Companies That Spend the Most on Lobbying (2026)
Published April 1, 2026 · Senate LDA disclosure data
Over $4 billion is spent on federal lobbying each year. A handful of companies and trade associations account for a disproportionate share. Here are the 25 largest lobbying spenders, ranked by reported expenditures from Senate Lobbying Disclosure Act filings.
Top 25 Lobbying Spenders
| Rank | Organization | Total Spend | Influence Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | US Chamber of Commerce | $434.1M | 87/100 (A) |
| 2 | National Association of Realtors | $358.3M | 76/100 (B) |
| 3 | Pharmaceutical Research & Manufacturers of America | $141.9M | 78/100 (B) |
| 4 | Blue Cross Blue Shield Association | $130.1M | 67/100 (B) |
| 5 | American Hospital Association | $120.8M | 75/100 (B) |
| 6 | Meta Platforms | $109.5M | 82/100 (A) |
| 7 | American Medical Association | $99.7M | 69/100 (B) |
| 8 | Amazon.com | $94.2M | 77/100 (B) |
| 9 | National Association of Broadcasters | $80.2M | 69/100 (B) |
| 10 | Alphabet Inc | $80.0M | 78/100 (B) |
| 11 | Business Roundtable | $73.9M | 72/100 (B) |
| 12 | Boeing Company | $73.7M | 78/100 (B) |
| 13 | Raytheon Technologies | $70.6M | 67/100 (B) |
| 14 | Lockheed Martin | $67.2M | 76/100 (B) |
| 15 | Microsoft Corporation | $59.2M | 75/100 (B) |
| 16 | Comcast Corporation | $58.9M | 68/100 (B) |
| 17 | Northrop Grumman | $56.4M | 61/100 (B) |
| 18 | Apple Inc | $55.7M | 69/100 (B) |
| 19 | AT&T Inc | $54.5M | 72/100 (B) |
| 20 | General Motors | $51.6M | 73/100 (B) |
| 21 | Pfizer Inc | $51.0M | 74/100 (B) |
| 22 | ExxonMobil | $50.0M | 65/100 (B) |
| 23 | Chevron | $49.7M | 68/100 (B) |
| 24 | American Bankers Association | $44.6M | 61/100 (B) |
| 25 | Walt Disney Company | $43.8M | 68/100 (B) |
Trade Associations vs. Individual Companies
The largest lobbying spenders are often trade associations (U.S. Chamber of Commerce, National Association of Realtors) rather than individual companies. Trade associations pool dues from thousands of member companies to fund lobbying operations, making them appear as single entities in disclosure data even though they represent broad industry coalitions.
What They Lobby On
The most-lobbied issues in recent years include: healthcare policy and drug pricing, tax reform and corporate tax rates, technology regulation (AI, data privacy, antitrust), trade and tariff policy, and energy/climate regulation. For tech-specific lobbying analysis, see our tech industry lobbying breakdown.
For a guide to how lobbying actually works, see how lobbying works in Washington. Browse all organizations on our full rankings page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which company spends the most on lobbying?
US Chamber of Commerce leads with $434.1M in reported lobbying expenditures, based on Senate LDA filings.
How much is spent on lobbying in the U.S.?
Total reported federal lobbying expenditures exceed $4 billion per year. This figure captures only federally registered lobbying — it does not include state-level lobbying, grassroots advocacy, or strategic advisory that falls below disclosure thresholds.
Is lobbying legal?
Yes. Lobbying is protected by the First Amendment right to petition the government. The Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 requires registration and quarterly spending reports for anyone who spends more than 20% of their time lobbying federal officials and whose employer spends more than $14,000 per quarter on lobbying activities.
What is an Influence Score?
The Influence Score is a 0-100 composite measuring lobbying reach. It weights total spending (40%), issue breadth — the number of distinct policy areas lobbied on (30%), and revolving door connections — former government officials employed as lobbyists (30%).
About This Data
Lobbying expenditure data from the Senate Office of Public Records LDA database. Filings are quarterly. See our methodology.