An alliance between Republican Senator Rick Scott and Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren has resulted in a new legislative push to fundamentally change how Washington operates.
On Thursday, the duo introduced the Banning Lobbying and Safeguarding Trust (BLAST) Act, a bill designed to impose a permanent, lifetime ban on former members of Congress from becoming lobbyists.
The proposed law targets the “revolving door” that often sees lawmakers transition directly from writing laws to being paid by private interests to influence them. Under current rules, former Senators face a two-year “cooling off” period before they can lobby their former colleagues, while House members face a one-year wait.
The BLAST Act would eliminate these waiting periods in favor of a total, lifelong prohibition.
“When politicians use their time in public office to cash in after they leave government, the American people lose,” Senator Rick Scott said in a statement. “The revolving door between Capitol Hill and K Street is a big part of why trust in our institutions is at an all-time low. Our founders never intended public service to become a training ground for a lifetime of lobbying.”
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The bill is structured to close several loopholes often used to circumvent existing ethics rules. It prohibits former members from registering as lobbyists under the Lobbying Disclosure Act and bars them from making any “lobbying contacts” intended to influence official action.
The legislation also takes aim at “shadow lobbying”—a practice where former lawmakers are paid for their expertise and strategic advice to clients, even if they don’t personally make direct contact with current officials.
Senator Elizabeth Warren emphasized that the goal is to ensure lawmakers stay focused on their constituents rather than their next career move.
“Members of Congress should spend their time in Washington serving the American people, not preparing to cash in big time with a cushy lobbying career after they leave office,” Warren said. “It’s long past time to close the revolving door that’s corrupted our government.”
The stakes for violating the proposed law are high. If passed, former members who break the ban could face up to five years in prison. The bill also includes civil penalties of up to $50,000 per violation.
The BLAST Act would apply to any Senator, Representative, or elected officer of either chamber who leaves office on or after the date the bill is enacted into law.
While the bill represents a rare moment of bipartisan cooperation between two senators who often sit on opposite ends of the political spectrum, it now faces the challenge of moving through the committee process in a Congress where many current members may eventually seek employment in the private sector.
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