Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) have introduced bipartisan legislation that would impose a lifetime ban on former members of Congress from lobbying the legislative and executive branches.
The bill, called the Banning Lobbying and Safeguarding Trust Act, would prohibit former senators and House members from working as registered lobbyists or engaging in any activity requiring registration under the Lobbying Disclosure Act. It would also bar former lawmakers from making lobbying contacts with current members of Congress, congressional staff, and legislative offices regardless of their registration status.
What the Right Is Saying
Scott, who serves as a close ally of President Trump, argued that the public's declining trust in institutions stems from the revolving door between Capitol Hill and K Street. "Trust in our institutions is at an all-time low, and the revolving door between Capitol Hill and K Street is a big part of that," he said. Scott emphasized his view that public service was not intended by the nation's founders to serve as a training ground for professional lobbying careers. He stated that the legislation represents an effort to "end this practice once and for all."
What the Left Is Saying
Warren framed the legislation as an effort to close what she called a revolving door that has corrupted government and eroded public trust in elected officials. "Members of Congress should spend their time in Washington serving the American people, not preparing to cash in big time with a cushy lobbying career after they leave office," Warren said in a statement. She called the bipartisan measure "an important push" to end the practice of former lawmakers leveraging their connections for private-sector lobbying work.
What the Numbers Show
Under current law, former senators are permitted to lobby their former colleagues after a two-year cooling-off period, while former House members face a one-year break before they may engage in such lobbying activities. The Warren-Scott bill would eliminate both waiting periods entirely and replace them with permanent prohibitions.
The legislation authorizes the Department of Justice to pursue criminal penalties against violators: up to one year of imprisonment for simple violations and up to five years for knowing and willful violations. Civil fines could reach $50,000 per transgression. These enforcement mechanisms represent a significant escalation from current practice.
The Bottom Line
The bipartisan introduction of this legislation signals rare cooperation across party lines on an ethics issue that has drawn criticism from both ideological perspectives. The bill faces an uncertain path forward in Congress, where similar lobbying reform measures have stalled in previous sessions. Supporters will need to build coalition among members who have benefited from the current cooling-off system and navigate opposition from lobbying interests. Whether the measure can advance through committee hearings and reach a floor vote remains to be determined.