DC Influence Industry Surpasses $4.5 Billion: BGOV Report

Federal lobbying spending topped $4.5 billion for the first time in 2024, outpacing inflation.

Those gains reflected a true expansion of overall lobbying income. Some of the largest firms registered double-digit gains, while smaller players in some cases doubled or tripled previous amounts reported in Lobbying Disclosure Act filings.

Bloomberg Government examined the numbers and identified trends in our 10th annual analysis of lobbying disclosure filings.

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Trump Ties, Ex-Lawmakers Fuel Fast Revival of This Lobbying Shop

Mercury Public Affairs, which not long ago was embroiled in a foreign lobbying scandal, has not only survived the crisis but with Trump team ties and bipartisan ex-lawmakers, it has morphed into one of the fastest-growing federal practices in Washington.

Its lobbying receipts jumped about 58% last year, the most among firms with at least $10 million in reported revenue, according to data compiled by Bloomberg Government. With almost 40 new clients so far this year, the firm shows signs of more growth ahead as businesses clamor for connections to the administration and Congress during volatile policy fights over tariffs, federal funding cuts, and tax rates. Read More

Capitol Hill Veteran Shows How Lobby Shops Can Build Fast

A newcomer to the DC lobbying scene scored a seven-figure debut season. Former Akin partner Brendan Dunn launched Phronesis DC in 2024 and reported $1.6 million in first-year lobbying revenue. Dunn started Phronesis with Brett Quick, a former staffer with the House Financial Services and Senate Banking committees. Dunn previously worked for the Senate Finance Committee and for Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). Read More

Dramatic Surges Punctuate Decade Of BGOV Lobbying Firm Analysis

A firm that began with a single lobbyist — Heather Podesta — is one of the DC lobbying industry’s big growth stories of 2024. She founded her then-eponymous firm in 2007. It was later rebranded as Invariant, which reported $42.3 million in revenue for congressional advocacy in 2024, up from $7.4 million in 2014. Read More