https://www.newsnationnow.com/danabramslive/rfk-jr-kennedy-plane-rides-jeffrey-epstein/
Hierarchy of the Largest Lobby Groups in the US
Lobby groups in the United States are organized into a hierarchy based on the scale of their spending and influence. This hierarchy can be understood by looking at the top spenders, the most influential sectors, and the leading lobbying firms.
| Rank | Organization | 2024–2025 Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | National Association of Realtors | $63.5M1 |
| 2 | US Chamber of Commerce | $53.4M1 |
| 3 | Pharmaceutical Research & Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) | $13.0M2 |
| 4 | National Association of Realtors | $11.3M2 |
| 5 | Blue Cross/Blue Shield | $9.1M2 |
| 6 | American Hospital Association | $8.5M2 |
| 7 | American Medical Association | $8.2M2 |
| 8 | General Motors | $8.2M2 |
| 9 | Meta (Facebook) | $8.0M2 |
| 10 | Business Roundtable | $6.9M2 |
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These organizations represent sectors such as real estate, business, pharmaceuticals, health insurance, tech, and automotive21.
The hierarchy of influence is also reflected by sector spending:
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Pharmaceuticals and Health Products: Most lobbying spending ($293.7M in 2024)3.
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: Large umbrella groups like the US Chamber of Commerce dominate spending4.
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: Blue Cross/Blue Shield, American Hospital Association, and similar groups are among the highest spenders.
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: Companies like Meta and Amazon are consistently top lobby spenders.
Major lobbying firms serve as the operational arms for many of these groups:
| Rank | Lobbying Firm | 2024 Revenue |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck LLP | $67.9M56 |
| 2 | Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP | $56.7M56 |
| 3 | Holland & Knight LLP | $49.9M56 |
| 4 | Cornerstone Government Affairs Inc. | $48.6M5 |
| 5 | BGR Government Affairs LLC | $45.1M56 |
Research finds that a persistent “top tier” of roughly 100 organizations:
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Accounts for about one-third of total lobbying expenditures.
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Employs around one-third of all lobbyists.
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Maintains broad issue portfolios and outsized influence on policy debates7.
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: ~100 large organizations across corporate, trade, health, and finance sectors, spending the most and having dedicated, multi-issue lobbying teams7.
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: A handful of major lobbying firms serve these clients with powerful advocacy resources56.
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: Additional national and state-level associations, sector-focused advocacy groups, and influential corporations.
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: Regional or single-issue groups with modest spending and narrower focus.
This hierarchy is stable over time, with the largest spenders and firms consistently occupying the top, wielding broad and deep influence in US policymaking217.
- https://www.statista.com/statistics/257344/top-lobbying-spenders-in-the-us/
- https://www.opensecrets.org/federal-lobbying/top-spenders
- https://www.statista.com/statistics/257364/top-lobbying-industries-in-the-us/
- https://www.investopedia.com/investing/which-industry-spends-most-lobbying-antm-so/
- https://about.bgov.com/insights/public-affairs-strategies/what-are-the-top-10-lobbying-firms-in-the-u-s/
- https://about.bgov.com/insights/company-news/federal-lobbying-spending-reached-new-high-in-2024-bloomberg-governments-10th-annual-top-performing-lobbying-firms-report-finds/
- https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/can-america-govern-itself/interest-group-top-tier/351DE0432AB954CC1C4C973F12E5D87B
- https://www.opensecrets.org/federal-lobbying
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lobbying_in_the_United_States
- https://assets.bbhub.io/bna/sites/3/2024/03/2024-Top-Performing-Lobbying-Firms-Report.pdf
- https://www.bu.edu/best/files/2016/01/lobbyist_agencies.pdf
- https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/political-science/articles/10.3389/fpos.2023.1123332/full
- https://www.opensecrets.org/federal-lobbying/top-lobbying-firms
- https://www.opensecrets.org/news/reports/layers-of-lobbying/state-and-federal-lobbying
- https://guides.smu.edu/c.php?g=820351&p=6294690
- https://www.visualcapitalist.com/ranked-which-u-s-industries-spend-the-most-on-lobbying/
- https://www.opensecrets.org/federal-lobbying/industries
- https://sk.sagepub.com/cqpress/download/guide-to-interest-groups-and-lobbying-in-the-united-states/n33.pdf
- https://quincyinst.org/research/foreign-lobbying-in-the-u-s/
- https://www.statista.com/topics/11840/lobbying-in-the-us/
Taking specific aim at the global agrochemical companies Bayer and Syngenta, US Sen. Cory Booker on Thursday introduced legislation that would create a federal “right of action” allowing people to sue those pesticide makers and others for allegedly causing health harms such as cancer and Parkinson’s disease.
The Pesticide Injury Accountability Act would “ensure that pesticide manufacturers can be held responsible for the harm caused by their toxic products,” according to a summary of the bill. The legislation would be amended to the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act of 1972 (FIFRA).
If passed, the law would turn the tables on efforts by Bayer and a coalition of agricultural organizations as they push for state-by-state legislation blocking individuals from being able to file lawsuits in state courts accusing the companies of failing to warn of the risks of their products. Led by Bayer, the agricultural organizations have also been pushing for federal preemptive protections against litigation. – Proposed federal law would turn tables on Big Ag, establishing a right to sue for pesticide injuries
‘Bayer Bill’ Granting Legal Protections to Pesticide Companies Fizzles Out in the Iowa Legislature Again
Major chemical and pesticide companies—most prominently Bayer (which acquired Monsanto)—are indeed backed by influential lobby groups that are actively seeking immunity from lawsuits, specifically those alleging failure to warn about the dangers of pesticide exposure.
