OpenAI is opening its first Washington, D.C. office this week. Competitor Anthropic has also established a permanent base in the city.
Both firms recorded their highest-ever lobbying expenditures in the first quarter of 2026. Anthropic spent $1.6 million on lobbying during this period. OpenAI spent $1 million to engage lawmakers on national security and copyright issues.
Analysis shows that 25% of all U.S. federal lobbyists worked on AI issues in 2025. Major industry backers Microsoft, Google, and Amazon are also among the top corporate spenders on AI lobbying.