, indirect influence), reducing the rule's effectiveness at curbing undue influence.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Extends post-service lobbying bans to 10 years and bars departing Members from accepting paid federal contracts for 10 years for those leaving office on/after enactment.
Official title: To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit former Members of Congress from lobbying Members, officers, or employees of Congress, and for other purposes.
Introduced July 21, 2026 by Tony Wied · Last progress July 21, 2026
Extends the time former Members of Congress are banned from lobbying Congress and bars recently departed Members from being paid as federal contractors. The bill raises the lobbying prohibition to 10 years for Senators and Representatives (including Delegates and Resident Commissioners) who leave office on or after enactment, and separately forbids those same individuals from accepting compensation as federal contractors for 10 years after leaving office.