Donald Trump, now in his second term, has rescinded prohibitions on executive branch employees accepting major gifts from lobbyists and removed bans on lobbyists seeking executive branch jobs or vice versa for at least two years. This move comes as Trump issued an executive order on his first day in office that nullified an ethics order signed by former President Joe Biden in 2021.
Trump's personal financial interests have also come under scrutiny as he benefits from the launch of a new cryptocurrency token and his wife, Melania Trump, signs a deal to produce a documentary with Amazon. The Trump Organization has voluntarily agreed not to make deals with foreign governments but has not extended this restriction to private companies abroad.
Government watchdog groups have criticized Trump's actions, accusing him of opening the door to conflicts of interest and exploiting his position for personal gain. Trump's initial promise to 'drain the swamp' and tackle institutional corruption in Washington has seemingly taken a backseat as he focuses on his financial ventures.
While Trump began his first term in 2017 with an ethics order banning executive branch employees from becoming lobbyists for five years, he later released current and former administration members from these restrictions before leaving office in 2020. This move echoes past instances where presidents have implemented and then rolled back ethics rules towards the end of their terms.
Speculation remains about whether Trump will introduce new ethics rules to replace those he has nullified. Despite his past criticism of the 'revolving door' between government positions and lobbying roles, Trump's stance on ethics regulations remains uncertain. Legal experts suggest that the existing extensive ethics laws governing executive branch employees may suffice without the need for additional executive actions.
The impact of Trump's decision to scrap Biden's ethics order may provide former members of the Democratic administration with more employment opportunities by lifting previous bans. This move could ease the job search process for individuals transitioning out of government roles.
