diff --git a/node/bft/ledger-service/src/ledger.rs b/node/bft/ledger-service/src/ledger.rs
index d278719005..3044ed2e10 100644
--- a/node/bft/ledger-service/src/ledger.rs
+++ b/node/bft/ledger-service/src/ledger.rs
@@ -108,6 +108,11 @@ impl<N: Network, C: ConsensusStorage<N>> LedgerService<N> for CoreLedgerService<
         self.ledger.get_hash(height)
     }
 
+    /// Returns the block round for the given block height, if it exists.
+    fn get_block_round(&self, height: u32) -> Result<u64> {
+        self.ledger.get_block(height).map(|block| block.round())
+    }
+
     /// Returns the block for the given block height.
     fn get_block(&self, height: u32) -> Result<Block<N>> {
         self.ledger.get_block(height)
diff --git a/node/bft/ledger-service/src/mock.rs b/node/bft/ledger-service/src/mock.rs
index 9681076dc0..9d04f74dfa 100644
--- a/node/bft/ledger-service/src/mock.rs
+++ b/node/bft/ledger-service/src/mock.rs
@@ -32,22 +32,22 @@ use tracing::*;
 #[derive(Debug)]
 pub struct MockLedgerService<N: Network> {
     committee: Committee<N>,
-    height_to_hash: Mutex<BTreeMap<u32, N::BlockHash>>,
+    height_to_round_and_hash: Mutex<BTreeMap<u32, (u64, N::BlockHash)>>,
 }
 
 impl<N: Network> MockLedgerService<N> {
     /// Initializes a new mock ledger service.
     pub fn new(committee: Committee<N>) -> Self {
-        Self { committee, height_to_hash: Default::default() }
+        Self { committee, height_to_round_and_hash: Default::default() }
     }
 
     /// Initializes a new mock ledger service at the specified height.
     pub fn new_at_height(committee: Committee<N>, height: u32) -> Self {
         let mut height_to_hash = BTreeMap::new();
         for i in 0..=height {
-            height_to_hash.insert(i, (Field::<N>::from_u32(i)).into());
+            height_to_hash.insert(i, (i as u64 * 2, Field::<N>::from_u32(i).into()));
         }
-        Self { committee, height_to_hash: Mutex::new(height_to_hash) }
+        Self { committee, height_to_round_and_hash: Mutex::new(height_to_hash) }
     }
 }
 
@@ -55,12 +55,12 @@ impl<N: Network> MockLedgerService<N> {
 impl<N: Network> LedgerService<N> for MockLedgerService<N> {
     /// Returns the latest round in the ledger.
     fn latest_round(&self) -> u64 {
-        *self.height_to_hash.lock().keys().last().unwrap_or(&0) as u64
+        *self.height_to_round_and_hash.lock().keys().last().unwrap_or(&0) as u64
     }
 
     /// Returns the latest block height in the canonical ledger.
     fn latest_block_height(&self) -> u32 {
-        self.height_to_hash.lock().last_key_value().map(|(height, _)| *height).unwrap_or(0)
+        self.height_to_round_and_hash.lock().last_key_value().map(|(height, _)| *height).unwrap_or(0)
     }
 
     /// Returns the latest block in the ledger.
@@ -78,12 +78,17 @@ impl<N: Network> LedgerService<N> for MockLedgerService<N> {
 
     /// Returns `true` if the given block height exists in the canonical ledger.
     fn contains_block_height(&self, height: u32) -> bool {
-        self.height_to_hash.lock().contains_key(&height)
+        self.height_to_round_and_hash.lock().contains_key(&height)
     }
 
     /// Returns the canonical block height for the given block hash, if it exists.
     fn get_block_height(&self, hash: &N::BlockHash) -> Result<u32> {
-        match self.height_to_hash.lock().iter().find_map(|(height, h)| if h == hash { Some(*height) } else { None }) {
+        match self
+            .height_to_round_and_hash
+            .lock()
+            .iter()
+            .find_map(|(height, (_, h))| if h == hash { Some(*height) } else { None })
+        {
             Some(height) => Ok(height),
             None => bail!("Missing block {hash}"),
         }
@@ -91,8 +96,21 @@ impl<N: Network> LedgerService<N> for MockLedgerService<N> {
 
