Former President Donald Trump proposes a lifetime ban on lobbying for former federal employees to mitigate FDA and Big Pharma influence.
At a Glance
- Former President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump proposed a lifetime ban on lobbying by former federal employees.
- Trump’s proposal aims to limit the revolving door between federal agencies and the industries they regulate.
- Despite this proposal, Trump’s own administration employed many former lobbyists.
- The pharmaceutical industry exploits Washington’s corruption to boost profits, leading to high drug prices for Americans.
- Drug prices continue to rise, with over 3,400 drugs affected by price increases in 2019.
Trump’s Proposal
Former President Donald Trump, now a Republican presidential candidate, has proposed a lifetime ban on lobbying by former federal employees. Trump, in speaking to comedian Theo Von, outlined his belief that imposing such a ban would curb the undue influence that big pharmaceutical companies and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) wield on policy decisions.
Trump emphasized the need to stop the “revolving door” between federal agencies and the industries they regulate.
The proposal is aimed at mitigating conflicts of interest and ensuring greater transparency and integrity in government.
Trump’s previous administration, however, was not free from employing former lobbyists. This irony does not take away from the promise he now holds dear—the reduction of the regulatory capture that besieges various agencies, including the FDA.
Trump Criticizes FDA And Big Pharma, Proposes Ban On Government Employees Turning Into Lobbyists https://t.co/xwmzxXVHZ4 via @dailycaller
— Marc Morano (@ClimateDepot) August 21, 2024
Big Pharma and Regulatory Capture
The integration of former government employees into lobbying roles has been a critical factor in the high drug prices many Americans face. The pharmaceutical industry is known for exploiting Washington’s corruption to boost profits.
“Since the 1930s, the National Institutes of Health has invested close to $900 billion in the basic and applied research that formed both the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors.”
Americans spent $535 billion on prescription drugs in 2018, a 50% increase since 2010, with drug prices escalating dramatically. Some medications saw price hikes of 40% to 71% from 2011 to 2015. Insulin prices alone increased by 197% between 2002 and 2013, causing some diabetics to ration insulin with potentially fatal consequences.
🇺🇸 Trump calls out FDA to Big Pharma lobbyist pipeline, demands a ban on government officials becoming lobbyists
In an interview with Theo Von, Donald Trump criticized the close ties between the FDA and Big Pharma, advocating for a ban on government employees ever becoming… pic.twitter.com/Ti5fDtEDhN
— X News Journal (@XNewsJournal) August 20, 2024
Deep Connections and High Profits
The cost of specialty drugs meant for life-threatening conditions remains an even greater concern. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded the research behind all 210 new drugs approved by the FDA from 2010 to 2016, yet drug prices continue to rise. Over 3,400 drugs experienced price increases in 2019 alone.
“You have to stop listening to lobbyists. You know, I was not a big person for lobbyists. And if they have even a little access to like a president or a senator or a congressman or woman, they get a lot of money,” Trump told Theo Von.
The pharmaceutical industry’s profit margins are significantly higher than those of other industries. CEOs of major pharmaceutical companies earned $90 million in 2018. High drug costs often lead to medical debt and, in some cases, force Americans to seek cheaper medications abroad.
