Public Citizen and Revolving Door Project analysis identified more than 40 Trump appointees with direct fossil fuel industry ties, plus 100+ more with related interests distributed across federal agencies. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum exemplify this systematic …
Chris WrightDoug BurgumTrump AdministrationPublic CitizenRevolving Door Projectregulatory-capturesystematic-corruptionfossil-fuel-industryrevolving-door
The Department of Transportation dropped a Biden-era proposal that would have required airlines to compensate passengers with cash payments up to $775 for flight delays and cancellations under the carrier’s control. The rule abandonment came after Trump installed former airline lobbyist Sean …
Sean DuffyDepartment of TransportationAirlinesDonald Trumpregulatory-captureconsumer-protection-rollbackrevolving-doorcorporate-favoritism
ICE terminated a $72.9 million no-bid contract with Universal Strategic Advisors after competitor protests exposed “improper influence” in securing the deal. The company’s executives, Brian DeMore and David Marin, were previously sued for fabricating criminal evidence while at DHS. …
Trump revoked Biden’s Executive Order 13989 on ethics commitments on January 20, 2025, eliminating requirements that banned gifts from lobbyists, prohibited shadow lobbying for one year, and imposed two-year cooling-off periods before joining firms that lobby agencies. The rescission allows …
Donald TrumpTrump AdministrationOffice of Government Ethics (OGE)Public CitizenCraig Holman (Public Citizen lobbyist)+1 moreethics-violationlobbyingregulatory-capturegovernment-ethicsinstitutional-capture+3 more
Trump Chief of Staff Susie Wiles brings unprecedented corporate lobbying influence into the White House, with a documented history of representing 42 controversial clients across tobacco, mining, waste management, and media industries. Her appointment represents a direct conflict of interest between …
susie-wilesrepublic-servicesswisher-internationalnorthern-dynasty-mineralsmercury-public-affairs+1 moresusie-wileschief-of-staffcorporate-lobbyingtobacco-industrymining-industry+4 more
Dr. Patrizia Cavazzoni, former head of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), immediately transitioned to Pfizer as chief medical officer, reigniting intense debate about the pharmaceutical industry’s regulatory influence and the problematic ‘revolving …
Patrizia CavazzoniFDAPfizerRobert F. Kennedy Jr.Center for Drug Evaluation and Research+2 moreregulatory-capturepharmaceutical-industryfdarevolving-doorinstitutional-corruption+2 more
Daniel Bible, ICE’s top career official responsible for immigrant detention for nearly 15 years, left the agency on October 31, 2024, to become executive vice president at GEO Group, ICE’s largest private detention contractor. This move is part of a systemic ‘revolving door’ …
Daniel BibleGEO GroupICETrump PACsrevolving-doorprivate-prisonsregulatory-capturedetention-profiteeringcorruption
Northrop Grumman spent $10.86 million on federal lobbying in 2023, employing 36 lobbyists of whom 29—a staggering 80.6 percent—had previously worked in government positions, exemplifying the revolving door between the Pentagon, Congress, and defense contractors that enables systematic corruption of …
Senator Elizabeth Warren released a comprehensive report analyzing the defense contractor revolving door, identifying 672 cases where the top 20 defense contractors employed former government officials, military officers, members of Congress, and senior legislative staff. The analysis found that 91% …
Elizabeth WarrenBoeingRaytheonLockheed MartinHouse Armed Services Committee+1 morerevolving-doordefense-contractorslobbyingcongressional-corruptionpentagon
Dr. Robert Califf confirmed as FDA Commissioner by a narrow Senate vote of 50-46, highlighting ongoing concerns about pharmaceutical industry regulatory capture. Historical evidence suggests a systemic ‘revolving door’ between FDA and pharmaceutical companies, with approximately 27% of …
Robert CaliffSenateFDA LeadershipPharmaceutical Industry Executivesregulatory-capturerevolving-doorpharmaceutical-industryconflict-of-interestsenate-confirmation
