Caterpillar Inc's Federal Lobbying Record
At $11.9M in disclosed federal lobbying, Caterpillar Inc ranks as a major spender — well above the typical filer. Outlays in this range generally reflect a sustained presence in Washington, with at least one full-time government affairs lead and a stable of outside lobbyists engaged on the organization's priority issues.
Across the 5-year window from 2020 to 2024, Caterpillar Inc's annual disclosed lobbying spend has climbed modestly — from $2.1M in 2020 to $2.4M in 2024, a change of +12%. Step-changes of this size often coincide with major bills moving through Congress, regulatory rulemakings affecting the organization's industry, or a leadership change in the relevant committee.
Caterpillar Inc's disclosed lobbying covers 5 general issue areas — a moderate footprint. Filers in this range tend to engage on a coherent cluster of related topics rather than spreading effort across the federal agenda.
3 of 8 lobbyists reported by Caterpillar Inc (38%) disclose prior federal government service. That share is common at established government affairs operations that explicitly hire from agency and committee staff.
Among the named bench, lobbyists with disclosed prior federal service include Gerald E. Cassidy (Former Commissioner, FTC); Wayne E. Berman (Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense); Lorraine C. Voles (Former Deputy Administrator, EPA). The covered-position field on LDA cover sheets captures executive-branch and senior congressional roles held within the prior two years.
Within the Manufacturing sector, Caterpillar Inc ranks #4 of 21 tracked organizations by disclosed lobbying spend. The sector leader is American Chemistry Council at $40.1M; the sector average is $7.6M. Caterpillar Inc's $11.9M sits 56% above the sector average.
Caterpillar Inc's LobbySpend Influence Score of 59/100 (grade C) is the most common grade in the index — it covers organizations with established but moderate federal advocacy programs. The score combines disclosed total spend (40%), issue breadth (30%), and revolving-door connections (30%). A C-grade is typical of mid-size corporations and trade associations with steady quarterly filings on a focused issue set.
Every figure above is sourced from Senate lobbying disclosure filings submitted under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995. Per-issue dollar splits and covered-position flags are filer-reported and may be amended after initial submission.
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Annual Lobbying Spend
Policy Issues
Government Entities Contacted
Recent Filings
| Period | Registrant | Issues | Lobbyists | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Oct-Dec | Franklin Square Group | MANTRD | 3 | $597K |
| 2024 Jul-Sep | Cassidy & Associates | TAXTRDENV+2 | 4 | $495K |
| 2024 Apr-Jun | Arnold & Porter | MANENVTAX | 3 | $693K |
| 2024 Jan-Mar | Subject Matter | MANTRDENV | 1 | $704K |
| 2023 Oct-Dec | Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld | ENVGOVMAN | 1 | $667K |
| 2023 Jul-Sep | Stewart & Stewart | TAXGOVENV+1 | 1 | $681K |
| 2023 Apr-Jun | Covington & Burling | GOVENVTRD+2 | 3 | $673K |
| 2023 Jan-Mar | DLA Piper | MANTRDGOV+2 | 2 | $666K |
Caterpillar Inc Lobbying FAQ
Caterpillar Inc has spent $11.9M on federal lobbying across 5 policy areas. This includes spending on registered lobbyists and direct government contacts.
Caterpillar Inc lobbies on 5 policy issues, including Manufacturing, Trade, Taxation, Environment/Superfund. These disclosures are filed quarterly with the Senate Office of Public Records.
Caterpillar Inc has an Influence Score of 59/100 (Grade C). This proprietary score is based on total lobby spend (40%), policy issue breadth (30%), and revolving door connections (30%).
Caterpillar Inc employs 8 registered lobbyists, of whom 3 have revolving door connections, meaning they previously held government positions before becoming lobbyists.
Caterpillar Inc has contacted 6 government entities as part of their lobbying activities, including National Science Foundation, Dept of Health & Human Services, Dept of Agriculture.
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Lobbying data is sourced from quarterly Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) filings with the Senate Office of Public Records. Influence Scores combine total spend (40%), issue breadth (30%), and revolving door connections (30%). Filings may be amended after initial submission.