AI Chiefs Intensify Washington Lobbying Efforts

Senior executives at leading artificial intelligence groups are expanding their political engagement as regulatory debates in Washington intensify, blurring the line between corporate strategy and public policy.

OpenAI and Anthropic spent $2.99 million and $3.13 million respectively on federal lobbying in 2025, according to regulatory disclosures, marking their highest annual outlays to date. Each also spent roughly $300,000 lobbying in California. Both companies began lobbying in 2023, but 2025 was the first year Anthropic disclosed donations supporting specific political candidates. Last week, the company announced a $20 million contribution to Public First Action, a political organisation advocating stronger AI regulation.

The increased activity comes as both groups pursue substantial government business. Anthropic has been involved in discussions with the U.S. Department of Defense over a reported $200 million contract to develop AI for national security and enterprise applications. Federal agencies are expanding their use of AI systems, and in August both OpenAI and Anthropic announced arrangements enabling government bodies to access their models at nominal cost. OpenAI has also urged federal agencies to adopt frontier systems to strengthen national security interests.

Lobbying priorities for both companies include national security, export controls and AI infrastructure. Anthropic’s filings reference measures such as the GAIN AI Act, which would tighten restrictions on advanced chip exports to adversaries. OpenAI has called for tax credits and streamlined permitting to accelerate data centre development, citing the scale required to deploy frontier models. Anthropic has supported similar policies and committed to covering electricity costs linked to connecting new facilities to the grid.

Public differences remain over specific legislation, including California’s AI safety law, which Anthropic endorsed and OpenAI reportedly opposed. Yet at the federal level, both companies are pressing for policies that enable rapid expansion while shaping the contours of oversight. With comprehensive federal AI legislation still pending, chief executives are positioning their organisations not only as builders of transformative systems but as principal participants in the rules that will govern them.