In 2024, the healthcare sector spent $743.9 million on federal lobbying—$10 million less than 2023’s $745 million but maintaining its position as the largest lobbying sector in the United States for the 26th consecutive year. Pharmaceutical and health products companies led healthcare spending …
Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of AmericaAmerican Medical AssociationAmerican Hospital AssociationPharmaceutical Care Management AssociationHealth insurance industry+1 morelobbyinghealthcarepharmaceutical-industrysystematic-corruptionregulatory-capture+1 more
Northrop Grumman spent $10.86 million on federal lobbying in 2023, employing 36 lobbyists of whom 29—a staggering 80.6 percent—had previously worked in government positions, exemplifying the revolving door between the Pentagon, Congress, and defense contractors that enables systematic corruption of …
On February 3, 2023, at 8:55 PM EST, a Norfolk Southern freight train carrying hazardous materials derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, with 38 cars derailing and 20 containing hazardous chemicals including vinyl chloride. The National Transportation Safety Board determined that a defective, overheated …
Norfolk Southern RailwayNational Transportation Safety BoardEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA)Trump AdministrationAmerican Association of Railroadsenvironmentalregulatory-capturecorporate-corruptionlobbyingchemical-disaster+1 more
Senator Elizabeth Warren released a comprehensive report analyzing the defense contractor revolving door, identifying 672 cases where the top 20 defense contractors employed former government officials, military officers, members of Congress, and senior legislative staff. The analysis found that 91% …
Elizabeth WarrenBoeingRaytheonLockheed MartinHouse Armed Services Committee+1 morerevolving-doordefense-contractorslobbyingcongressional-corruptionpentagon
While seeking federal approval of the T-Mobile–Sprint merger, T-Mobile executives sharply increased spending at Trump International Hotel in Washington—about $195,000 on rooms, meeting space, and services—according to company letters and reporting. The company said the stays did not affect the …
T-Mobile USSprintTrump International Hotel WashingtonFCCDOJ Antitrust Division+2 moremerger-reviewlobbyingconflictscorporate-influenceregulatory-capture
Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi joined Ballard Partners, the powerful Trump-connected lobbying firm, as chairwoman of the Corporate Regulatory Compliance practice immediately after leaving office in January 2019. Over the next five years, Bondi would lobby on behalf of more than 30 clients …
President Trump signs the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act (S.2155), dramatically weakening post-2008 financial regulations by raising the asset threshold for ‘systemically important financial institution’ (SIFI) designation from $50 billion to $250 …
Donald TrumpGreg BeckerSilicon Valley BankMike CrapoMark Warner+3 morederegulationbankingdodd-frankregulatory-capturelobbying+2 more
Reyes Holdings, a Coca-Cola bottling giant owned by two major Republican donors, secured a tariff exemption for PET plastic resin with no public explanation, leaving industry insiders baffled. Records show the company had recently hired lobbyists with close White House ties, heightening suspicions …
Facebook intensively lobbies the Irish government and Data Protection Commission in advance of GDPR implementation, successfully negotiating weaker enforcement and regulatory interpretation that allows continued surveillance practices. The lobbying campaign creates Ireland as a data protection …
FacebookIrish Data Protection CommissionEnda Kenny (Irish Taoiseach)Max SchremsEuropean Commissionfacebookgdprlobbyingregulatory-captureprivacy+3 more
On January 24, 2018, the Senate confirmed Alex Azar as Secretary of Health and Human Services by a vote of 55-43, installing as the nation’s top healthcare regulator a pharmaceutical executive who had overseen dramatic insulin price increases during his decade at Eli Lilly. As President of …
Alex AzarEli LillyDepartment of Health and Human ServicesRon WydenDonald Trumprevolving-doorregulatory-capturehealthcarepharmaceutical-industryinsulin-pricing+3 more
On July 21, 2017, the Senate confirmed Mark Esper as Secretary of the Army, installing a former Raytheon weapons lobbyist in a senior Pentagon position overseeing billions of dollars in defense contracts. Esper had served as Raytheon’s vice president of government relations from July 2010 …
Mark EsperRaytheonDonald TrumpElizabeth Warrenrevolving-doorraytheondefense-contractorspentagonlobbying+1 more
Just four days after taking office, President Donald Trump signed an executive memorandum on January 24, 2017, directing the Army Corps of Engineers to expedite approval and review of the Dakota Access Pipeline, reversing the Obama administration’s December 2016 decision to halt construction …
Donald TrumpEnergy Transfer PartnersKelcy WarrenArmy Corps of EngineersStanding Rock Sioux Tribeenvironmentalregulatory-capturecorporate-corruptionlobbyingenvironmental-justice+2 more
In 2016, a whistleblower who had worked for 12 years at the American Kidney Fund filed a lawsuit alleging that dialysis giants DaVita and Fresenius Medical Care—which together control over 80 percent of the $24.7 billion U.S. dialysis market—operated a years-long kickback scheme where they donated …