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: Founded by Bayer in 2024, this coalition is currently spearheading efforts at both state and federal levels to pass bills granting pesticide companies immunity from certain lawsuits, especially those related to “failure to warn” claims on products like glyphosate (Roundup). The Modern Ag Alliance has organized lobbying campaigns, placed advertisements, and presented bills in multiple states including Iowa, Missouri, Florida, and Idaho, and has played a leading role in pushing for similar provisions in federal legislation123456.
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: This is the principal trade association for pesticide manufacturers in the United States and has a long history of lobbying for weaker regulatory standards, defending chemical products, and pushing for legal protections for its members, including major companies like Bayer, BASF, Corteva, and Syngenta178.
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: Large chemical manufacturers—including Bayer, BASF, Corteva, Dow, and others—are documented to use political action committees (PACs) and industry associations to direct substantial funds to state legislators, as well as lobby at the federal level, to promote and support legal immunity bills910111213.
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: Bayer and the Modern Ag Alliance have coordinated multi-state campaigns to introduce “immunity from lawsuits” bills. These bills aim to prevent individuals and farmers from suing pesticide manufacturers over health impacts allegedly caused by their products. Similar language has appeared in bills in at least 10 states in 2024–2025, with significant lobbying expenditures and media campaigns aimed at swaying public and legislative opinion12345.
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: Lobbyists have also targeted Congress, seeking to insert immunity provisions into federal legislation like the Farm Bill. If passed, these provisions would shield pesticide companies from certain types of product liability nationwide14156.
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: Major lobbying firms leading these campaigns often represent or have substantial contracts with chemical industry giants. CropLife America and similar industry associations coordinate with these firms on state and federal advocacy178.
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: Chemical companies, through PACs and corporate giving, have dramatically increased their campaign contributions to state and federal legislators in states considering immunity bills9.
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: There are instances of key lobbyists and industry insiders being appointed to influential regulatory roles, further strengthening the industry’s influence over policy and regulations1816.
| Group/Company | Role in Immunity Campaigns | Methods Used |
|---|---|---|
| Modern Ag Alliance | Coalition lead, state/federal bill sponsor | Bill drafting, lobbying, media ads |
| CropLife America | Top trade association, national lobbying | Congressional advocacy, public relations |
| Bayer (and Monsanto) | Direct beneficiary & campaign funder | Lobbying, funding Modern Ag Alliance, PAC giving |
| BASF, Corteva, others | Industry members and funders | Lobby support, lobbying firm contracts |
| Major Lobbying Firms | Represent industry/associations | Direct lobbying, legislative strategy |
Conclusion
Pesticide and chemical companies, especially via Bayer and coalitions like the Modern Ag Alliance, are driving the push for immunity from liability in lawsuits related to the health hazards of their products. These efforts use extensive lobbying through both dedicated industry associations and leading lobbying firms, often influencing both state and federal policy123456.
- https://jacobin.com/2024/07/pesticide-cancer-lobbying-lawsuits
- https://www.panna.org/news/bayer-wants-lawsuit-immunity/
- https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/representative-lawmakers-have-concerns-pesticide-immunity-bill%C2%A0
- https://insideclimatenews.org/news/15042025/iowa-pesticide-protections-bill-fizzles-out/
- https://civileats.com/2024/03/27/inside-bayers-state-by-state-efforts-to-stop-pesticide-lawsuits/
- https://portcitydaily.com/latest-news/2025/05/06/industry-backed-provision-tucked-into-farm-bill-shields-liability-for-pesticide-manufacturers/
- https://beyondpesticides.org/dailynewsblog/2023/04/pesticide-industry-lobbying-congress-with-misinformation-to-prohibit-local-pesticide-policies/
- https://readsludge.com/2025/07/08/trump-administration-puts-pesticide-lobbyist-in-top-epa-role/
- https://usrtk.org/pesticides/pesticide-related-pac-money-surges-into-state-legislatures/
- https://www.opensecrets.org/federal-lobbying/industries/summary?id=N13
- https://criticaldebateshsgj.scholasticahq.com/article/89298-an-examination-of-u-s-political-systems-that-proliferate-agricultural-water-contamination
- https://www.pesticideinfo.org/resources/pesticide-industry-influence
- https://www.desmog.com/pesticides-climate-biodiversity-farming/
- https://beyondpesticides.org/dailynewsblog/2025/05/groups-ask-states-to-reject-immunity-from-lawsuits-when-chemical-companies-fail-to-warn-of-product-hazards/
- https://www.justice.org/resources/press-center/appalling-gop-farm-bill
- https://www.ewg.org/news-insights/news-release/2025/06/mahuh-trump-taps-pesticide-industry-insider-regulate-pesticides
- https://subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025/07/white-house-maha-pesticides-kennedy-farm-groups-00452206
- https://investigatemidwest.org/2025/05/21/pesticide-manufacturers-ask-lawmakers-for-immunity-from-lawsuits-by-sick-farmers/
- https://beyondpesticides.org/dailynewsblog/2023/07/take-action-dont-allow-the-pesticide-lobby-to-strip-local-and-states-authority-to-restrict-pesticide-use/
- https://www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/05/14/the-pesticide-immunity-bill-is-dead-we-hope/