Retired military officers working for foreign governments

POGO - Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) introduced the bipartisan Retired Officers Conflict of Interest Act, a bill cracking down on the pernicious trend of retired military members going to work for foreign governments, which we investigated and released a report about last fall. In our investigation, we found that U.S. service members of varying ranks were taking on extremely lucrative (in some cases, six- or seven-figure salary) positions consulting and contracting for foreign interests, including countries known for their human rights violations and political repression. Though federal officials, including service members, are barred by the Constitution from accepting foreign gifts, jobs, or titles, a loophole in the form of an “emoluments waiver” was enabling the secretive practice. We break down the issue in an edition of our newsletter, The Bridge.