OpenAI and Anthropic lift lobbying spend as defense firms pull back

OpenAI and Anthropic raised their federal lobbying outlays to new highs in the second quarter of 2026, according to federal lobbying disclosures cited by CNBC. For retail investors watching the AI trade, the numbers show how much money leading private AI companies are putting into Washington as rules on copyright, cybersecurity, cloud computing and government buying take shape.

Lobbying is paid advocacy aimed at influencing government policy, and companies must report their federal spending to Congress every quarter. Rising spending can signal that a company sees regulation, legislation or federal contracts as material to its business.

OpenAI and Anthropic spent a combined $3.17 million from April through June, up 23% from the first quarter, according to the disclosures. CNBC reported that both companies reached record levels for federal lobbying in the period.

Anthropic spent $1.97 million in the quarter, a 26% increase from the first three months of the year. OpenAI spent $1.2 million, up nearly 18% from the prior quarter. Their filings listed topics including cybersecurity, copyright, cloud computing and defense procurement.

AI firms narrow the gap with older tech companies

Large public technology companies still spend more in Washington, but the AI firms are getting closer to some major names. CNBC reported that Anthropic outspent Nvidia, which disclosed $1.25 million in federal lobbying for the quarter. OpenAI came within $50,000 of Nvidia’s total.

Anthropic’s lobbying spend also came close to Oracle’s $2 million total, according to CNBC. Compared with the second quarter of 2025, Anthropic more than doubled its spending, while OpenAI nearly doubled its total.

Among the largest technology companies, Meta led the group with $5.99 million in second-quarter federal lobbying spending, though that was 15% lower than in the first quarter, according to CNBC’s review of disclosures. Amazon spent $4.36 million, roughly in line with the previous quarter.

Google increased its second-quarter lobbying spending 25% from the first quarter to $3.57 million. Microsoft lifted spending nearly 13% to $2.69 million. Apple reported $2.74 million, while Tesla reported $650,000.

CNBC reported that the group of Magnificent Seven companies spent $21.25 million combined in the second quarter, nearly unchanged from $21.27 million in the first quarter. The companies reported lobbying on issues including trade, China, taxes and export controls.

Defense contractors spent less

Major defense contractors moved in the other direction. CNBC reviewed the eight largest U.S.-based publicly traded defense contractors by fiscal 2024 Defense Department contract obligations, using the General Services Administration’s SAM.gov Top 100 Contractors report.

Those companies spent $19.68 million on federal lobbying in the second quarter, down 3.3% from $20.36 million in the first quarter, according to CNBC. Lockheed Martin led the group at $4.18 million, followed by RTX at $3.86 million and General Dynamics at $3.42 million.

RTX had the largest dollar decline among the defense companies CNBC reviewed, reducing its spending by $600,000 from the first quarter. L3Harris had the sharpest percentage drop, cutting spending nearly 45% to $530,000. Huntington Ingalls, Northrop Grumman and Leidos also posted double-digit declines.

Boeing was the biggest gainer among the eight defense contractors, raising its lobbying spending 13% to $2.77 million, according to CNBC.

The shift puts AI’s policy push in sharper view. As OpenAI and Anthropic grow and prepare for potential public-market scrutiny, their spending shows that Washington is becoming a central arena for the next stage of the AI business.

This story draws on original reporting from CNBC.