The 2009 Lobbyists and Ethics Executive Order, formally known as Executive Order 13490, was issued by President Barack Obama on January 21, 2009 (his second day in office). This presidential executive order aimed to restore public trust in government by establishing stricter ethics rules for executive branch appointees, particularly targeting former lobbyists. It required appointees to sign a voluntary pledge committing to ethical conduct, with key provisions including: prohibitions on accepting gifts from lobbyists; restrictions on participating in matters involving former clients or employers for two years; bans on lobbying the administration for the duration of the administration after leaving government service; a lifetime ban on lobbying the administration on behalf of industries/organizations they represented while in government; a two-year cooling-off period before appointees could lobby their former agency; and enhanced disclosure requirements for financial interests. The order applied to all executive branch employees, emphasizing transparency and accountability, and made the pledge a condition for appointment (though enforcement relied on self-certification and oversight by the Office of Government Ethics). It was part of Obama's broader campaign promise to change Washington's culture by addressing the 'revolving door' between lobbying and government. The order had significant impact on the Obama administration's composition, leading to some waivers (like for William Lynn as Deputy Secretary of Defense), faced criticism for being voluntary and allowing waivers, but was praised by ethics watchdogs for setting new standards. It remained in effect throughout Obama's presidency, influencing subsequent ethics discussions, though parts were later modified or challenged under the Trump administration.