     /// Returns the canonical block hash for the given block height, if it exists.
     fn get_block_hash(&self, height: u32) -> Result<N::BlockHash> {
-        match self.height_to_hash.lock().get(&height).cloned() {
-            Some(hash) => Ok(hash),
+        match self.height_to_round_and_hash.lock().get(&height).cloned() {
+            Some((_, hash)) => Ok(hash),
+            None => bail!("Missing block {height}"),
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Returns the block round for the given block height, if it exists.
+    fn get_block_round(&self, height: u32) -> Result<u64> {
+        match self
+            .height_to_round_and_hash
+            .lock()
+            .iter()
+            .find_map(|(h, (round, _))| if *h == height { Some(*round) } else { None })
+        {
+            Some(round) => Ok(round),
             None => bail!("Missing block {height}"),
         }
     }
@@ -205,7 +223,7 @@ impl<N: Network> LedgerService<N> for MockLedgerService<N> {
             block.height(),
             self.latest_block_height()
         );
-        self.height_to_hash.lock().insert(block.height(), block.hash());
+        self.height_to_round_and_hash.lock().insert(block.height(), (block.round(), block.hash()));
         Ok(())
     }
 }
diff --git a/node/bft/ledger-service/src/prover.rs b/node/bft/ledger-service/src/prover.rs
index cebb2a00b0..57e62c216f 100644
--- a/node/bft/ledger-service/src/prover.rs
+++ b/node/bft/ledger-service/src/prover.rs
@@ -81,6 +81,11 @@ impl<N: Network> LedgerService<N> for ProverLedgerService<N> {
         bail!("Block {height} does not exist in prover")
     }
 
+    /// Returns the block round for the given block height, if it exists.
+    fn get_block_round(&self, height: u32) -> Result<u64> {
+        bail!("Block {height} does not exist in prover")
+    }
+
     /// Returns the block for the given block height.
     fn get_block(&self, height: u32) -> Result<Block<N>> {
         bail!("Block {height} does not exist in prover")
diff --git a/node/bft/ledger-service/src/traits.rs b/node/bft/ledger-service/src/traits.rs
index af2c20d6b0..b419d32958 100644
--- a/node/bft/ledger-service/src/traits.rs
+++ b/node/bft/ledger-service/src/traits.rs
@@ -51,6 +51,9 @@ pub trait LedgerService<N: Network>: Debug + Send + Sync {
     /// Returns the block hash for the given block height, if it exists.
     fn get_block_hash(&self, height: u32) -> Result<N::BlockHash>;
 
+    /// Returns the block round for the given block height, if it exists.
+    fn get_block_round(&self, height: u32) -> Result<u64>;
+
     /// Returns the block for the given block height.
     fn get_block(&self, height: u32) -> Result<Block<N>>;
 
diff --git a/node/bft/ledger-service/src/translucent.rs b/node/bft/ledger-service/src/translucent.rs
index ff2c326523..6107d5120c 100644
--- a/node/bft/ledger-service/src/translucent.rs
+++ b/node/bft/ledger-service/src/translucent.rs
@@ -92,6 +92,11 @@ impl<N: Network, C: ConsensusStorage<N>> LedgerService<N> for TranslucentLedgerS
         self.inner.get_block_hash(height)
     }
 