Comprehensive analysis of Biden administration’s 2022 financial disclosures reveals a complex landscape of potential conflicts of interest and efforts to mitigate them. The Office of Government Ethics certified financial reports showing high compliance, with 48 out of 56 White House assistants …
Biden AdministrationOffice of Government EthicsRegulatory AgenciesPolitical AppointeesAntony Blinken+3 moreregulatory-capturerevolving-doorpersonnelconflict-of-interestethics-disclosure+1 more
In November 2021, the senior leadership of In-Q-Tel—CEO Christopher Darby, President Stephen Bowsher, and technology investor Michael Rolnick—filed for an initial public offering for Chain Bridge I, a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) seeking to raise $200 million. The blank check company …
Christopher DarbyStephen BowsherMichael MorellJeremy BashAlex Younger+2 morein-q-telciarevolving-doorcorruptionspac+2 more
Former FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn, who led the agency during the Emergency Use Authorization of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccines, took an executive-level position as Chief Medical Officer with Flagship Pioneering, the venture capital firm that launched Moderna. This transition occurred six …
Stephen HahnFlagship PioneeringModernaFood and Drug AdministrationNoubar Afeyan+1 moreregulatory-capturepharmaceutical-industryrevolving-doorcovid-19fda
President Joe Biden nominated Frank Kendall for Air Force Secretary in May 2021 despite Kendall having received $702,319 in consulting fees from Northrop Grumman as part of a $300,000 per year consulting contract after serving as Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics …
Frank KendallNorthrop GrummanU.S. Air ForceJoe BidenU.S. SenateRevolving DoorMilitary-Industrial ComplexDefense ContractorsCorruptionConflicts of Interest+2 more
On July 23, 2019, the Senate voted 90-8 to confirm Mark Esper as Secretary of Defense, installing a former Raytheon weapons lobbyist as head of the Pentagon with authority over approximately $700 billion in annual defense spending including contracts worth tens of billions to his former employer. …
Mark EsperRaytheonDonald TrumpElizabeth WarrenLindsey Grahamrevolving-doorraytheondefense-contractorspentagonmark-esper+2 more
Pfizer announced that Dr. Scott Gottlieb, who served as FDA Commissioner from May 2017 to April 2019, would join the pharmaceutical giant’s board of directors as an independent member. The appointment came just 85 days after Gottlieb resigned from the FDA, raising immediate concerns about …
Dr. Scott GottliebFDAPfizerSenator Elizabeth Warrenregulatory-capturefdapharmaceuticalsrevolving-doorboard-appointment+1 more
Scott Gottlieb, former FDA Commissioner, joined Pfizer’s board of directors on June 27, 2019, just 85 days after leaving the FDA. The move sparked significant criticism about the ‘revolving door’ between government regulatory agencies and pharmaceutical companies. Gottlieb will …
Scott GottliebElizabeth WarrenPfizer Board of DirectorsFood and Drug Administrationregulatory-capturepharmaceutical-industryrevolving-doorfdaconflict-of-interest
The Senate confirmed David Bernhardt as Interior Secretary on April 11, 2019, by a vote of 56 to 41 despite extensive conflicts of interest from his career as an oil and gas lobbyist. A Center for American Progress analysis determined Bernhardt had the dubious distinction of being the most …
David BernhardtDonald TrumpCabinet CorruptionEthics ViolationsDavid BernhardtInterior DepartmentConflicts of Interest+2 more
Senate confirmed David Bernhardt as Interior Secretary despite him having the most
conflicts of interest of any Trump Cabinet nominee - 27 former clients and employers
actively lobbying the Interior Department. A former oil and gas lobbyist, Bernhardt
had so many potential conflicts he literally …
David BernhardtDonald TrumpDepartment of InteriorHalliburtonWestlands Water Districtregulatory-captureconflict-of-interestoil-and-gasinterior-departmentrevolving-door+2 more
Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi joined Ballard Partners, the powerful Trump-connected lobbying firm, as chairwoman of the Corporate Regulatory Compliance practice immediately after leaving office in January 2019. Over the next five years, Bondi would lobby on behalf of more than 30 clients …
