The "Close the Revolving Door Act of 2025" seeks to significantly tighten regulations on lobbying by former government officials and improve transparency. A central provision establishes a lifetime ban on former Senators, Members of the House of Representatives, and elected officers from lobbying any Member, officer, or employee of Congress. This aims to prevent individuals from immediately leveraging their past positions for private gain. The bill also extends the post-employment lobbying restriction for certain congressional staff from the current one year to six years, broadening the scope of the "revolving door" restrictions. Furthermore, it introduces a new prohibition preventing registered lobbyists or agents of foreign principals from being hired by a Member or committee of Congress with whom they had substantial lobbying contact within six years of leaving their lobbying role, though a waiver is possible for compelling national need. To enhance transparency, the legislation mandates the creation of an easily searchable, joint internet database called lobbyists.gov , maintained by the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House, for all publicly disclosed lobbying information. It also requires "substantial lobbying entities" – those employing more than three registered lobbyists – to annually report on their employees who are former Members of Congress or specific high-level legislative branch officials. This new reporting data will be made public on lobbyists.gov and provided to the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia for oversight. Finally, the bill significantly increases the maximum civil penalty for violations of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 from $200,000 to $500,000 , reinforcing compliance.