Tax-exempt organizations, including private foundations and other types of nonprofits associated with high-net worth individuals, have been subject to increasing investigative scrutiny in recent years. Last Congress, for example, the House Judiciary Committee and several other committees issued document requests to multiple nonprofit organizations, and in this Congress the trend
Continue Reading Tax-Exempt Organizations: Understanding Executive and Congressional Enforcement PrioritiesLDA’s Registration Thresholds Increase for Lobbyist Employers and Lobbying Firms
By Derek Lawlor & Elizabeth Upton on
Posted in Lobbying Compliance
Under the federal Lobbying Disclosure Act (“LDA”), an organization or lobbying firm must register if it employs an individual who meets the definition of a “lobbyist” and if its total expenses or income for lobbying activities meet certain monetary thresholds. Usually, the two non-monetary thresholds determining when an individual becomes…
Continue Reading LDA’s Registration Thresholds Increase for Lobbyist Employers and Lobbying FirmsNew Executive Order Gives President Veto Power Over Some FEC Rulemaking
By Perrin Cooke on
Posted in Campaign Finance
In the latest in a series of executive actions that aim to reshape much of government, President Trump signed an executive order on February 18 expanding the President’s authority over so-called independent agencies within the executive branch. The impact of this executive order will be felt across the federal government…
Continue Reading New Executive Order Gives President Veto Power Over Some FEC RulemakingAttorney General Issues Memorandum Regarding FARA Criminal Enforcement
By Robert Kelner, Brian D. Smith & Alex Langton on
Posted in Enforcement, Foreign Agents Registration Act
On her first day in office, Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a significant memorandum to all Department of Justice employees regarding the Department’s criminal enforcement policies, including a notable directive related to the Foreign Agents Registration Act (“FARA”). The memorandum provides that “[r]ecourse to criminal charges under the Foreign Agents…
Continue Reading Attorney General Issues Memorandum Regarding FARA Criminal EnforcementCalifornia Adopts New Contribution, Gift Limits for 2025-2026
By Andrew Garrahan & Zoë Brown on
Posted in Campaign Finance, State Law
The California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) has adopted higher political contribution limits and public officer gift limits for the 2025-2026 political cycle. The new limits took effect January 1, 2025.
Contribution Limits
Under the new limits, an individual, business entity, or PAC can contribute $5,900 per election to candidates…
Continue Reading California Adopts New Contribution, Gift Limits for 2025-2026FEC Raises Contribution Limits for 2025-2026
By Derek Lawlor & Kimberly Railey on
Posted in Campaign Finance
The Federal Election Commission has announced contribution limits for 2025-2026. The new “per election” limits are effective for the 2025-2026 election cycle (November 6, 2024 – November 3, 2026), and the calendar year limits are effective January 1, 2025.
The FEC increased the amount an individual can contribute to a…
Don’t Get Stuck in the Revolving Door: A Primer on Federal Post-Government Employment Restrictions
Posted in Government Ethics
With the end of the Biden Administration, the start of the Trump 2.0 Administration, and a change of power in the U.S. House, the steady churn of high-skill professionals moving in and out of government positions has reached an all-time high. Indeed, beyond the typical cadre of newly unemployed political…
Continue Reading Don’t Get Stuck in the Revolving Door: A Primer on Federal Post-Government Employment RestrictionsNew House Ethics Committee Memorandum Clarifies Rules on Personal Use of Covered Campaign Funds
By Robert Lenhard, Matthew Shapanka & Stephanie King on
Posted in Campaign Finance, Government Ethics
The House Ethics Committee concluded 2024 by releasing a memorandum updating its guidance for Members’ personal use of political campaign funds (“updated guidance”). While the Federal Election Campaign Act (“FECA”) and Federal Election Commission (“FEC”) regulations prohibit the personal use of campaign funds, House Rule 26.6(b) imposes additional restrictions on…
Continue Reading New House Ethics Committee Memorandum Clarifies Rules on Personal Use of Covered Campaign FundsDepartment of Justice Proposes Major Changes to FARA Regulations, Including Sweeping Changes Affecting Multinational Companies
On January 2, 2025, the Department of Justice published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
(“NPRM”) soliciting public comments on potential amendments to the Department’s regulations
regarding the Foreign Agents Registration Act (“FARA”). The regulatory amendments proposed
by the Department are significant, and they would take the statute in a substantially…
New Law Appears to Restrict Defense Contractors from Retaining Consultants Who Lobby for Chinese Military Companies
Posted in Government Ethics, Lobbying Compliance
Under a newly enacted law, beginning June 30, 2026, defense contractors risk losing all future contracts with the Defense Department if they engage outside consultants that lobby for certain Chinese companies. On December 23, 2024, President Biden signed the National Defense Authorization Act (“NDAA”) for Fiscal Year (“FY”) 2025…
Continue Reading New Law Appears to Restrict Defense Contractors from Retaining Consultants Who Lobby for Chinese Military Companies