Despite all the talk of reforming Washington, the revolving door between government and industry continues whirling.

Delta and Northwest airlines have hired high-powered lobbyists, including two former senators, to argue their case to create the world’s biggest airline before Congress and the Justice Department this week.

Northrop Grumman Corp. has hired a lobbying firm headed by two former U.S. senators to protect a lucrative military manufacturing project it won with Airbus for a new fleet of tanker planes.