Ending Lobbyist Appointments to Agency Boards and Commissions

We are proud to announce today the next step in the President’s efforts to reduce the influence of special interests on the federal government. Today, the President signed a memorandum directing agencies in the Executive Branch not to appoint or re-appoint currently-registered federal lobbyists to advisory boards or commissions. This directive formalizes an aspiration we first announced last September and that agencies have implemented successfully on a trial basis ever since.

• Read the Presidential Memorandum.

For too long, lobbyists have wielded disproportionate influence in Washington.  It’s one thing for lobbyists to represent their clients’ interests in petitions to the government, but it’s quite another, and not appropriate, for lobbyists to hold privileged positions could enable them to advocate for their clients from within the government.   It was for this reason that the President took steps on his first day in office to close the revolving door through which lobbyists rotated between private industry and full-time executive branch positions.  Today’s step goes further by barring lobbyist appointments to part-time agency advisory positions.

These part-time agency advisory boards and commissions – of which there are thousands throughout the executive branch – help the government shape policy on everything from international trade to scientific innovation.  And while some specialists who’ve held roles on these boards for years have made positive contributions, phasing out those who simultaneously serve as lobbyists will have the added benefit of opening these boards up to fresh faces and engaging more Americans in our governing process.      

In order to avoid disrupting the ongoing work of these boards, the memorandum will not require removal of currently-serving lobbyists in the middle of their terms.  But, it will prohibit their reappointment when their term expires if they continue to serve as registered federal lobbyists.  And it prohibits the appointment of any new lobbyists from this date forward.

The memorandum now directs the Office of Management and Budget to issue implementing guidance within 90 days.  In order to engage Americans fully in reforming our government and fighting the special interests, draft guidance will be made available for public comment.

We will continue to fight the special interests until the playing field in Washington is leveled for the American people.