Analysis
In-depth, data-driven analysis of federal lobbying. We follow the money so you don't have to.
The Top 20 Lobbying Spenders
A ranked breakdown of the corporations and trade groups that spend the most to buy influence in Washington — with exact dollar amounts from Senate LDA filings.
Read the full analysis →The Revolving Door
How former members of Congress become million-dollar lobbyists. The pipeline from Capitol Hill to K Street.
Read Analysis →Big Tech's Washington Takeover
Google, Meta, Amazon, Apple, and Microsoft have spent $950M+ on lobbying. Here's how Silicon Valley bought DC.
Read Analysis →Pharma's $4.4B Influence Machine
The pharmaceutical industry outspends every other sector. Drug pricing, patents, and the business of blocking reform.
Read Analysis →The Military-Industrial Lobbying Complex
Defense contractors spend hundreds of millions lobbying for weapons systems. Eisenhower warned us.
Read Analysis →Big Oil's Climate Lobbying Playbook
Fossil fuel companies pledge net-zero while spending $890M+ lobbying against climate legislation.
Read Analysis →The 22,000% Return on Lobbying
Academic research proves lobbying is the best investment in America. $1 in → $220 out.
Read Analysis →Shadow Lobbying
Think tanks, 501(c)(4)s, and "strategic advisors" — the influence that never gets reported.
Read Analysis →Foreign Governments Lobbying America
Saudi Arabia, Israel, China, and 100+ countries spend millions lobbying the U.S. government. FARA exposed.
Read Analysis →Lobbying 101
How lobbying works, who the players are, what's legal, and what the disclosure rules actually say.
Read Analysis →Our Analytical Approach
Data-First, Always
Every analysis on OpenLobby starts with the data. We don't begin with a narrative and find data to support it — we let 726,000+ Senate LDA filings tell the story. Our analyses surface patterns, correlations, and trends that emerge from the data itself.
Correlation ≠ Causation
When we show that a company spent $12M on lobbying and received $50B in contracts, we're showing a correlation. Lobbying doesn't automatically cause contract awards. But the patterns are striking enough to warrant public attention and further investigation.
Open Methodology
We publish our full methodology including data sources, processing pipeline, Influence Score calculations, and known limitations. Transparency in our own methods is just as important as transparency in lobbying.
Free & Open
No paywall, no login, no ads. All of our processed data is freely downloadable for journalists, researchers, and citizens. We built OpenLobby because we believe transparency tools should be transparent themselves.
Industry Deep-Dives
Analysis Tools
Want to explore the raw data behind these analyses?
Data-Driven Research Approach
Every analysis on OpenLobby starts with the data. We don't begin with a thesis and look for supporting evidence — we let 726,000+ lobbying filings reveal the patterns. Our methodology combines automated data processing with expert review to identify anomalies, trends, and connections that would be invisible in raw filing data.
All findings are reproducible. We publish the data behind our analyses in downloadable datasets, and our methodology page explains our approach in detail. If you find something we missed, we want to hear about it.
Data Notes & Methodology
All data on this page is sourced from Senate Office of Public Records lobbying disclosure filings under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995. Figures reflect reported spending as filed and may be subject to amendment. Quarterly totals are annualized where noted.
Industry classifications follow the Center for Responsive Politics methodology. Where companies operate across multiple sectors, spending is attributed to the primary business classification. Foreign entity designations follow FARA and LDA Section 4 definitions.
Year-over-year comparisons use inflation-adjusted figures (2026 dollars) unless otherwise noted. Historical data extends back to 1998 when electronic filing became mandatory.
For questions about our data or methodology, see our full methodology page or contact us.