WASHINGTON — Eight years after taking office with a promise to “drain the swamp,” Donald Trump is marking the beginning of his second term by reinstating opportunities for executive branch employees to accept significant gifts from lobbyists. He is also lifting restrictions on lobbyists’ ability to pursue positions within the executive branch, as well as those transitioning from government roles to lobbying positions, effective for at least two years.
On his first day, Trump signed an executive order that annulled an ethics mandate established by former President Joe Biden upon his entry into office in January 2021. Meanwhile, Trump has been personally profiting from the build-up to his inauguration, notably through the launch of a new cryptocurrency token that is seeing substantial value increases. His wife, Melania Trump, has also secured a deal with Amazon to produce a documentary.
The Trump Organization has introduced a voluntary guideline that prohibits engaging in arrangements with foreign governments. However, it does not extend this restriction to private companies operating internationally. Lisa Gilbert, co-president of the public interest group Public Citizen, criticized these moves, stating that they open the door for conflicts of interest and the exploitation of presidential power for substantial personal gain at the taxpayer’s expense. She remarked, “Instead of addressing the needs of the American public, Trump’s main focus appears to be securing profitable deals.”
The Trump family’s interest in converting political success into financial gain is not surprising. During his reelection campaign last year, Trump marketed products such as bibles, gold sneakers, photo albums, and diamond-studded watches. This approach marks a stark contrast to his first term in 2017 when he enacted an ethics rule preventing executive branch personnel from transitioning to lobbying roles for five years.
Before leaving office in 2020, Trump released his administration members from these ethics guidelines, drawing a parallel with former President Bill Clinton, who enacted stricter ethics rules only to retract them shortly before his departure. Trump’s initial vow to eliminate the “swamp” culture of corruption in Washington was a fundamental aspect of his 2016 campaign. However, as he sought to secure the presidency again, this theme gained less traction during his campaign last year, although crowds of supporters continued to chant “Drain the Swamp!” during rallies.
The White House has not addressed inquiries regarding the potential for Trump to introduce his own set of ethical regulations to succeed the Biden-era reforms he has revoked. In the past, Trump has voiced concerns about the “revolving door” system, in which individuals move between government and lobbying positions. In a 2022 interview, he expressed that he was not particularly favorable toward lobbyists.
Rob Kelner, chair of election and political law at Covington & Burling, suggested that Trump may craft his own new ethics policies through executive orders. Nonetheless, he acknowledged that these could be unnecessary given the extensive existing ethics regulations applicable to executive branch employees. Kelner noted that the immediate effect of Trump’s decision to eliminate Biden’s order might provide former members of the Democratic administration with new job opportunities, easing the constraints they were previously under. “This action alleviates some of their job search burdens,” Kelner commented.
