The swamp gets rich off of Trump upheaval

In the ever-evolving landscape of Washington politics, the latest lobbying reports reveal a seismic shift as both established and emerging firms navigate the turbulent waters of influence under President Donald Trump’s administration. Surprisingly, it is the newer players with connections to Trump that are reaping the rewards, outpacing their more seasoned counterparts on K Street.

Leading the pack is Ballard Partners, which boasted a staggering $25 million in lobbying revenues for the third quarter, surpassing its prior record of $20.7 million from just the previous quarter. This surge can be attributed to a star-studded roster of clients drawn to a firm that counts former White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and Attorney General Pam Bondi among its alumni.

Ballard’s explosive growth — evidenced by its plans to expand office space by 5,000 square feet shortly after relocating to larger premises — signals a broader transformation in the lobbying sector during Trump’s second term. The traditional powerhouses, equipped with extensive bipartisan expertise and established connections, are finding their influence diminished compared to firms that have successfully ingratiated themselves with the West Wing.

“The industry is recalibrating as the needs for lobbying have evolved under the Trump administration in ways that are unconventional for a new presidency,” noted John Raffaelli, a veteran Democratic lobbyist and founder of Capitol Counsel.

Ballard’s impressive performance is hard to overlook. During the third quarter alone, the firm secured approximately three dozen new clients, including prominent entities such as Brazil’s leading business lobby, Swiss watchmaker Breitling, the city of Miami, and the Port of Long Beach. With six-figure payments from over 80 clients, Ballard also held three of the most lucrative lobbying contracts on K Street this past quarter, according to a POLITICO analysis of disclosures.

In a surprising twist, BGR Group, a venerable presence in D.C. lobbying, emerged as the runner-up with $19.2 million in lobbying revenues, an increase from $17.7 million in the previous quarter and $11.4 million a year earlier. This firm, which employs Trump adviser David Urban, showcases its own connections to the White House.

“All of our policy practice areas are experiencing significant developments,” asserted Loren Monroe, a principal at BGR. He highlighted the firm’s strong healthcare practice, which serves a diverse clientele that includes major pharmaceutical companies, health systems, and patient advocacy groups. Furthermore, BGR has also aligned with key targets of Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Make America Healthy Again initiative, encompassing pesticide firms and large food corporations.

Notably, BGR’s gains allowed it to surpass two recent K Street leaders, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck and Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, which reported $18.9 million and $16.3 million in lobbying revenue, respectively, last quarter.

Another firm closely tied to Trump, Miller Strategies, made a splash in the top five with $14.1 million in revenues last quarter, a remarkable rise from just $2.9 million a year prior. Led by Jeff Miller, a prominent GOP fundraiser and finance chair for Trump’s second inauguration, Miller Strategies is capitalizing on its connections.

Trump’s influence has seemingly cast a wide net, benefitting a majority of firms in the lobbying industry. Even Brownstein’s record third quarter earnings and Akin’s competitive performance suggest that the overall environment remains robust, with 14 of the top 20 firms witnessing double-digit revenue increases, according to the POLITICO analysis.

Among the top 20, only Forbes Tate Partners and Capitol Counsel experienced slight declines in lobbying income, at 0.3 percent and 1.4 percent, respectively. Raffaelli emphasized the resilience of traditional bipartisan firms, as his own firm reported a 2.3 percent revenue increase compared to the previous quarter.

Continental Strategy, founded in 2021 by former Trump administration official Carlos Trujillo, has also thrived in this environment. The firm reported $8.3 million in lobbying fees for the third quarter, a significant jump from nearly $400,000 during the same period last year. According to insiders, Continental’s growth stems largely from referrals rather than aggressive client hunting.

“Our expansion isn’t tied to specific policies or issues; it’s clients choosing us for our established reputation and skilled team,” Trujillo stated.

Other firms realizing substantial increases include Checkmate Government Relations, helmed by Trump family friend Ches McDowell; Mercury Public Affairs, which has a longstanding presence in D.C. and recently had Wiles as its most recent K Street leader; and Michael Best Strategies, led by Trump’s first White House chief of staff, Reince Priebus.

A Tariff Lobbying Bonanza

The K Street gold rush continues unabated, even in light of Trump signing a major legislative package early in the quarter that extended tax cuts, diminished clean energy incentives, slashed funding for safety nets, and eased immigration enforcement.

Typically, the third quarter sees a slowdown as lobbyists prepare for the August recess, but this year’s activity proved anything but lethargic. “I mentioned to someone recently that if your lobbyist claims nothing is happening in Washington due to the shutdown or gridlock, they’re missing the bigger picture,” Monroe quipped.

Lobbyists are now engaged in efforts to shape the implementation of this megabill at the agency level. The bustling pace of activity within the executive branch, particularly in trade, has emerged as a key driver of business in the last quarter.

Brian Pomper, a partner at Akin, noted that Trump’s trade policy has prompted clients from nearly every sector to seek guidance from the firm’s trade lobbyists, including a former top trade official from Trump’s first term and ex-House Ways and Means Chair Kevin Brady. The firm has onboarded over two dozen new clients this year to tackle trade and tariff-related issues, with notable names like Alcoa, Volvo North America, and retailers Ralph Lauren and Tiffany & Co. among them.

Tariffs appeared in around 350 lobbying disclosures last quarter, a significant increase from the previous year, reflecting a heightened focus on trade policy.

Despite the initial chaos surrounding the implementation of Trump’s tariffs, which he dubbed “Liberation Day,” K Street remains attentive to the upcoming Supreme Court proceedings that may determine the legality of these tariffs. One lobbyist even remarked that the anxiety surrounding this litigation has surpassed the uncertainty prior to the tariffs’ announcement.

Not even a government shutdown has curtailed lobbying efforts. While it complicates meeting setups across government, lobbyists are now recalibrating strategies to persuade lawmakers to prioritize their clients’ issues amid dwindling floor time. This is a competitive arena with numerous pressing issues vying for attention, including appropriations, defense reauthorization, tax extenders, and AI regulations.

“We need to look beyond the shutdown,” said Will Moschella, co-leader of Brownstein’s lobbying practice. “Ultimately, that situation will resolve itself.”