NEWS

In January, Capitol Hill opened its doors to lobbyists once again after pandemic restrictions were lifted. That means corporate lobbyists, hired guns, association leaders and grassroots activists are back in full force, and these top lobbyists have had to navigate a divided Congress — and not just the traditional Republican and Democratic divisions. 

As legislating ground to a halt amid debt ceiling battles and the historic Speaker ouster, K Street set their sights on behemoth must-pass packages including the farm bill, Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization and the National Defense Authorization Act as vehicles to advance their policy priorities. 

Top lobbyists have also helped their clients navigate the flood of regulatory activity from the Biden administration, which has started pushing billions of dollars in funding, grants and tax credits out the door as major legislative packages— namely the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and CHIPS and Science Act — come online. 

The federal lobbying bench is deep, with more than 12,500 actively lobbying so far in 2023, and not everyone on this list is a registered lobbyist. These impactful advocates stand out for the results they’ve delivered for their clients, companies, trade associations and advocacy groups in the nation’s capital.

Hired Guns 

Lauren Aronson, Sage Eastman and Elise Pickering, Mehlman Consulting