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OpenAI and Anthropic together spent $3.17 million on federal lobbying in the second quarter of 2026, up 23% from the first three months of the year, as outlays from legacy technology and defense companies declined.
AI developers move against the tide The two artificial intelligence companies accelerated their Washington spending from Q1 to Q2 while established technology firms and defense contractors pulled their outlays lower.
The $3.17 million combined total covers the April-through-June period. The 23% gain placed the pair on a diverging trajectory from the rest of the technology lobbying market.
Legacy incumbents and defense-aligned firms reduced their spending over the same period even as OpenAI and Anthropic pushed their combined outlay higher.
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