While major American tech companies go to great lengths (and make a few investments) to be in Donald Trump’s good graces, they do not overlook the tried-and-true practice of lobbying.
According to the mandatory disclosures filed with the U.S. Senate under the Lobbying Disclosure Act, the ten largest players allocated roughly $90 million to federal lobbying between January and September 2025. That places the sector as the third most active, behind health and finance.
Meta Leads, AI Spending Rising Steadily
Meta dominates by a wide margin, with $19.6 million spent over the period—nearly 20% of the sector’s total lobbying budget. The group led by Mark Zuckerberg has pressed its case on platform regulation, content moderation, and AI legislation.
Amazon sits in second place with $13.2 million, followed by Alphabet (Google) with $10.3 million. Together, these three account for more than $43 million in lobbying outlays over the nine months.
But it is AI-focused players that are showing the sharpest growth. Nvidia increased from $0.9 million in Q1 to $1.9 million in Q3, for a total of $4.1 million. Anthropic and OpenAI spent $2.6 million and $2.2 million, respectively, during the period.
Priorities Centered on AI, Competition, and Cybersecurity
According to public Senate records, the main subjects addressed by these firms include:
- Public funding for AI research
- Restrictions on semiconductor exports
- Developing ethical and safety standards for AI
- Federal data privacy legislation proposals
- DOJ antitrust investigations
- Cloud provider relationships with federal agencies regarding cybersecurity
Microsoft ($7 million) and Apple ($6.4 million) maintain stable budgets, leaning on an institutional approach through their involvement in federal working groups.
Outlays Expected to Rise
Watchdog organizations such as Issue One and OpenSecrets, which compile these public data, forecast an uptick in spending in the fourth quarter of 2025, especially if discussions surrounding a federal AI framework advance in Congress.
These groups also emphasize the limits of current transparency: Senate disclosures do not break down spending by specific issue, and a single budget line can cover several distinct topics.
American tech lobbying also stretches beyond borders, with parallel efforts in Brussels and London around the European AI Act and competition regulations.
Lobbying amounts invested in the US tech sector between January and September 2025
| Company | 9-month total (USD) |
|---|---|
| Meta | $19,600,000 |
| Amazon | $13,200,000 |
| Alphabet (Google) | $10,300,000 |
| Microsoft | $7,000,000 |
| Apple | $6,400,000 |
| Nvidia | $4,100,000 |
| AMD | $3,700,000 |
| Anthropic | $2,600,000 |
| OpenAI | $2,200,000 |
| IBM | $2,200,000 |
Source: U.S. Senate
