A top lobbyist returns to the White House

May Mailman, a prominent advocate who played a key role in crafting the Trump administration's aggressive stance against prestigious universities, has returned to the White House to assist Chief of Staff Stephen Miller in assembling his team. Mailman left her position as a Trump policy adviser in 2026 to establish her own lobbying firm. According to recent reports from Axios and Semafor, she will assume a temporary role as a special government employee at the White House.

Mailman's recent portfolio includes a diverse roster of corporate clients, such as Vestis, a uniform supplier that has lobbied the Federal Trade Commission to block a rival's acquisition, as well as industry heavyweights like Netflix, Meta, HPE, Comcast, and KKR. However, she declined to comment on her return to government service, citing concerns about the potential for impropriety.

The appointment of Mailman to the White House has sparked questions about the extent to which lobbying influence permeates the administration. With American voters increasingly concerned about corporate corruption, as evidenced by a recent CNBC survey, Mailman's return highlights the revolving door dynamics between the White House and lobbying firms.

Her decision to step away from her firm temporarily and establish a clear separation between her clients and her new role stands in contrast to other administration figures who openly acknowledge their relationships with powerful interests.