+    /// Returns the block round for the given block height, if it exists.
+    fn get_block_round(&self, height: u32) -> Result<u64> {
+        self.inner.get_block_round(height)
+    }
+
     /// Returns the block for the given block height.
     fn get_block(&self, height: u32) -> Result<Block<N>> {
         self.inner.get_block(height)
diff --git a/node/bft/src/gateway.rs b/node/bft/src/gateway.rs
index 06030e5d5d..82ba0d2b11 100644
--- a/node/bft/src/gateway.rs
+++ b/node/bft/src/gateway.rs
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 
 use crate::{
     events::{EventCodec, PrimaryPing},
-    helpers::{assign_to_worker, Cache, PrimarySender, Resolver, SyncSender, WorkerSender},
+    helpers::{assign_to_worker, Cache, PrimarySender, Resolver, Storage, SyncSender, WorkerSender},
     spawn_blocking,
     Worker,
     CONTEXT,
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ use snarkos_node_bft_events::{
     ValidatorsResponse,
 };
 use snarkos_node_bft_ledger_service::LedgerService;
-use snarkos_node_sync::communication_service::CommunicationService;
+use snarkos_node_sync::{communication_service::CommunicationService, MAX_BLOCKS_BEHIND};
 use snarkos_node_tcp::{
     is_bogon_ip,
     is_unspecified_or_broadcast_ip,
@@ -100,6 +100,8 @@ pub trait Transport<N: Network>: Send + Sync {
 pub struct Gateway<N: Network> {
     /// The account of the node.
     account: Account<N>,
+    /// The storage.
+    storage: Storage<N>,
     /// The ledger service.
     ledger: Arc<dyn LedgerService<N>>,
     /// The TCP stack.
@@ -133,6 +135,7 @@ impl<N: Network> Gateway<N> {
     /// Initializes a new gateway.
     pub fn new(
         account: Account<N>,
+        storage: Storage<N>,
         ledger: Arc<dyn LedgerService<N>>,
         ip: Option<SocketAddr>,
         trusted_validators: &[SocketAddr],
@@ -149,6 +152,7 @@ impl<N: Network> Gateway<N> {
         // Return the gateway.
         Ok(Self {
             account,
+            storage,
             ledger,
             tcp,
             cache: Default::default(),
@@ -330,18 +334,38 @@ impl<N: Network> Gateway<N> {
 
     /// Returns `true` if the given address is an authorized validator.
     pub fn is_authorized_validator_address(&self, validator_address: Address<N>) -> bool {
-        // Determine if the validator address is a member of the committee lookback or the current committee.
+        // Determine if the validator address is a member of the committee lookback,
+        // the current committee, or the previous committee lookbacks.
         // We allow leniency in this validation check in order to accommodate these two scenarios:
         //  1. New validators should be able to connect immediately once bonded as a committee member.
         //  2. Existing validators must remain connected until they are no longer bonded as a committee member.
         //     (i.e. meaning they must stay online until the next block has been produced)
-        self.ledger
-            .get_committee_lookback_for_round(self.ledger.latest_round())
+
+        // Determine if the validator is in the current committee with lookback.
+        if self
+            .ledger
+            .get_committee_lookback_for_round(self.storage.current_round())
             .map_or(false, |committee| committee.is_committee_member(validator_address))
-            || self
-                .ledger
-                .current_committee()
-                .map_or(false, |committee| committee.is_committee_member(validator_address))
+        {
+            return true;
+        }
+
+        // Determine if the validator is in the latest committee on the ledger.
+        if self.ledger.current_committee().map_or(false, |committee| committee.is_committee_member(validator_address)) {
+            return true;
+        }
+
+        // Retrieve the previous block height to consider from the sync tolerance.
+        let previous_block_height = self.ledger.latest_block_height().saturating_sub(MAX_BLOCKS_BEHIND);
+        // Determine if the validator is in any of the previous committee lookbacks.
+        match self.ledger.get_block_round(previous_block_height) {
+            Ok(block_round) => (block_round..self.storage.current_round()).step_by(2).any(|round| {
+                self.ledger
+                    .get_committee_lookback_for_round(round)
+                    .map_or(false, |committee| committee.is_committee_member(validator_address))
+            }),
+            Err(_) => false,
+        }
     }
 
     /// Returns the maximum number of connected peers.
@@ -1341,16 +1365,22 @@ mod prop_tests {
     };
     use snarkos_account::Account;
     use snarkos_node_bft_ledger_service::MockLedgerService;
+    use snarkos_node_bft_storage_service::BFTMemoryService;
     use snarkos_node_tcp::P2P;
     use snarkvm::{
-        ledger::committee::{
-            prop_tests::{CommitteeContext, ValidatorSet},
-            Committee,
+        ledger::{
+            committee::{
+                prop_tests::{CommitteeContext, ValidatorSet},
+                test_helpers::sample_committee_for_round_and_members,
+                Committee,
+            },
+            narwhal::{batch_certificate::test_helpers::sample_batch_certificate_for_round, BatchHeader},
         },
         prelude::{MainnetV0, PrivateKey},
+        utilities::TestRng,
     };
 
