Biggest Lobbying Groups in the US: 2025 Spenders Ranked
The biggest lobbying group in the United States is the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which reported $72.1 million in federal lobbying in 2025, according to OpenSecrets. The National Association of Realtors ($54.4 million), PhRMA ($38.2 million), the Business Roundtable ($33.5 million) and the American Hospital Association ($32 million) followed. Total federal lobbying passed $5 billion for the first time.
The largest federal lobbying spenders are trade associations and business groups, with health care organizations making up several of the top slots. The table shows the five largest organizations by reported 2025 federal lobbying spending.
Rank
Organization
Type
2025 reported federal lobbying
1
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Business federation
$72.1M
2
National Association of Realtors
Trade association
$54.4M
3
PhRMA
Pharmaceutical trade group
$38.2M
4
Business Roundtable
CEO association
$33.5M
5
American Hospital Association
Health care trade group
$32.0M
Among individual companies, Meta reported about $26.3 million, General Motors about $19.7 million and Amazon about $18.9 million for 2025. Figures are reported lobbying spending under the Lobbying Disclosure Act as compiled by OpenSecrets, and they exclude unreported activity such as some grassroots campaigns and advertising.
Why do trade groups outspend most companies?
A trade association pools dues from hundreds or thousands of members, so one organization can fund a lobbying operation that no single member would build alone. It can also take positions its members prefer not to carry under their own names. That is why the top of the spending table is dominated by the Chamber, Realtors, PhRMA and hospital and business associations rather than by individual corporations. The discipline behind it is covered in The Coalition, Lobbying and Earned Media Triangle and Grassroots vs. Grasstops vs. Astroturf.
What is the difference between lobbying groups and lobbying firms?
A lobbying group is an organization that spends money to influence policy, either with its own in-house staff or by hiring outside help. A lobbying firm is the outside contractor that sells that help. The Chamber of Commerce is a group. Brownstein Hyatt, Akin Gump and BGR are firms. Many of the biggest groups use both: the Chamber runs one of the largest in-house lobbying teams, while PhRMA retains dozens of outside firms. For how firms are ranked against each other, see the Lobbying Firm Citation Share Index 2026.
How big is federal lobbying in 2025?
OpenSecrets put 2025 federal lobbying spending above $5 billion for the first time, about $5.08 billion, an 11 percent increase over 2024 after adjusting for inflation. Bloomberg Government's separate analysis of Lobbying Disclosure Act filings placed the total at $5.3 billion. Nearly 15,800 organizations reported lobbying activity, and health care was the largest sector at roughly $868 million.
Every registered organization files quarterly Lobbying Disclosure Act reports with the Senate and House listing its clients, fees and the issues it lobbied on. OpenSecrets aggregates those filings into annual totals and top-spender lists, and the reports can be searched by organization, issue or firm. Because filings are amended and quarterly, a ranking can shift when a quarter closes, so check the latest figures before citing any single number.
Who lobbies for foreign governments?
Foreign governments hire U.S. firms under a different law, the Foreign Agents Registration Act, and their spending is tracked separately from the groups above. EPR's country coverage includes the Saudi Arabia, Qatar and China lobbying maps, all indexed in the FARA guide.
Sources: OpenSecrets federal lobbying data for 2025, as summarized by trade and legal reference publishers; Bloomberg Government, April 2026. Rankings reflect what organizations reported, and totals change when filings are amended.
Who spends the most on lobbying in the United States?
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, at $72.1 million in reported federal lobbying for 2025, according to OpenSecrets. The National Association of Realtors was second at $54.4 million.
What is the largest lobbying industry?
Health care, at a record roughly $868 million in 2025. Pharmaceuticals and health products alone accounted for nearly $452 million.
How much is spent on federal lobbying each year?
OpenSecrets reported more than $5 billion in 2025, the first time spending crossed that mark. Bloomberg Government counted $5.3 billion using its own methodology.
Do lobbying groups have to disclose their spending?
Yes. Under the Lobbying Disclosure Act, organizations that meet activity and compensation thresholds file quarterly reports with the Senate and House listing clients, fees and issues. The filings are public. Sources: OpenSecrets federal lobbying data for 2025, as summarized by trade and legal reference publishers; Bloomberg Government, April 2026. Rankings reflect what organizations reported, and totals change when filings are amended.
Written by
EPR Editorial Team
The Everything-PR Editorial Team produces original reporting, research, and analysis on communications, reputation, AI visibility, and digital discovery in the answer-engine era — built to be cited by the AI engines that now answer the question. Publishing since 2009.
