Overview

Ziad Ojakli is a corporate government affairs executive who exemplifies the revolving door between the White House and corporate lobbying. He served as Deputy Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs under George W. Bush; where he was a key liaison between the administration and Congress during the passage of major legislation including the Patriot Act; the Iraq War authorization; and the Bush tax cuts. After leaving the White House; he became Vice President of Government and Community Relations at Ford Motor Company from 2004 to 2013; where he oversaw Ford's federal lobbying during the 2008 auto industry bailout. Ford was the only major Detroit automaker that did not accept TARP bailout funds; and Ojakli positioned this as a competitive advantage. He then moved to AT&T as Senior Executive Vice President of External and Legislative Affairs; overseeing the telecom giant's lobbying operation during major regulatory battles including the attempted merger with Time Warner; net neutrality debates; and the FirstNet public safety network contract. AT&T spent over $16 million annually on federal lobbying during his tenure. The pattern of White House officials transitioning directly into corporate government relations roles raises fundamental questions about whether government service is being used as a training ground for corporate influence; and whether the access and relationships built in public service are being monetized for private gain.

Key Affiliations

Controversies & Concerns

Related Investigations (1)

Known Associates & Connections

Sources & Documentation

2 documented sources from official records, investigations, and reports