-    use indexmap::IndexMap;
+    use indexmap::{IndexMap, IndexSet};
     use proptest::{
         prelude::{any, any_with, Arbitrary, BoxedStrategy, Just, Strategy},
         sample::Selector,
@@ -1402,6 +1432,7 @@ mod prop_tests {
                 .prop_map(|(storage, _, private_key, address)| {
                     Gateway::new(
                         Account::try_from(private_key).unwrap(),
+                        storage.clone(),
                         storage.ledger().clone(),
                         address.ip(),
                         &[],
@@ -1450,7 +1481,9 @@ mod prop_tests {
         let (storage, _, private_key, dev) = input;
         let account = Account::try_from(private_key).unwrap();
 
-        let gateway = Gateway::new(account.clone(), storage.ledger().clone(), dev.ip(), &[], dev.port()).unwrap();
+        let gateway =
+            Gateway::new(account.clone(), storage.clone(), storage.ledger().clone(), dev.ip(), &[], dev.port())
+                .unwrap();
         let tcp_config = gateway.tcp().config();
         assert_eq!(tcp_config.listener_ip, Some(IpAddr::V4(Ipv4Addr::LOCALHOST)));
         assert_eq!(tcp_config.desired_listening_port, Some(MEMORY_POOL_PORT + dev.port().unwrap()));
@@ -1465,7 +1498,9 @@ mod prop_tests {
         let (storage, _, private_key, dev) = input;
         let account = Account::try_from(private_key).unwrap();
 
-        let gateway = Gateway::new(account.clone(), storage.ledger().clone(), dev.ip(), &[], dev.port()).unwrap();
+        let gateway =
+            Gateway::new(account.clone(), storage.clone(), storage.ledger().clone(), dev.ip(), &[], dev.port())
+                .unwrap();
         let tcp_config = gateway.tcp().config();
         if let Some(socket_addr) = dev.ip() {
             assert_eq!(tcp_config.listener_ip, Some(socket_addr.ip()));
@@ -1490,7 +1525,8 @@ mod prop_tests {
         let worker_storage = storage.clone();
         let account = Account::try_from(private_key).unwrap();
 
-        let gateway = Gateway::new(account, storage.ledger().clone(), dev.ip(), &[], dev.port()).unwrap();
+        let gateway =
+            Gateway::new(account, storage.clone(), storage.ledger().clone(), dev.ip(), &[], dev.port()).unwrap();
 
         let (primary_sender, _) = init_primary_channels();
 
