Trump transition announces appointees will be required to sign 5-year ban on lobbying

President-elect Donald Trump will require all appointees to sign a five-year ban on lobbying effective after they leave the administration, his transition team announced to reporters in a conference call on Wednesday (16 November). The ban is the next step in Trump's campaign promise to "drain the swamp" of special interests and career politicians in Washington DC.

Earlier on Wednesday, Vice President-elect Mike Pence reportedly ordered a ban on all lobbyists on the transition team. This was the reason given for the sacking of top foreign policy official, Matthew Freedman. Pence also gutted the landing teams that were in place prior to him taking control of the transition.

Trump spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters that the first wave of "landing teams" will be announced on Thursday (17 November). The first four landing teams, which will work with national security agencies, will head out to the Departments of State, Justice and Defense and the National Security Council.

Spicer also revealed that additional landing teams—people who act as intermediaries between the transition and federal agencies — will be launched next week for economic and domestic agencies.

Trump's spokesman added that the president-elect had met with a number of people on Wednesday, including Congressmen Tom Price and Mike Pompeo, Senator Jeff Sessions, Eva Moskowitz and Steve Feinberg. Spicer said these people would be considered for cabinet positions and other jobs within the administration.

Trump is expected to meet with another round of people on Thursday, including former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, Congressman Jeb Hensarling, Florida Governor Rick Scott, Safra Catz, retired Army General Jack Keane, National Security Agency Director Admiral Mike Rogers and former Cincinnati Mayor Ken Blackwell.