On July 9, 2018, Donald Trump named Andrew Wheeler as Acting EPA Administrator following Scott Pruitt’s resignation amid 14 federal corruption investigations. Wheeler, a former coal industry lobbyist who had represented Murray Energy—one of America’s largest coal companies—embodied …
Andrew WheelerDonald TrumpEnvironmental Protection AgencyFaegre Baker DanielsMurray Energy+1 moreregulatory-captureepafossil-fuelsclimate-denialrevolving-door+1 more
The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City reversed its 2017 denial and approved Reserve Trust Company’s master account application in May 2018, approximately nine months after former Fed Governor Sarah Bloom Raskin allegedly contacted Kansas City Fed President Esther George. The approval raised …
Sarah Bloom RaskinReserve Trust CompanyFederal Reserve Bank of Kansas CityEsther GeorgePat Toomey+1 morefederal-reservecorruptionrevolving-doorsarah-bloom-raskinkansas-city-fed+3 more
Dan Elwell becomes acting FAA Administrator on January 7, 2018, when Michael Huerta’s five-year term ends, exemplifying the revolving door between aviation regulators and the industry they oversee. Elwell, who had served as Deputy Administrator since June 2017, brought extensive aviation …
Dan ElwellFederal Aviation AdministrationMichael HuertaTransportation Secretary Elaine ChaoBoeing Corporation+7 moreregulatory-capturefaa-leadershipboeing-737-maxrevolving-dooraviation-regulation+1 more
Dan Elwell becomes acting FAA Administrator on January 7, 2018, when Michael Huerta’s five-year term ends, exemplifying the revolving door between aviation regulators and the industry they oversee. Elwell, who had served as Deputy Administrator since June 2017, brought extensive aviation …
Dan ElwellFederal Aviation AdministrationMichael HuertaTransportation Secretary Elaine ChaoBoeing Corporation+7 moreregulatory-capturefaa-leadershipboeing-737-maxrevolving-dooraviation-regulation+1 more
Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price resigned after revelations he spent
over $1 million in taxpayer funds on private jets and military aircraft for travel
that included personal business. Price took at least 26 private charter flights
costing over $400,000, often to places where he had …
Tom PriceDonald TrumpDepartment of Health and Human Servicescorruptionresignationmisuse-of-fundshealthcareinsider-trading+5 more
On July 21, 2017, the Senate confirmed Mark Esper as Secretary of the Army, installing a former Raytheon weapons lobbyist in a senior Pentagon position overseeing billions of dollars in defense contracts. Esper had served as Raytheon’s vice president of government relations from July 2010 …
Mark EsperRaytheonDonald TrumpElizabeth Warrenrevolving-doorraytheondefense-contractorspentagonlobbying+1 more
On June 15, 2017, the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City initially denied Reserve Trust Company’s application for a master account, one month after former Fed Governor Sarah Bloom Raskin joined the fintech’s board. Subsequent investigations revealed that Raskin allegedly made direct …
Sarah Bloom RaskinReserve Trust CompanyFederal Reserve Bank of Kansas CityEsther GeorgePat Toomey+1 morefederal-reservecorruptionrevolving-doorsarah-bloom-raskinkansas-city-fed+4 more
President Donald Trump designates Ajit Pai as Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, elevating the sitting Republican commissioner and former Verizon Communications associate general counsel to lead the agency responsible for regulating his former employer and the broader …
Donald TrumpAjit PaiVerizon CommunicationsFederal Communications CommissionTom Wheelerrevolving-doorregulatory-capturefccnet-neutralityverizon+2 more
Despite campaign rhetoric opposing Wall Street, Trump appointed an unprecedented concentration of Goldman Sachs executives to key positions. Gary Cohn, who received a $285 million severance from Goldman, became National Economic Council Director. Steven Mnuchin, a 17-year Goldman partner who …
Gary CohnSteven MnuchinGoldman SachsDina PowellJay Clayton+1 moreregulatory-capturewall-streetconflict-of-interestrevolving-doorfinancial-sector
Retired General Mark Welsh joined Northrop Grumman’s board of directors just five months after retiring as Air Force Chief of Staff and barely one year after the company won the $21.4 billion initial contract to build the B-21 Raider next-generation stealth bomber, exemplifying the revolving …
