The oil and gas industry spent $38 million on lobbying the federal government during the first quarter of 2025, a step back from the $44 million spent in the same period of 2024, as executives and lobbyists dealt with a change in energy policies, reports Natalie Jonas.
Last year, the oil and gas industry spent over $153 million on lobbying the federal government, its biggest total during the Biden administration, when the White House was pushing for alternative energy solutions even as U.S. oil production hit a record high.
With Republicans now in full control of the federal government, the oil and gas industry could be positioned for another boom. President Donald Trump’s push for homegrown energy has invigorated investment into national energy and exploration of vulnerable lands across the country. As a result, the oil and gas industry has spent millions in lobbying to promote fossil fuel exploration, pro-extraction policies and reduced regulation. And there are signs of a potential energy downturn that could spur increased lobbying.
ConocoPhillips spent the most on lobbying of any company in the industry, directing over $3.2 million toward influence activities in the first three months of 2025, followed by Koch Inc., which spent $2.8 million in the quarter before announcing in April it was leaving the global oil trade to focus on less volatile markets.
