Merck & Co
Pharmaceutical & Health Products · Lobbying Client
Merck & Co's Federal Lobbying Record
Merck & Co's disclosed federal lobbying spend of $25.9M places it among the top-tier spenders tracked here — organizations that put real, recurring dollars behind their federal advocacy. Spending at this level usually involves a dedicated in-house team, multiple outside firms, and steady quarterly filings rather than one-off campaigns tied to a single bill.
Across the 5-year window from 2020 to 2024, Merck & Co's annual disclosed lobbying spend has climbed modestly — from $5.1M in 2020 to $5.7M in 2024, a change of +10%. 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.
Merck & Co's disclosed lobbying covers 7 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.
6 of 17 lobbyists reported by Merck & Co (35%) 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 Martha C. Choe (Former Staff Director, House Energy & Commerce Committee); Lorraine C. Voles (Former Senior Counsel, Senate Finance Committee); Hunter H. Biden (Former Deputy Secretary of Defense). The covered-position field on LDA cover sheets captures executive-branch and senior congressional roles held within the prior two years.
Within the Pharmaceutical & Health Products sector, Merck & Co ranks #4 of 34 tracked organizations by disclosed lobbying spend. The sector leader is Pharmaceutical Research & Manufacturers of America at $135.8M; the sector average is $16.7M. Merck & Co's $25.9M sits 55% above the sector average.
Merck & Co's LobbySpend Influence Score of 65/100 (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 | Venable LLP | TAXPHAGOV+2 | 3 | $1.6M |
| 2024 Jul-Sep | BGR Group | CPTPHAMED | 4 | $1.6M |
| 2024 Apr-Jun | Venable LLP | GOVPHATRD+1 | 1 | $1.4M |
| 2024 Jan-Mar | Cornerstone Government Affairs | CPTGOV | 1 | $1.7M |
| 2023 Oct-Dec | Franklin Square Group | MEDHCRGOV+2 | 2 | $1.1M |
| 2023 Jul-Sep | Venable LLP | CPTGOV | 4 | $1.4M |
| 2023 Apr-Jun | Steptoe & Johnson | HCRGOVMED | 3 | $1.1M |
| 2023 Jan-Mar | Hogan Lovells | PHAGOVHCR+2 | 1 | $1.4M |
Merck & Co Lobbying FAQ
Merck & Co has spent $25.9M on federal lobbying across 7 policy areas. This includes spending on registered lobbyists and direct government contacts.
Merck & Co lobbies on 7 policy issues, including Health Issues, Pharmacy, Medical/Disease Research, Copyright/Patent/Trademark. These disclosures are filed quarterly with the Senate Office of Public Records.
Merck & Co has an Influence Score of 65/100 (Grade B). This proprietary score is based on total lobby spend (40%), policy issue breadth (30%), and revolving door connections (30%).
Merck & Co employs 17 registered lobbyists, of whom 6 have revolving door connections, meaning they previously held government positions before becoming lobbyists.
Merck & Co has contacted 10 government entities as part of their lobbying activities, including Dept of Labor, Dept of Justice, Small Business Administration.
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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.