Trump tries to dodge transparency on waivers for former lobbyists

The Trump administration drew a sharp rebuke from the head of the Office of Government Ethics for asking him to withdraw a request for copies of waivers for former lobbyists hired to work for the administration or a federal agency. Ethics chief Walter Shaub said he expects federal agencies to release copies of waivers, writing, “Public confidence in the integrity of government decision making demands no less.” (The New York Times, May 22, 2017, by Eric Lipton)

The New York Magazine declared in a headline that the administration had “declared war” on the ethics office. In the letter to Shaub, the administration questioned the authority of the Office of Government Ethics. Reporter Eric Levitz, May 22, 2017,  noted that the Obama administration did issue some waivers for some ex-lobbyists but always explained why an exception was necessary. Trump appointed ex-lobbyists to jobs regulating industries they previously served.

The ethics waivers make it impossible to examine an appointee for conflicts of interest and violations of ethical standards. Critics of the move say that it is disturbing to see information withheld that could provide the public with a view of possible improper and lax government regulation. (Esquire, May 22, 2017, by Jack Holmes)