Major tech and AI firms collectively spent $109 million on lobbying in 2025, with total AI-related lobbying revenue reaching nearly $130 million. In the first half of 2026, eleven leading companies invested $41 million, an increase of approximately 8% compared to the same period in 2025, representing over $320,000 per congressional day. Meta led the charge with $13.8 million in the first half of 2025, while AI-native companies Anthropic and OpenAI set quarterly records of $3.5 million and $1.2 million respectively. This lobbying push is driven by major regulatory flashpoints including AI safety standards, federal preemption over state rules, export controls, copyright disputes, and defense procurement policies.
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