The issue of foreign lobbying and foreign influence in the United States became prominent during Donald Trump's presidency [577851ab]. Some of Trump's officials made progress in countering foreign influence efforts, including investigations into foreign funding of U.S. universities and reporting of foreign donations to universities [577851ab]. However, under the Biden administration, the momentum began to dissipate [577851ab]. Investigations into foreign funding of U.S. universities were halted, and reporting of foreign donations significantly decreased [577851ab]. The Biden administration also dropped the pressure on think tanks to disclose their foreign patrons [577851ab].
Additionally, high-profile prosecutions against foreign agents, such as Gregory Craig, Tom Barrack, and Steve Wynn, failed [577851ab]. The Justice Department's efforts to crack down on foreign lobbying networks suffered setbacks, and the progress made during the Trump era was undone [577851ab].
The article also mentions the case of Bob Menendez, a senator who appeared to be acting as an unregistered foreign lobbyist [577851ab].
The recent leadership shakeup in the House of Representatives has left K Street lobbyists facing uncertainty and speculation about the impact on their work [817ee0db]. With Rep. Kevin McCarthy's sudden withdrawal from the race for Speaker of the House, lobbyists are unsure of the timeline and direction of legislative priorities [817ee0db]. Clients are eager to know who will be leading the train for the rest of Congress and how it will affect their interests [817ee0db].
The disarray within the House GOP conference raises questions about the passage of reauthorization bills and the potential for more shutdown brinkmanship [817ee0db]. Lobbyists emphasize the importance of leadership stability and predictability in shaping policy negotiations [817ee0db]. The outcome of the leadership elections could shift the dynamics of negotiations [817ee0db].
In the current volatile political environment, lobbyists stress the need for nimble and multi-faceted advocacy and public affairs strategies [817ee0db]. They recognize the importance of adapting to the changing landscape and being prepared for various scenarios [817ee0db].
However, amid the leadership shakeup, there are growing concerns about lobbying violations and the enforcement of lobbying regulations [a1938a9f]. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia has a backlog of thousands of unresolved lobbying violation cases [a1938a9f]. The Lobbying Disclosure Act requires lobbyists to file registrations and activity reports, but many fail to comply [a1938a9f]. Of the 3,622 referrals for lobbying reporting violations since 2014, a significant number are still pending [a1938a9f]. The backlog raises concerns about the enforcement of lobbying regulations and the consequences for noncompliance [a1938a9f].
Lobbyists and firms disclosed receiving $4.3 billion in 2023, and most comply with reporting requirements [a1938a9f]. However, the backlog is attributed to difficulties in locating lobbyists or receiving responses from them [a1938a9f]. The nonprofit watchdog Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) has expressed concern over the lack of oversight in the influential lobbying industry [a1938a9f].
The practice of lobbying in the US has transformed America's economy and political process [e1bb7dec]. Lobbyists now focus on shaping the opinion of constituents back home in their districts [e1bb7dec]. They use personal connections, access to lawmakers, and a range of professionals such as PR gurus, social media experts, pollsters, and grassroots organizers to further the interests of big US corporations [e1bb7dec]. Lobbyists have reshaped how both major political parties operate [e1bb7dec]. For example, President Clinton failed to win passage of health care reform in the 1990s due to the power of lobbyists [e1bb7dec].
The ability to navigate through uncertainty and adapt to new circumstances will be crucial for lobbyists in the coming months [817ee0db].