DaVitaFresenius Medical CareAmerican Kidney FundDepartment of JusticeFederal Trade Commissionhealthcaredialysissystematic-corruptionmonopolykickbacks+3 more
Moelis & Company, a Wall Street investment bank, announced the appointment of former House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) as vice chairman and managing director just two weeks after his congressional career ended. According to SEC filings, Cantor’s compensation package included a …
Eric CantorMoelis & CompanyHouse Republicansrevolving-doorlobbyingcongressional-corruptionwall-streetfinancial-sector
House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-MI) released comprehensive tax reform draft legislation proposing to raise the tax on carried interest from 23.8% to 35%, effectively closing one of the most notorious tax loopholes benefiting private equity and hedge fund managers. Carried …
Dave CampHouse Ways and Means CommitteeCarlyle GroupCerberus Capital ManagementManaged Funds Associationregulatory-capturetax-policylobbyingprivate-equitycongressional-corruption
The Senate confirmed former Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) as U.S. Ambassador to China by a vote of 96-0, ending his 36-year congressional career. Baucus had served as chairman and ranking member of the powerful Senate Finance Committee, where he was the chief architect of the …
Max BaucusSenate Finance CommitteeMerckUnitedHealth GroupJeffrey Forbesrevolving-doorlobbyingcongressional-corruptionhealthcareregulatory-capture
Investigation revealed that Citigroup lobbyists drafted a House bill aimed at rolling back Dodd-Frank financial regulations, with 70 of the 85 lines in the final House legislation directly reflecting Citigroup’s recommendations. Two complete paragraphs were copied almost word-for-word from …
The Federal Trade Commission closed its 19-month antitrust investigation of Google without bringing charges, despite internal staff recommendations for legal action. With 230 White House meetings in 2012-2013, Google demonstrated unprecedented political access, ultimately avoiding significant …
Federal Trade CommissionGoogle Inc.Larry PageEric SchmidtFTC Staff Attorneys+2 moreregulatory-capturetech-industryantitrustgoogleftc+2 more
On December 5, 2012, Elizabeth “Liz” Fowler announced her departure from the White House to join Johnson & Johnson as head of global health policy, completing her third spin through the healthcare industry revolving door. Fowler had served as the chief architect of the Affordable …
Elizabeth FowlerJohnson & JohnsonWellPointMax BaucusBarack Obama+1 morerevolving-doorregulatory-capturehealthcarelobbyingpharmaceutical-industry+3 more
The U.S. Department of Education under Secretary Arne Duncan published the final “Gainful Employment Rule” on June 13, 2011, establishing that career training programs at for-profit colleges and non-degree programs at all institutions must demonstrate that graduates earn sufficient …
U.S. Department of EducationBarack ObamaArne DuncanAssociation of Private Sector Colleges and Universities (APSCU)For-Profit College Industryfor-profit-educationregulationstudent-debthigher-educationinstitutional-capture+2 more
Goldman Sachs announced the appointment of former Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH) as an international advisor to the firm, making him one of 17 such advisors providing strategic counsel to Goldman’s executives and clients. Gregg had served three terms in the U.S. Senate from 1993 to 2011, serving as …
Judd GreggGoldman SachsSecurities Industry and Financial Markets Associationrevolving-doorlobbyingcongressional-corruptionwall-streetgoldman-sachs
Former Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) was named chairman and CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), becoming Hollywood’s chief lobbyist in Washington despite having “repeatedly and categorically” promised he would not work as a lobbyist after leaving the Senate. Dodd …
Chris DoddMPAAMotion Picture Associationrevolving-doorlobbyingcongressional-corruptionhollywoodfinancial-sector
Former Senator Evan Bayh (D-IN) joined private equity giant Apollo Global Management as a senior adviser and McGuireWoods as a strategic advisor immediately after leaving the Senate in January 2011. Within months, Bayh also secured positions on five corporate boards: Marathon Petroleum, Berry …
Evan BayhApollo Global ManagementMcGuireWoodsMarathon PetroleumBerry Plasticsrevolving-doorlobbyingcongressional-corruptionprivate-equitycorporate-boards
By 2010, Donors Trust and Donors Capital Fund had emerged as the primary “dark money ATM” for climate denial funding, fundamentally transforming how fossil fuel interests concealed their opposition to climate regulation. From 2002 to 2011, these two donor-advised fund organizations …
Donors TrustDonors Capital FundKoch brothersKnowledge and Progress FundAmericans for Prosperity+2 moreclimate-denialdark-moneyregulatory-capturecorporate-corruptionlobbying+1 more
President Obama signs the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act into law, the most significant healthcare legislation since Medicare. While expanding coverage to millions of uninsured Americans, the law’s architecture reflects extensive industry lobbying, featuring an individual mandate …
