Beltway bandit

English

Noun

Beltway bandit (plural Beltway bandits)

1. (informal) A consulting or research company that mostly carries out work for US government departments or agencies.
   • 2001, Richard B. Schwartz, After the Fall, page 45:

     He worked for a beltway bandit firm, doing engineering work. He computed trajectories on missiles... that kind of thing.

2. (informal) An employee of such a firm, especially a former employee of the firm's clients.