Wied Introduces 10-Year Ban on Members of Congress Becoming Lobbyists or Federal Contractors

WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Tony Wied (R-WI) introduced legislation today to address an issue that has plagued the DC swamp for far too long: career politicians using their connections and insider knowledge to enrich themselves as lobbyists and federal contractors after leaving office.

The Safeguarding Ethics and Restoring Voter Expectations (SERVE) Act establishes a mandatory ten-year cooling-off period prohibiting any individual who serves as a Member of Congress during the 119th Congress or any succeeding Congress from lobbying or engaging in compensated federal contracting activities.

"Public service is supposed to be about the people we represent, not a steppingstone to personal gain," said Congressman Wied. "Yet too often, we see former Members of Congress leverage their time in Washington to position themselves for lucrative lobbying or federal contracting opportunities immediately after leaving office. This self-serving cycle is exactly why the American people have lost faith in Washington, and I don't blame them. Until we end this revolving door, career politicians will continue to abuse the system to enrich themselves and further erode trust in our government."

Background: For decades, Americans have watched as former Members of Congress have walked out of the Capitol and immediately cashed in on their time in office, turning public trust into private profit. This revolving-door culture erodes confidence in Congress and fuels the perception that decisions made here are shaped by future job prospects rather than the interests of our constituents. Currently, Senators are prohibited from lobbying for 2 years after leaving office, and Representatives are prohibited from lobbying for 1 year. There are no restrictions prohibiting former Members of Congress from serving as federal contractors.

The SERVE Actaddresses this conflict of interest by:

• Establishing a mandatory ten-year cooling-off period for any individual who serves as a Member of Congress during the 119th Congress or any Congress thereafter.
• Prohibiting former Members from:
  • Lobbying Congress or federal agencies.
  • Engaging in compensated federal contracting activities for ten years after leaving office.

This legislation institutes practical, commonsense reforms that put constituents first and will help rebuild faith in Congress.

Read the full bill text HERE.