You’ve probably seen the headlines or heard the whispers about a "Trump 5 year relationship law." It sounds like something out of a romantic thriller or a bizarre social engineering project. But honestly? The truth is a lot more about high-level politics and "draining the swamp" than it is about who you’re dating.
Most people searching for this are actually looking for the Trump 5 year relationship law regarding lobbying—specifically, how long former government officials have to wait before they can start cashing in on their professional relationships with their old agencies. It’s about the relationship between an appointee and the federal government, not a romantic one.
The 5-Year Ban: What Was It Actually?
Basically, on January 28, 2017, just days after taking office, Donald Trump signed Executive Order 13770. This wasn't some minor memo. It was a cornerstone of his campaign promise to stop the revolving door in Washington, D.C.
Under this order, every political appointee had to sign an ethics pledge. The "relationship" part comes in here: for five years after leaving their government post, these officials were legally barred from lobbying the specific agency they worked for.
If you worked for the EPA, you couldn't turn around a month later and start lobbying the EPA for a private oil company. You had to wait five years. That’s a long time in politics.
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It wasn't just about agencies
The ban also included a lifetime restriction on lobbying for foreign governments. It was intended to be the strictest ethics rule in modern history.
But there’s a catch. There’s always a catch.
Why People Are Confused About the "Law" Part
Is it a law? Technically, no. It was an Executive Order.
That distinction matters because a law passed by Congress is hard to get rid of. An Executive Order, however, can be wiped out with the stroke of a pen by the person who signed it or their successor.
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And that is exactly what happened. On his way out the door in January 2021, Trump revoked his own 5-year lobbying ban. This moved the goalposts back to the standard, much shorter cooling-off periods.
Fast forward to 2025 and 2026, and the conversation has resurfaced because of new immigration policies. Some people are confusing the 5-year lobbying "relationship" ban with new, stricter 2025 USCIS rules regarding marriage fraud and green card interviews.
The 2025 Shift: Relationships and Immigration
If you are looking for information on how the Trump administration in 2025 handles personal relationships, the focus has shifted entirely to immigration and marriage-based green cards.
Under the new 2025 guidelines, the "relationship" scrutiny has reached an all-time high. The administration hasn't passed a "5-year relationship law" for couples, but they have fundamentally changed how long-term relationships are vetted for legal status.
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- Mandatory In-Person Interviews: In 2025, USCIS reinstated mandatory interviews for all marriage-based green card applicants. No exceptions.
- Relationship Proof: They aren't just looking for a marriage certificate. They want years of "relationship history"—joint bank accounts, shared leases, and even random social media checks to ensure the relationship isn't a sham for a visa.
- Five-Year Vetting Cycles: While not a "law," the administration has reduced the validity of some work permits from 5 years down to 18 months to force more frequent vetting of an individual's status and relationship stability.
Misconceptions That Just Won't Die
You might have heard that there is a law requiring couples to be together for 5 years before they can get certain benefits.
That is false. There is no "Trump 5 year relationship law" that dictates how long you must be in a personal relationship before marrying or applying for a green card. The confusion stems from a mix of the old 2017 lobbying ban and the 2025 push for "extreme vetting."
What This Means for You Right Now
If you're an appointee or looking to work in the federal government, the rules around your "professional relationships" are back in flux. The current administration has its own set of ethics pledges, often reverting to the two-year cooling-off period favored by previous presidents like Obama and Biden.
If you're dealing with a marriage-based immigration case in 2026, the stakes are different. You don't need to be together for five years, but you do need to prove that your relationship is as real as it gets.
Actionable Insights for 2026
- For Immigration: If you are applying for a green card based on a relationship, start a paper trail now. Don't wait. Collect photos, joint utility bills, and witness affidavits early. The 2025-2026 USCIS landscape is far more skeptical than it was five years ago.
- For Government Employees: Check the specific ethics pledge you signed. Even though the 2017 order was revoked, individual agencies often have their own internal "relationship" rules regarding post-employment.
- Watch the Courts: Many of the 2025 executive actions regarding family reunification and marriage vetting are currently being challenged in federal court. What is "law" today might be an injunction tomorrow.
The bottom line? The Trump 5 year relationship law is a ghost of a 2017 policy that has morphed into a general term for the administration's stricter stance on both political lobbying and immigration vetting. It's not one single law—it’s a mindset of "vet everything, trust nothing."
To stay compliant with current 2026 regulations, you should consult the latest USCIS Policy Manual or an ethics attorney if you are transitioning out of a federal role.