WASHINGTON — Dozens of former federal officials are playing leading roles in helping carmakers handle federal investigations of defects, including those into Toyota’s acceleration woes.
A Washington Post analysis shows as many as 33 former National Highway Traffic Safety Administration employees and Transportation Department appointees left those jobs in recent years and now work for automakers as lawyers, consultants and lobbyists and in other jobs that deal with government safety probes, recalls and regulations.
The reach of these former agency employees is broad. Their names appear on staff rosters for every major automaker and every major auto trade group and as expert witnesses and legal counsel for the industry in major auto-safety class-action lawsuits.
Several former Cabinet members also have gone on to work for automakers.
Last week, Toyota hired Rodney Slater, transportation secretary under President Bill Clinton, to head its North American Quality Advisory Panel, which assists the company with quality and safety issues.
No law bans these officials from moving straight from government into industry. But critics of the revolving-door practice say that it has contributed to flaws in federal oversight and enforcement, and several members of Congress say legislation is needed to prevent former employees from conducting business with the agency for up to two years after leaving a government job.
“The relationship is too cozy, and it is not an equal playing field,” said Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., who is pushing for reforms.
An internal Toyota document, subpoenaed by a House committee, showed Toyota officials boasted about the efforts of two ex-NHTSA officials, Christopher Santucci and Chris Tinto, saying they saved the company as much as $100 million.
A Toyota spokesman said Santucci and Tinto are “valued for their expertise, not their influence.”