Mark WelshNorthrop GrummanU.S. Air ForceWes BushDonald TrumpRevolving DoorMilitary-Industrial ComplexDefense ContractorsCorruptionPentagon Contracts+2 more
Moelis & Company, a Wall Street investment bank, announced the appointment of former House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) as vice chairman and managing director just two weeks after his congressional career ended. According to SEC filings, Cantor’s compensation package included a …
Eric CantorMoelis & CompanyHouse Republicansrevolving-doorlobbyingcongressional-corruptionwall-streetfinancial-sector
Joan Buenconsejo, who led FDA analysis of medical statistics for drug reviews including AstraZeneca products in 2012-2013, joined AstraZeneca as a director and biometrics team leader in June 2014. This transition exemplifies the systemic ‘revolving door’ problem in pharmaceutical …
Joan BuenconsejoFDAAstraZenecaCenter for Drug Evaluation and Researchregulatory-capturepharmaceutical-industryfdarevolving-doorconflict-of-interest
The Senate confirmed former Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) as U.S. Ambassador to China by a vote of 96-0, ending his 36-year congressional career. Baucus had served as chairman and ranking member of the powerful Senate Finance Committee, where he was the chief architect of the …
Max BaucusSenate Finance CommitteeMerckUnitedHealth GroupJeffrey Forbesrevolving-doorlobbyingcongressional-corruptionhealthcareregulatory-capture
General James Mattis joined the General Dynamics board of directors in August 2013, just five months after retiring from the Marine Corps in March 2013 as commander of U.S. Central Command. Mattis would earn over $900,000 in total compensation during his 2013-2017 board tenure, including $594,369 in …
James MattisGeneral DynamicsMarine Corpsrevolving-doordefense-contractorsgeneral-dynamicspentagonmilitary-industrial-complex
In August 2013, Ali Bahrami, who led the FAA office overseeing Boeing aircraft certification, departed to join the Aerospace Industries Association. This move epitomizes regulatory capture, as Bahrami had been instrumental in pushing for increased industry self-regulation. Former FAA engineers …
Ali BahramiFAABoeingAerospace Industries Association737 MAXregulatory-captureaviation-safetyfaaboeingrevolving-door+1 more
President Barack Obama nominates Tom Wheeler, a former top lobbyist for cable and wireless industries, to lead the Federal Communications Commission. Wheeler’s appointment exemplifies the revolving door between telecommunications regulators and industry, having served as CEO of the Cellular …
Tom WheelerBarack ObamaCellular Telecommunications & Internet Association (CTIA)National Cable Television Association (NCTA)Public Interest Groups+1 moreregulatory-capturefccrevolving-doortelecommunicationstom-wheeler+1 more
President Barack Obama nominates Tom Wheeler, a former top lobbyist for cable and wireless industries, to lead the Federal Communications Commission. Wheeler’s appointment exemplifies the revolving door between telecommunications regulators and industry, having served as CEO of the Cellular …
Tom WheelerBarack ObamaCellular Telecommunications & Internet Association (CTIA)National Cable Television Association (NCTA)Public Interest Groups+1 moreregulatory-capturefccrevolving-doortelecommunicationstom-wheeler+1 more
Goldman Sachs announced the appointment of former Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH) as an international advisor to the firm, making him one of 17 such advisors providing strategic counsel to Goldman’s executives and clients. Gregg had served three terms in the U.S. Senate from 1993 to 2011, serving as …
Judd GreggGoldman SachsSecurities Industry and Financial Markets Associationrevolving-doorlobbyingcongressional-corruptionwall-streetgoldman-sachs
FCC Commissioner Meredith Attwell Baker announces her resignation to join Comcast-NBC Universal as senior vice president of governmental affairs, just four months after voting to approve the company’s merger with NBC Universal. Baker was part of the 4-1 majority that approved the $30 billion …
Meredith Attwell BakerComcast CorporationNBC UniversalFederal Communications CommissionCraig Aaron+1 moreregulatory-capturefccrevolving-doortelecommunicationscomcast+1 more
