Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Log In
Ray LaHood

The Revolving Door Spins Again: LaHood Joins DLA Piper

11:41 AM EST on January 24, 2014

When former Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced earlier this month that he was going to co-chair Building America's Future, I thought, "well that seems like a good place for him, but it's not going to make his wife happy." Mrs. LaHood has famously been needling him for years to get out of public office and make some money in the private sector.

Former DOT Secretary Ray LaHood will now be a lobbyist policy adviser at one of the biggest law firms in the world. Photo: ##http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/srnqi9kOP5E/Ray+LaHood+Testifies+Before+Senate+Banking/2g3rP4Jct3S/Ray+LaHood##Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images##

Looks like he's getting right on that. He announced this week that he's got a second gig lined up -- this time, as a senior adviser at DLA Piper, one of the 10 largest law firms in the world. The firm doesn't do much lobbying on transportation, though over the last few years it's done $630,000 worth of business with Northeast MAGLEV, a Japanese-backed company that wants to build high-speed magnetic levitation trains on the Northeast Corridor.

Despite his abiding interest in high-speed rail, LaHood will not, apparently, be lobbying his former U.S. DOT colleagues on Northeast MAGLEV's behalf, since revolving door rules prevent such a thing -- though technically, he can lobby his old colleagues in Congress any time he wants.

A spokesperson for LaHood has made it clear that as a policy adviser, lobbying won't be in his job description.

James Hood at Consumer Affairs rolls his eyes at this, saying President Obama's ethics rules leave too much room for government officials to use position titles like "lawyer" and "policy adviser" to do lobbying that would otherwise be banned. "You can, in other words, make a big show of closing the front door but it doesn't do much good if the side door remains wide open," Hood said.

Joan DeBoer, LaHood's chief of staff at U.S. DOT, is making the move with him.

NHTSA chief David Strickland is also taking advantage of the revolving door, landing a plum job at Venable, LLP, a lobbying law firm that deals with auto regulation.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

To Help Save the Planet, Take the ‘Week Without Driving’ Challenge

Sierra Club President Ramón Cruz is urging Americans to give up driving for seven days — and support policies to make it optional for everyone.

September 29, 2023

Friday’s Headlines Are Charged Up

Expect a lot fewer ordinary gas stations and a few more Buc-ee's in your area as the electric vehicle transition continues.

September 29, 2023

Talking Headways Podcast: Beyond Greenways

This week we’re joined by Bob Searns to talk about his new book and grand ideas for walking trails that circle whole regions and more local routes that make up a new mode of green infrastructure in cities.

September 28, 2023

Thursday’s Headlines Are Inside Out

Cars and trucks are getting safer for drivers and passengers, but people outside the vehicles are increasingly in danger.

September 28, 2023

New Federal Committee Will Push for Transportation Equity By Helping DOT Reckon With Its Past

“No one alive today is necessarily responsible for the origins of the [transportation] inequities that we inherited. But everybody who was alive today and in a position of responsibility, is accountable for what we do about it. That's why we're here.” 

September 28, 2023
See all posts