Stephen Miller’s new rule on White House staffers meeting lobbyists: Work for the people of the nation like Donald Trump, not for lobbyists
The new White House chief of staff Stephen Miller has moved to tighten access for lobbyists, requiring administration officials to obtain prior approval before holding policy-related meetings with registered lobbyists inside the White House complex. This is again a sharp departure from Susie Wiles who cultivated relationships with lobbyists, corporate executives and political donors.According to a memo circulated to White House staff, employees must obtain approval from the Office of White House Counsel before meeting registered lobbyists on the White House complex to discuss government policy. The memo, signed by Alina Bulazel, director of the Office of the Chief of Staff, said staff members were expected to follow Trump’s example by dedicating their time to working Americans rather than outside interests.
What does the memo say?
As reported by POLITICO, the memo says: “No President in history has fought more relentlessly, selflessly or courageously for the American People than President Trump. Following his example, White House staff are expected to dedicate their time unwaveringly to the working people of the nation.”The restrictions do not amount to a complete ban on lobbyists meeting administration officials but a prior approval is now mandatory.
Miller’s appointment unsettles K Street
Miller’s elevation to chief of staff has unsettled Republican lobbyists, many of whom fear that their traditional channels of influence over the administration could become less effective. A dozen Republican lobbyists told POLITICO that Miller is known for his ideological rigidity, loyalty to Trump and reluctance to be influenced through personal relationships.Unlike Wiles, who spent much of her career working in lobbying and political consulting, Miller has built his reputation around advancing Trump’s policy agenda, particularly on immigration and the broader America First platform.Hunter Morgen, a lobbyist at Ballard Partners who worked with Miller during Trump’s first administration, said Miller was not someone lobbyists could easily persuade through relationship-building. “He doesn’t operate based on relationships. He operates based on policy outcomes that will advance the president’s agenda,” Morgen said.The memo also came amid allegations about the influence of lobbying firms and their connections to the Trump administration.Wiles, who was replaced by Miller, previously worked at lobbying firms Ballard Partners and Mercury Public Affairs before becoming Trump’s chief of staff. Her connections to the lobbying industry have come under renewed scrutiny following allegations by Calley Means, a former adviser to Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr., that corporate interests and well-connected lobbyists enjoyed undue influence over White House decisions. Means specifically raised questions about Ballard Partners, whose founder Brian Ballard has longstanding ties to Trump.Ballard has rejected the allegations and said his firm’s interactions with Wiles during her tenure as chief of staff were limited. Wiles’ allies have also pushed back against accusations of improper influence.A White House spokesperson said Trump’s loyalty was to the American people, not lobbyists, and that the administration remained focused on implementing his America First agenda.The new restrictions, however, may not prevent corporate executives and wealthy business leaders from reaching Trump directly. The president has maintained relationships with business leaders through private meetings, events and other channels outside the formal lobbying process.
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