IBM's Federal Lobbying Record
At $13.6M in disclosed federal lobbying, IBM 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, IBM's annual disclosed lobbying spend has declined modestly — from $3.4M in 2020 to $2.5M in 2024, a change of -27%. 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.
IBM's disclosed lobbying covers 6 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.
4 of 9 lobbyists reported by IBM (44%) 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 Amanda D. Morris (Former Director of Policy, Department of Energy); Wayne E. Berman (Former Legislative Director, U.S. House of Representatives); Dorothy M. Phillips (Former Chief Counsel, House Ways & Means Committee). The covered-position field on LDA cover sheets captures executive-branch and senior congressional roles held within the prior two years.
Within the Technology & Internet sector, IBM ranks #11 of 47 tracked organizations by disclosed lobbying spend. The sector leader is Meta Platforms at $98.6M; the sector average is $14.3M. IBM's $13.6M sits 5% below the sector average.
IBM's LobbySpend Influence Score of 64/100 (grade B) reflects significant federal lobbying reach. The score blends disclosed total spend, issue breadth, and revolving-door connections — lobbyists with prior federal government service. A B-grade typically means the organization is well above average on at least two of those three signals, with sustained activity over multiple years rather than a one-off spike.
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 | K&L Gates | CPIDEF | 4 | $694K |
| 2024 Jul-Sep | Prime Policy Group | DEFCPIGOV+2 | 1 | $577K |
| 2024 Apr-Jun | Covington & Burling | IMMCPIGOV+1 | 4 | $704K |
| 2024 Jan-Mar | Cornerstone Government Affairs | IMMTAX | 2 | $509K |
| 2023 Oct-Dec | Squire Patton Boggs | SCIDEFIMM+2 | 4 | $535K |
| 2023 Jul-Sep | Summit Strategies Government Affairs | DEFSCIIMM+1 | 2 | $557K |
| 2023 Apr-Jun | Stewart & Stewart | TAXIMMDEF+2 | 3 | $514K |
| 2023 Jan-Mar | Hogan Lovells | SCICPIGOV+1 | 3 | $620K |
IBM Lobbying FAQ
IBM has spent $13.6M on federal lobbying across 6 policy areas. This includes spending on registered lobbyists and direct government contacts.
IBM lobbies on 6 policy issues, including Computer Industry, Defense, Taxation, Immigration. These disclosures are filed quarterly with the Senate Office of Public Records.
IBM has an Influence Score of 64/100 (Grade B). This proprietary score is based on total lobby spend (40%), policy issue breadth (30%), and revolving door connections (30%).
IBM employs 9 registered lobbyists, of whom 4 have revolving door connections, meaning they previously held government positions before becoming lobbyists.
IBM has contacted 7 government entities as part of their lobbying activities, including U.S. House of Representatives, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, Dept of Health & Human Services.
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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.