A bearing assembly for a rotating shaft, with brush rings on both sides of the bearing mechanism for damping bearing motion. In a foil gas bearing embodiment, the bearing itself comprises a hollow sleeve, a compliant layer, and a top foil layer. These bearing elements are arranged in a conventional manner except that the top foil layer extends beyond the sleeve. A sleeve extension extends over the extended portion of the top foil layer. Two opposing brush rings, an inner brush ring and an outer brush ring, are attached to the top foil layer extension and the sleeve extension, respectively. The bristles of an inner brush ring and the bristles of an outer brush ring are interposed and provide damping during operation of the bearing.