Former employees of federal agencies can often find good (and lucrative) jobs as lobbyists, capitalizing on the connections that they forged while in public service. As OpenSecrets exposes [4], the numbers of revolving-door-enthusiasts is reminiscent of the Ebola epidemic as this deadly-to-democracy disease spreads from department to department ripping away 'hope and change' wherever it appears. "Revolvers" include those as powerful - and well connected - as secretaries of state and as far from Washington as Peace Corps volunteers... but The Department of Commerce tops the list...
The agencies shown here have employed the greatest number of former lobbyists - or sent the greatest number of former employees to lobbying firms and interest groups.
| Agency | Number of revolving door people profiled |
|---|---|
| Dept of Commerce [5] | 1736 |
| Dept of Defense [6] | 1688 |
| Dept of State [7] | 1452 |
| Dept of Health & Human Services [8] | 1225 |
| White House [9] | 1216 |
| Dept of Agriculture [10] | 1112 |
| Dept of Army [11] | 1080 |
| US House of Representatives [12] | 876 |
| Dept of Justice [13] | 864 |
| Dept of Energy [14] | 840 |
| Dept of Transportation [15] | 750 |
| Dept of Interior [16] | 700 |
| Dept of Labor [17] | 555 |
| Dept of Housing & Urban Development [18] | 530 |
| Dept of Homeland Security [19] | 520 |
| Dept of the Treasury [20] | 444 |
| Dept of Navy [21] | 428 |
| Dept of Education [22] | 412 |
| Dept of Air Force [23] | 312 |
| US Senate [24] | 256 |
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[25]