FCC Commissioner Meredith Attwell Baker announces her resignation to join Comcast-NBC Universal as senior vice president of governmental affairs, just four months after voting to approve the company’s merger with NBC Universal. Baker was part of the 4-1 majority that approved the $30 billion …
Meredith Attwell BakerComcast CorporationNBC UniversalFederal Communications CommissionCraig Aaron+1 moreregulatory-capturefccrevolving-doortelecommunicationscomcast+1 more
Former Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) was named chairman and CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), becoming Hollywood’s chief lobbyist in Washington despite having “repeatedly and categorically” promised he would not work as a lobbyist after leaving the Senate. Dodd …
Chris DoddMPAAMotion Picture Associationrevolving-doorlobbyingcongressional-corruptionhollywoodfinancial-sector
Former Senator Evan Bayh (D-IN) joined private equity giant Apollo Global Management as a senior adviser and McGuireWoods as a strategic advisor immediately after leaving the Senate in January 2011. Within months, Bayh also secured positions on five corporate boards: Marathon Petroleum, Berry …
Evan BayhApollo Global ManagementMcGuireWoodsMarathon PetroleumBerry Plasticsrevolving-doorlobbyingcongressional-corruptionprivate-equitycorporate-boards
Jeffrey Siegel, an FDA staff member specializing in arthritis drug reviews, oversaw the 2010 approval of Genentech tocilizumab (Actemra) for arthritis treatment. Within months of the approval, Siegel left the FDA to join Genentech and its parent company Roche as director of the division that …
Dr. Julie Gerberding, who served as CDC Director from 2002-2009, joined Merck as president of the company’s vaccine division shortly after leaving government service. This move sparked significant controversy because during her tenure at the CDC, Gerberding oversaw the agency’s …
Dr. Julie GerberdingCDCMerckGardasil vaccineregulatory-capturecdcpharmaceuticalsrevolving-doorvaccines+1 more
Despite widespread evidence of fraud in the 2008 financial crisis, the Obama administration prosecuted zero major Wall Street executives, contrasting starkly with the Savings and Loan crisis when 1,706 bankers were sent to prison. Instead, the DOJ pursued civil settlements totaling tens of billions, …
Eric HolderDepartment of JusticeWall Street BanksLanny BreuerCovington & Burlingfinancial-crisiswall-streetimpunityrevolving-doortoo-big-to-fail
Congress passes the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act, creating the $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) to bail out major financial institutions. Despite extensive evidence of widespread mortgage fraud, predatory lending, and securities violations that precipitated the crisis, the …
Henry PaulsonGoldman SachsJPMorgan ChaseBank of AmericaCitigroup+3 moreinstitutional-capturecorruptionfinancial-crisisbailoutregulatory-capture+2 more
President Bush signed the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act authorizing 00 billion in bank bailouts with initially minimal oversight. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, former Goldman Sachs CEO, originally sought exemption from ‘review by any court of law or administrative agency.’ The …
George W. BushHenry PaulsonGoldman SachsCitigroupBank of America+2 morebank-bailouttarppaulsongoldman-sachswall-street+2 more
Senator Trent Lott (R-MS), former Senate Majority Leader, abruptly resigned from the Senate effective 11:30 PM on December 18, 2007, explicitly timing his departure to avoid the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act. The new ethics law, taking effect January 1, 2008, would have required a …
The Honest Leadership and Open Government Act took full effect after President Bush signed it into law, implementing new ethics rules designed to slow the revolving door between Congress and lobbying firms. The law extended cooling-off periods from one to two years for senators and established a …
Public Citizen released “Congressional Revolving Doors: The Journey from Congress To K Street,” documenting that 43% of U.S. House and Senate lawmakers (86 out of 198) who left office between 1998 and 2004 became registered lobbyists. The report found that 50% of eligible departing …
Public CitizenCongressK Streetrevolving-doorlobbyingcongressional-corruptionregulatory-capture