Four members of Congress are calling on the internal watchdogs at 16 federal agencies to investigate potential ethical violations involving former lobbyists who were appointed during the Trump administration. The lawmakers—Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Representative Andy Kim of New Jersey, Representative Pat Ryan of New York, and Representative Deborah Ross of North Carolina—expressed their concerns in a letter addressed to the inspectors general of various governmental departments.
### Request for Investigation
The letter specifically highlights a range of former lobbyists-turned-officials, including Attorney General Pam Bondi, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, border czar Tom Homan, and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. The lawmakers contend that some of these appointees may have breached federal ethics laws intended to prevent conflicts of interest.
“Federal ethics law directs federal employees not to work on matters involving clients they represented in the past year,” the letter states. “However, we are concerned that some Trump administration officials may have nevertheless done so.” They also pointed out that even with compliance to the one-year recusal law, relationships with former clients could still influence decision-making.
### Scope of the Concerns
The letter was sent to the inspectors general at multiple agencies, including the Justice Department, the Department of Defense, the Treasury Department, the State Department, and the Environmental Protection Agency, among others. According to a report by the Campaign Legal Center, as of April 2025, over 21 former lobbyists hold significant leadership positions within the federal government.
Historically, federal ethics guidelines prevent government employees from engaging in certain matters related to their former employers for at least one year. During his first term, then-President Donald Trump extended this recusal period to two years; however, no such ethics pledge has been enacted during his second term.
### Allegations Against Appointees
The concerns raised by the lawmakers draw particular attention to the activities of Attorney General Pam Bondi and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, both former employees of the lobbying firm Ballard Partners. The lawmakers allege that since Bondi’s appointment at the Justice Department, several clients of Ballard have been treated preferentially. For instance, the department reportedly dropped its opposition to a merger involving American Express Global Business Travel, which was a client of Ballard.
Additionally, the letter mentions that both Paramount and Netflix have retained Ballard while seeking to merge with Warner Brothers Discovery. As Paramount is the parent company of CBS News, this relationship has garnered additional scrutiny.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is also under examination. Prior to assuming his role, Duffy worked as a lobbyist for BGR Group, representing various organizations, including the Partnership for Fair and Open Skies. The lawmakers noted that since his confirmation, BGR has grown its lobbying roster from 14 to 19 clients at the Department of Transportation.
### Further Implications
The letter questions the lobbying activities of White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, who previously worked for Mercury Public Affairs. The firm reportedly engaged in lobbying efforts for 26 different clients in 2025.
The investigation is also expected to consider former border czar Tom Homan, who was once embroiled in an FBI bribery investigation but was cleared of any criminal wrongdoing. Sources familiar with the case indicated that Homan faced allegations of accepting cash from an undercover agent in exchange for government contracts. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche confirmed that the investigation was closed due to “no credible evidence of any criminal wrongdoing.” Homan has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
### Voices from the Administration
As of now, comments from the Justice Department, the Department of Transportation, and the White House have not been made available. The lawmakers’ requests for investigation underscore ongoing tensions regarding ethics and accountability within the federal government, particularly as they pertain to the integration of former lobbyists into high-ranking positions.
This inquiry may shed light on whether the integrity of the governmental process has been compromised due to prior relationships between appointees and their former clients. As citizens and watchdog organizations call for transparency and ethical governance, the outcome of these investigations could have long-lasting implications for policy and practice in future administrations.
Source: Original Reporting
About The Author
