Close the Revolving Door Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2]
Introduced
Summary
This bill would impose a lifetime ban on former Members of Congress from lobbying current congressional officials and would tighten post‑employment rules, disclosure, and penalties to limit revolving‑door influence on Capitol Hill. It pairs a broad ban for former lawmakers with longer cooling‑off periods for staff and new public reporting requirements for lobbying firms.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Tougher revolving door limits in Congress
If enacted, former Senators, Representatives, and elected officers would face a lifetime ban on lobbying Congress. Several staff bans after leaving Congress would grow from 1 year to 6 years. Members and committees could not hire a registered lobbyist or foreign agent for 6 years after the person leaves that job when that person had substantial contact with that office. Substantial contact would include work on pending bills, seeking earmarks or other federal funds, arranging meetings or presentations, or fundraising; simple personal donations would not count. Ethics committees could grant a waiver for a compelling national need. One rule would be narrowed to apply to staff only, which could ease limits for some former elected officers. Violations of the lifetime lobbying ban would be punished under federal law.
Stronger lobbying disclosure and penalties
If enacted, Congress would run a public site, lobbyists.gov, to search and download lobbying data. Incorporated firms with more than 3 registered lobbyists would file a yearly list of certain former Members and senior staff they employ or contract. Each filing would include short job details and why the person must be listed. Filings would go to the U.S. Attorney in Washington, D.C., to check for underreporting. The bill would raise the top civil fine for Lobbying Disclosure Act violations from $200,000 to $500,000. It would authorize $100,000 in FY 2026 to build the site.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2]
CO • D
Cosponsors
Craig
MN • D
Sponsored 6/4/2025
Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17]
PA • D
Sponsored 6/4/2025
Rep. Ryan, Patrick [D-NY-18]
NY • D
Sponsored 6/4/2025
Rep. Scholten, Hillary J. [D-MI-3]
MI • D
Sponsored 6/4/2025
Ocasio-Cortez
NY • D
Sponsored 7/2/2025
Khanna
CA • D
Sponsored 7/14/2025
Riley (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 8/29/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov