Where are all those tech and telecommunications staffers going?

Democratic aides have been fleeing the Hill for lobbying gigs with major tech and telecom companies — just as lawmakers are preparing to tighten regulations on those same companies. More than a dozen senior Democratic tech and telecom policy staffers have left the Hill this year, many of them heading to the likes of Facebook, Apple, Verizon and Charter Communications. Others have left for Biden administration posts. They’re taking with them specialized knowledge on issues like artificial intelligence, data privacy and broadband. “There has always been a dearth of people that understand technology and its interaction with society in Congress — at the member level, at the staff level,” said former Rep Will Hurd (R-TX), who led efforts to regulate AI and worked on other tech-related issues during his time in Congress. “So the departure of anyone who has that kind of experience and expertise makes this problem even more acute.” There’s a mix of factors at play in why so many are headed out the door. One is the significant pay disparity between Hill staffers, whose salaries typically range from $35,000 to $150,000 a year depending on their roles, and industry lobbyists, who can earn significantly more, especially in the tech and telecom sectors. But some say that the turnover is normal for Congress, and that there are always capable individuals who can fill vacant positions on the Hill. “People come and go, and the place doesn’t fall apart,” said Rep Mike Doyle (D-PA), who chairs the House Energy and Commerce telecommunications subcommittee. “It’s amazing, isn’t it?”