Trump officials will be banned form lobbying for FIVE YEARS after they leave the administration, to stop them using government to 'enrich themselves'
- Donald Trump announces tough new anti-lobbying ban for all of his staff
- People on the President-elect's transition team cannot be lobbyists
- They also cannot lobby for anyway for five years after leaving his team
- Incoming officials for the administration will be subject to the same ban
- It is unclear how many workers it will impact and how it will be enforced
Donald Trump's staff has announced a tough new anti-lobbying for all members of his transition team and all other officials who work for the President-elect.
People who work with Trump must sever all their ties to the lobbying industry, and they are not allowed to lobby on behalf of anyone for five years after they leave the Donald's side.
The ban also applies to the transition team members charged with helping to find, vet and hire for the incoming Republican administration, Trump spokesman Sean Spicer said late Wednesday in New York.
Donald Trump has announced a tough new anti-lobbying for all members of his transition team and all other officials who work for him
Additionally, neither the transition advisers nor incoming officials are permitted to be registered federal or state lobbyists, Spicer said. He described the measures as helping to ensure people won't be able to use government service 'to enrich themselves.'
The Trump team did not explain how the ban would be enforced.
Trump also wants to 'expand the definition of lobbyist so we close all the loopholes that former government officials use by labeling themselves consultants and advisers when we all know they are lobbyists.'
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell did not answer questions about the lobbying ban on Wednesday.
People who work with Trump must sever all their ties to the lobbying industry, and they are not allowed to lobby on behalf of anyone for five years after they leave the Donald's side
Trump spokesman Sean Spicer spoke to reporters about the lobbying ban on Wednesday
When he was asked by reporters, McConnell instead said he hopes legislators 'address the real concerns of the American people' rather than fixate on every utterance during the presidential contest.
However, the plan has been met with some criticism, with experts saying it will seriously impact Trump's ability to get a capable team in place.
'This will have a chilling effect on his hiring, no doubt,' Paul Miller, who leads the National Institute for Lobbying and Ethics, said.
Spicer (pictured getting into an elevator at Trump Tower) described the measures as helping to ensure people won't be able to use government service 'to enrich themselves
It is unclear how many of the thousands of people Trump (pictured during a press conference) is due to hire will be subject to the lobbying ban
'Most people who agree to government service want to go back into the private sector. We don't want career politicians, and that's what he could end up with.'
It is unclear how many of the thousands of people Trump is about to hire would be subject to his ban.
His proposal allegedly covers, 'all executive-branch officials,' but in practice he may be referring only to Cabinet members and high-level White House officials.