White House Requires Approval for Lobbyist Meetings

A new memo restricts policy meetings between staff and registered lobbyists on the White House complex.

Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Immigration

White House Requires Approval for Lobbyist Meetings

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Staff 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, does not amount to a complete ban on lobbyist meetings with administration officials.

Why it matters

The memo follows allegations from 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. The change comes as Stephen Miller has been elevated to White House chief of staff, replacing Susie Wiles, who previously worked at lobbying firms.

The memo requires prior approval from the Office of White House Counsel before policy-related meetings with registered lobbyists, rather than prohibiting them outright. The extraction does not detail how the approval process will be implemented or how many requests are expected.

The players

Stephen Miller

Stephen Miller is a longtime White House adviser who was elevated to White House chief of staff, replacing Susie Wiles.

Susie Wiles

Susie Wiles previously served as White House chief of staff and earlier worked at the lobbying firms Ballard Partners and Mercury Public Affairs.

Brian Ballard

Brian Ballard is the founder of Ballard Partners, a lobbying firm with longstanding ties to President Donald Trump.

Ballard Partners

Ballard Partners is a Washington lobbying firm founded by Brian Ballard, whose former employee Susie Wiles now heads the White House staff.

The details

The memo, circulated to White House staff, states that employees are expected to dedicate their time to the working people of the nation rather than outside interests. Brian Ballard, founder of Ballard Partners, rejected the allegations raised by Calley Means and said his firm's interactions with Susie Wiles during her tenure were limited. A White House spokesperson said Trump's loyalty was to the American people, not lobbyists.

November 13, 2026: Article reporting the new lobbyist meeting approval requirement is published.

Political Context

The memo adds an internal approval requirement on top of the registration and disclosure rules of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, which govern paid lobbyists who contact federal officials. Critics such as Calley Means argue that existing disclosure rules have not prevented undue corporate influence over White House decisions.

For most Americans, the memo does not change how they interact with the government directly, since it governs internal staff meetings with registered lobbyists. It does signal how policy access may be managed at the White House, which can shape which interests influence federal decisions affecting household costs and services.

The takeaway

Readers tracking federal policy should watch how the new approval process is applied in practice, since the memo's effect depends on how often and under what conditions staff meet lobbyists.