RELEASE: REPS. KHANNA, TLAIB, AND LEE INTRODUCE THE DRAIN THE SWAMP ACT TO REINSTATE KEY WHITE HOUSE ETHICS RULES

Washington, DC – Today, Representatives Ro Khanna (CA-17), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and Summer Lee (PA-12), introduced the Drain the Swamp Act, that includes bans on lobbying activities for former government officials and reinstates cooling-off periods and merit-based hiring requirements. 

When President Trump returned to office, he rescinded key ethics rules that had been established by President Biden through executive order. These included restrictions on gifts from lobbyists and rules designed to reduce conflicts of interest. Nearly 70% of Americans view corruption as a major issue in the federal government. The Drain the Swamp Act is a response to this rollback, aiming to rebuild public trust and enshrine these ethics provisions into law so they cannot be undone by future executive actions.  

“President Trump promised to drain the swamp, yet one of the first things he did in office was reverse President Biden's executive order that banned White House officials from accepting gifts from lobbyists. The American people should feel confident that administration officials are working for them, not for special interests. Today, I’m introducing the Drain the Swamp Act to reestablish key ethics rules, including a ban on White House officials accepting gifts from lobbyists, not just for this administration, but for all administrations going forward,” said Rep. Ro Khanna. 

“The American people are sick and tired of watching corporate lobbyists and political insiders trade public service for private gain while our communities are still fighting for the basics like housing, health care, clean air, safe schools, fair wages, and clean drinking water,” said Rep. Lee. “This bill is about putting people first and making sure our government answers to the people — not to the highest bidder, and not to the biggest check. If we're serious about justice, about democracy, about restoring trust in our institutions, then we have to start by cleaning up the corruption that’s been allowed to rot it from the inside. Our communities deserve leaders who serve them — not themselves. We’re not here to protect power. We’re here to shift it back where it belongs: with the people,” said Rep. Summer Lee. 

“In the Trump Administration, self-dealing and pay-to-play are not a bug, they’re a feature. Since being sworn in, Donald Trump has signed more than 110 executive orders, but the only action he’s taken on anti-corruption and lobbyist restrictions is to repeal them.  Public Citizen strongly supports this bill to put back in place the ban on gifts from lobbyists to presidential appointees, limits on the revolving door between lobbying and government, and strong ethics enforcement to ensure that our government serves the needs of the American people rather than enriching lobbyists, cronies, and corrupt officials,” said Jon Golinger, Democracy Advocate with Public Citizen.

“Every day, we see new examples of how Donald Trump and his cronies are dismantling safeguards meant to protect our democracy – dissolving ethics rules on the executive branch and handing power over to billionaire donors. The Drain the Swamp Act codifies White House ethics rules that used to be standard practice, preventing any president from erasing them with the stroke of a pen. Nearly 7 out of 10 Americans believe corruption in our government is a critical issue. Without these ethics protections, we open the door to backroom deals, conflicts of interest, and corruption. We are grateful to Representatives Khanna, Tlaib, and Lee for leading this important legislative effort to restore ethics in the Oval Office,” said Brett Edkins, Managing Director, Policy and Political Affairs at Stand Up America. 

“We are witnessing an unprecedented and dangerous unraveling of ethics rules and norms in an effort to profit off the presidency. We need meaningful guardrails to ensure the White House is never for sale. The Drain the Swamp Act codifies key ethics standards followed by previous administrations, like banning gifts from lobbyists and establishing cooling-off periods to curb the revolving door between industry and government. These are common-sense reforms to prevent corruption and safeguard our democracy. CREW applauds Rep. Khanna for his leadership on this issue and urges Congress to pass this bill without delay,” said Debra Perlin, Vice President for Policy of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW). 

The Drain the Swamp Act codifies previous White House ethics rules, preventing any president from weakening them through executive action. Specifically, the bill will:

• Lobbyist Gift Ban: Prohibits appointees from accepting gifts from registered lobbyists or lobbying organizations.
• Revolving Door Ban – Entering Government: Appointees cannot participate in matters related to former employers or clients for two years.
• Revolving Door Ban – Former Lobbyists & Foreign Agents: Prohibits former lobbyists or foreign agents from working on issues they previously lobbied on or within agencies they lobbied for two years before appointment.
• Revolving Door Ban – Leaving Government: Former appointees must adhere to a two-year cooling-off period restricting agency communications.
• Senior & Very Senior Officials Ban: Senior officials cannot assist lobbying efforts for one year after leaving government.
• Lobbying Ban – Post-Government Service: Appointees cannot lobby executive branch officials or foreign entities for the remainder of the administration or two years post-service, whichever is longer.
• Golden Parachute Ban: Prohibits appointees from accepting special payments or benefits from former employers as incentives for entering government service.
• Merit-Based Hiring Commitment: Ensures hiring decisions are based on qualifications, competence, and experience—not political connections.

For the full text of the bill, click here.