Lobbying Industry Thriving During Trump’s Second Term
Washington, D.C.’s lobbying sector is experiencing significant growth as President Donald Trump embarks on his second term.
Thirteen out of the twenty largest lobbying firms have reported a 10% increase in revenues compared to 2024. In 2025, these firms collectively earned $595 million, while that figure surged to $824 million during Trump’s administration. It raises a question about previous promises to “drain the swamp.”
Politico pointed out that several firms connected to the Trump administration have performed remarkably well. For instance, Ballard Partners, which counts Attorney General Pam Bondi and Chief of Staff Susie Wiles among its alumni, emerged as the leading lobbying firm in D.C. in 2025, bringing in $88.3 million—an impressive 350% increase from the previous year.
BGR Group, associated with former Wisconsin Republican Rep. Sean Duffy, reported $71.5 million in 2025, reflecting a 58% rise from the year before. Duffy currently serves as secretary of the Department of Transportation.
Continental Strategy, a newer lobbying firm established in 2021, also saw remarkable growth, with revenues skyrocketing from $1.8 million in 2024 to over $27 million in 2025. They recently hired former aides connected to key figures in the administration.
Other firms like Brownstein Hyatt Faber Schreck, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, and Holland & Knight have also posted record revenues.
It’s interesting to note that when Trump took office in 2017, he established a strict ethics rule limiting executive branch employees from becoming lobbyists for five years. However, after his departure from the White House in 2021, he reversed this stance. Current and former government officials can now bypass these restrictions.
In his second term, Trump has continued to loosen regulations regarding lobbyists. On his first day back in office in 2025, he signed an executive order that revoked the ethics standards implemented by Biden in January 2021. This order removed limits on what executive branch employees can accept from lobbyists and allowed them to pursue jobs within the lobbying sector.
Many argue that lobbying contributes to the dysfunction of the federal government. It prompts the question: why send representatives to Congress when lobbyists can essentially dictate policies? Are we truly experiencing a democracy?
Regrettably, it seems that the Republican Party has largely abandoned the effort to “drain the swamp.” Do they still remember their initial aims to clean up this mess?
