Beltway bandit

English Noun en informal A consulting or research company that mostly carries out work for US government departments or agencies. en 2001 Richard B. Schwartz After the Fall 45 He worked for a beltway bandit firm, doing engineering work. He computed trajectories on missiles... that kind of thing. en informal An employee of such a firm, especially a former employee of the firm's clients. en informal A short-term money lender to contractors working for the US government but waiting for US congressional appropriations. en July 1, 1999 Po Bronson Gen Equity Wired https://www.wired.com/1999/07/pilgrims/ [He] turned out to be what is called a "Beltway bandit," lending money at short-term high (but legal) rates to government contractors low on cash who are awaiting congressional appropriation funding. https://web.archive.org/web/20260723103359/https://www.wired.com/1999/07/pilgrims/ 23 July 2026