President Trump signed an executive order lifting a five-year lobbying ban for members of his administration just hours before he leaves office and Joe Biden is sworn in as the next president of the United States.
The order, issued early Wednesday along with a flurry of pardons for former top campaign and White House officials, nullifies an ethics pledge made by all members of his administration that would have required them to adhere to a five-year cooling-off period before engaging in lobbying services.
“Employees and former employees subject to the commitments in Executive Order 13770 will not be subject to those commitments after noon January 20, 2021,” the order reads.
Former President Clinton signed a similar waiver with only weeks left in his term, The Associated Press noted.
Trump ran for president in 2016 partially on a promise to “drain the swamp” and regularly attacked politicians, lobbyists and members of the “political elite” who he said were out of touch with Americans and put their own interests above those of the nation.
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Trump revokes 5-year lobbying ban for administration officials on last day in office https://t.co/kgOq3FJZ1d pic.twitter.com/cSKIX9YI08
— The Hill (@thehill) January 20, 2021
President Trump rescinded an executive order he issued in 2017 to bar former White House employees from lobbying the government after leaving their jobs.
The original order was one of the few concrete steps Trump took in his pledge to “drain the swamp.” https://t.co/IFPkELFd2o
— The New York Times (@nytimes) January 20, 2021
Oh so swampy. https://t.co/nDOxzg9jgI
— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahDispatch) January 20, 2021
On his way out the door, Trump revokes his own executive order 13770 banning Trump administration officials from lobbying for five years. pic.twitter.com/pUqljKGXJE
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) January 20, 2021
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