Restricting Membership: Assessing Agency Compliance and the Effects of Banning Federal Lobbyists from Executive Branch Advisory Committee Service

Abstract

In October 2011, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued guidelines prohibiting lobbyists from federal advisory committee service. Issued as a corollary to Executive Order 13490—which placed limits on lobbyist's government service—OMB's guidelines suggest that lobbyists have had undue influence over policy making. This article explores limited advisory committee literature and examines lobbyists' potential advisory process influence. Using data on lobbyists who served on advisory committees between 2009 and 2012, the article finds that while lobbyists' service has declined, some continue to serve. To conclude, the article explores first‐hand accounts from former advisory committee members to offer some perceived consequences of restricting lobbyist committee service.