Barack ObamaAmerica's Health Insurance PlansPharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of AmericaMax BaucusLiz Fowler+1 morehealthcareinsurance-industryregulatory-captureindividual-mandatelobbying
After the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Waxman-Markey American Clean Energy and Security Act (cap-and-trade climate bill) on June 26, 2009, the Koch brothers’ network immediately launched a massive campaign to kill the legislation in the Senate. Americans for Prosperity, whose top …
Koch brothersCharles KochDavid KochAmericans for ProsperityHeritage Foundation+4 moreclimate-denialregulatory-capturelobbyingenvironmentalcorporate-corruption+1 more
The Obama White House secretly negotiated an $80 billion deal with pharmaceutical industry lobbyists, abandoning the president’s campaign promise to allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices. White House officials Jim Messina and Rahm Emanuel met with PhRMA CEO Billy Tauzin, agreeing to maintain …
The House of Representatives voted on the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act (TARP), with senators who supported the $700 billion Wall Street bailout having received an average of $3,986,723 from the financial sector since 1989—39% more than bailout opponents who received an average of $1,671,029. …
Former lobbyist Jack Abramoff was sentenced to 48 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $23,134,695 in restitution for his role in the massive congressional corruption scandal. This Washington D.C. sentencing was for conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, honest services fraud involving …
Jack AbramoffMichael ScanlonNative American TribesU.S. District CourtDepartment of Justice+4 morecorruptionlobbyingabramoffsentencingrestitution+2 more
Senator Trent Lott (R-MS), former Senate Majority Leader, abruptly resigned from the Senate effective 11:30 PM on December 18, 2007, explicitly timing his departure to avoid the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act. The new ethics law, taking effect January 1, 2008, would have required a …
The Honest Leadership and Open Government Act took full effect after President Bush signed it into law, implementing new ethics rules designed to slow the revolving door between Congress and lobbying firms. The law extended cooling-off periods from one to two years for senators and established a …
Representative Bob Ney (R-OH) pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy and making false statements in connection with the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal, becoming the first member of Congress convicted in the case. Ney admitted to receiving gifts including golf trips to Scotland, expensive meals, and …
Bob NeyJack AbramoffHouse of RepresentativesDepartment of JusticeNeil Volz+1 morecorruptioncongressabramoffbriberylobbying+1 more
Lobbyist Jack Abramoff pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges, exposing one of the largest congressional corruption scandals in modern U.S. history. Abramoff and partner Michael Scanlon defrauded Native American tribes of 5 million through inflated lobbying fees and secret kickbacks. The …
Jack AbramoffMichael ScanlonBob NeyTom DeLaySteven Griles+2 morecorruptionlobbyingabramoffcongressbribery+1 more
Documents revealed that Vice President Dick Cheney’s Energy Task Force had met extensively with executives from major oil companies, though chief executives denied involvement when testifying before the Senate Energy and Commerce committees. The revelation exposed how the Energy and Commerce …
House Energy and Commerce CommitteeDick CheneyExxonMobilAmerican Petroleum Instituteregulatory-captureclimate-changeoil-industrylobbyingcongressional-corruption
Center for Public Integrity investigation revealed that from January 2000 through June 2005, lawmakers and aides accepted at least 90 trips worth approximately $145,000 from sponsors matching firms registered to lobby the federal government. Analysis of privately funded congressional travel showed …
Tom DeLayJack AbramoffSusan HirschmannRobert Wexlercongressional-corruptionlobbyingethics-violationsjack-abramoff
Public Citizen released “Congressional Revolving Doors: The Journey from Congress To K Street,” documenting that 43% of U.S. House and Senate lawmakers (86 out of 198) who left office between 1998 and 2004 became registered lobbyists. The report found that 50% of eligible departing …
Public CitizenCongressK Streetrevolving-doorlobbyingcongressional-corruptionregulatory-capture
Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD) joined InterMedia Advisors, a New York-based private equity firm, as a consultant and chairman of its executive advisory board just months after losing his 2004 reelection bid. Simultaneously, Daschle joined the law and lobbying firm Alston & Bird …
Tom DaschleInterMedia AdvisorsAlston & BirdLeo Hinderyrevolving-doorlobbyingcongressional-corruptionhealthcareprivate-equity
Former House Majority Leader Dick Gephardt (D-MO) founded Gephardt Group, a consulting and lobbying firm, immediately after his three-decade political career ended with the expiration of his 14th congressional term on January 3, 2005. Gephardt established the Atlanta-based firm with his children, …
Dick GephardtGephardt GroupDLA Piperrevolving-doorlobbyingcongressional-corruptiondemocratic-party
Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) announced that former House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Billy Tauzin (R-LA) would become its president and CEO, effective January 2005. The announcement came shortly after Tauzin’s retirement from Congress, where from 2001 …
Billy TauzinPhRMAMedicarerevolving-doorregulatory-capturehealthcarelobbyingcongressional-corruption
The Washington Post published a groundbreaking investigation by journalist Susan Schmidt exposing the Jack Abramoff and Michael Scanlon lobbying scandal involving Native American tribal clients. The investigation revealed that the two lobbyists had charged six Native American tribes more than $82 …
Susan SchmidtWashington PostJack AbramoffMichael ScanlonTom Rodgers+3 morejournalismabramofflobbyingnative-american-casinoscorruption+2 more
The House of Representatives passed the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act at 5:53 AM after an unprecedented 3-hour vote that House leaders held open for nearly three hours past the normal 15-minute voting period to secure enough votes. The legislation created Medicare …
Billy TauzinHouse Energy and Commerce CommitteePhRMAMedicareregulatory-capturehealthcarepharmaceutical-industrycongressional-corruptionlobbying
The Patients’ Bill of Rights, legislation that would have allowed patients to sue HMOs for denying medically necessary care, dies in Congress after the managed care industry spends over $60 million lobbying against it. Despite bipartisan support and public outrage over HMO denials that …
George W. BushHealth Insurance Association of AmericaAmerican Association of Health PlansJohn McCainEdward Kennedy+1 morehealthcaremanaged-carelobbyingregulatory-captureinsurance-industry+1 more
On April 6, 1999, Jack Abramoff formalized a subcontractor arrangement with Ralph Reed and Preston Gates, involving the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. The scheme involved routing $1.3 million through intermediary organizations like Americans for Tax Reform to conceal payments to Reed’s …
Jack AbramoffRalph ReedMississippi Band of Choctaw IndiansCentury StrategiesPreston Gates+2 moreabramoffralph-reedmoney-launderingchoctawcorruption+2 more
Senate Majority Leader George J. Mitchell declares the Clinton administration’s Health Security Act dead, with the bill never coming to a vote in either chamber of Congress. The failure represents a devastating defeat for comprehensive healthcare reform after an intense lobbying campaign by …
Bill ClintonHillary ClintonHealth insurance industryHealth Insurance Association of AmericaPharmaceutical Industryhealthcareregulatory-capturelobbyinginsurance-industrycorporate-power+1 more
President Reagan signs the Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act, known as Hatch-Waxman, which ostensibly balances pharmaceutical innovation incentives with generic competition but creates loopholes that brand-name manufacturers exploit to extend monopoly pricing for decades. The …
Orrin HatchHenry WaxmanRonald ReaganPharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of Americahealthcarepharmaceutical-industryregulatory-capturepatent-abuselobbying
By 1984, ALEC’s corporate membership had grown so rapidly that Executive Director Kathleen Teague reported corporations were overwhelming the organization’s capacity. Major corporations supporting ALEC that year included Edison Electric Institute, Procter & Gamble Co., Mary Kay …
American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC)Kathleen TeagueEdison Electric InstituteProcter & GambleEli Lilly+5 morecorporate-capturelegislative-capturealeccorporate-membershiplobbying+1 more
President Lyndon B. Johnson signs the Social Security Amendments of 1965 into law at the Truman Presidential Library in Independence, Missouri, creating Medicare and Medicaid with former President Harry Truman at his side. The legislation provides federal health insurance for Americans over 65 …
President Lyndon B. JohnsonPresident Harry S. TrumanAmerican Medical AssociationRonald ReaganWilbur Millshealthcareinstitutional-capturecorporate-resistancelobbyingpropaganda
The Business-Industry Political Action Committee is founded in August 1963 as the first business political action committee, with initial funding and staff provided by the National Association of Manufacturers, establishing corporate infrastructure for direct political campaign contributions and …
Business-Industry Political Action CommitteeNational Association of ManufacturersBIPACpolitical-action-committeespaccampaign-financenamcorporate-political-spending+1 more
The King-Anderson bill, President Kennedy’s Medicare proposal introduced by Representative Cecil King and Senator Clinton Anderson, is defeated in committee despite strong public support after intense lobbying by the American Medical Association, corporate healthcare interests, and …
Cecil R. KingClinton AndersonJohn F. KennedyWilbur MillsHarry Byrd+4 moremedicarehealthcarelobbyingamacorporate-opposition+2 more
President Harry S. Truman becomes the first sitting president to propose a comprehensive national health insurance program, sending a special message to Congress calling for federal health insurance that would cover all Americans regardless of employment status. Truman declares healthcare …
Harry S. TrumanAmerican Medical AssociationMorris FishbeinRobert TaftWhitaker and Baxterhealthcareinstitutional-capturelobbyingpropagandaama+1 more