@@ -1525,4 +1561,49 @@ mod prop_tests {
         );
         assert_eq!(gateway.num_workers(), workers.len() as u8);
     }
+
+    #[proptest]
+    fn test_is_authorized_validator(#[strategy(any_valid_dev_gateway())] input: GatewayInput) {
+        let rng = &mut TestRng::default();
+
+        // Initialize the round parameters.
+        let current_round = 2;
+        let committee_size = 4;
+        let max_gc_rounds = BatchHeader::<CurrentNetwork>::MAX_GC_ROUNDS as u64;
+        let (_, _, private_key, dev) = input;
+        let account = Account::try_from(private_key).unwrap();
+
+        // Sample the certificates.
+        let mut certificates = IndexSet::new();
+        for _ in 0..committee_size {
+            certificates.insert(sample_batch_certificate_for_round(current_round, rng));
+        }
+        let addresses: Vec<_> = certificates.iter().map(|certificate| certificate.author()).collect();
+        // Initialize the committee.
+        let committee = sample_committee_for_round_and_members(current_round, addresses, rng);
+        // Sample extra certificates from non-committee members.
+        for _ in 0..committee_size {
+            certificates.insert(sample_batch_certificate_for_round(current_round, rng));
+        }
+        // Initialize the ledger.
+        let ledger = Arc::new(MockLedgerService::new(committee.clone()));
+        // Initialize the storage.
+        let storage = Storage::new(ledger.clone(), Arc::new(BFTMemoryService::new()), max_gc_rounds);
+        // Initialize the gateway.
+        let gateway =
+            Gateway::new(account.clone(), storage.clone(), ledger.clone(), dev.ip(), &[], dev.port()).unwrap();
+        // Insert certificate to the storage.
+        for certificate in certificates.iter() {
+            storage.testing_only_insert_certificate_testing_only(certificate.clone());
+        }
+        // Check that the current committee members are authorized validators.
+        for i in 0..certificates.clone().len() {
+            let is_authorized = gateway.is_authorized_validator_address(certificates[i].author());
+            if i < committee_size {
+                assert!(is_authorized);
+            } else {
+                assert!(!is_authorized);
+            }
+        }
+    }
 }
diff --git a/node/bft/src/primary.rs b/node/bft/src/primary.rs
index 5e438e8f9c..f91cd52bf4 100644
--- a/node/bft/src/primary.rs
+++ b/node/bft/src/primary.rs
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ impl<N: Network> Primary<N> {
         dev: Option<u16>,
     ) -> Result<Self> {
         // Initialize the gateway.
-        let gateway = Gateway::new(account, ledger.clone(), ip, trusted_validators, dev)?;
+        let gateway = Gateway::new(account, storage.clone(), ledger.clone(), ip, trusted_validators, dev)?;
         // Initialize the sync module.
         let sync = Sync::new(gateway.clone(), storage.clone(), ledger.clone());
         // Initialize the primary instance.
diff --git a/node/bft/src/worker.rs b/node/bft/src/worker.rs
index c2fe485ad9..5baa8a0aac 100644
--- a/node/bft/src/worker.rs
+++ b/node/bft/src/worker.rs
@@ -511,6 +511,7 @@ mod tests {
             fn contains_block_height(&self, height: u32) -> bool;
             fn get_block_height(&self, hash: &N::BlockHash) -> Result<u32>;
             fn get_block_hash(&self, height: u32) -> Result<N::BlockHash>;
+            fn get_block_round(&self, height: u32) -> Result<u64>;
             fn get_block(&self, height: u32) -> Result<Block<N>>;
             fn get_blocks(&self, heights: Range<u32>) -> Result<Vec<Block<N>>>;
             fn get_solution(&self, solution_id: &PuzzleCommitment<N>) -> Result<ProverSolution<N>>;
diff --git a/node/bft/tests/components/mod.rs b/node/bft/tests/components/mod.rs
index 1a11df65a7..2864fe598d 100644
--- a/node/bft/tests/components/mod.rs
+++ b/node/bft/tests/components/mod.rs
@@ -59,12 +59,15 @@ pub fn sample_storage<N: Network>(ledger: Arc<TranslucentLedgerService<N, Consen
 }
 
 /// Samples a new gateway with the given ledger.
-pub fn sample_gateway<N: Network>(ledger: Arc<TranslucentLedgerService<N, ConsensusMemory<N>>>) -> Gateway<N> {
+pub fn sample_gateway<N: Network>(
+    storage: Storage<N>,
+    ledger: Arc<TranslucentLedgerService<N, ConsensusMemory<N>>>,
+) -> Gateway<N> {
     let num_nodes: u16 = ledger.current_committee().unwrap().num_members().try_into().unwrap();
     let (accounts, _committee) = primary::new_test_committee(num_nodes);
     let account = Account::from_str(&accounts[0].private_key().to_string()).unwrap();
     // Initialize the gateway.
-    Gateway::new(account, ledger, None, &[], None).unwrap()
+    Gateway::new(account, storage, ledger, None, &[], None).unwrap()
 }
 
 /// Samples a new worker with the given ledger.
@@ -72,7 +75,7 @@ pub fn sample_worker<N: Network>(id: u8, ledger: Arc<TranslucentLedgerService<N,
     // Sample a storage.
     let storage = sample_storage(ledger.clone());
     // Sample a gateway.
-    let gateway = sample_gateway(ledger.clone());
+    let gateway = sample_gateway(storage.clone(), ledger.clone());
     // Sample a dummy proposed batch.
     let proposed_batch = Arc::new(RwLock::new(None));
     // Construct the worker instance.