Rocket Lab USA's Federal Lobbying Record
Rocket Lab USA's $1.9M in disclosed federal lobbying puts it in the mid-tier of registered filers. Spending in the seven-figure range is common for established trade groups, mid-size corporations, and advocacy organizations that maintain a steady but not aggressive presence on Capitol Hill.
Across the 5-year window from 2020 to 2024, Rocket Lab USA's annual disclosed lobbying spend has held roughly steady — $342K at the start versus $330K at the most recent year-end. Year-to-year wobbles inside that range usually reflect timing of legislative cycles rather than a strategic shift.
Rocket Lab USA's disclosed lobbying focuses on a narrow 3-issue footprint. A focused issue list usually means the organization concentrates its federal engagement on a small set of bills or rulemakings directly relevant to its core business.
1 of 2 lobbyists reported by Rocket Lab USA (50%) disclose prior federal government service — a high revolving-door share. The LDA cover sheet flags any "covered position" the lobbyist held in the executive branch, Congress, or a senior staff role within the past two years.
Among the named bench, lobbyists with disclosed prior federal service include Maria D. Cardona (Former Legislative Director, U.S. House of Representatives). The covered-position field on LDA cover sheets captures executive-branch and senior congressional roles held within the prior two years.
Within the Defense & Aerospace sector, Rocket Lab USA ranks #32 of 36 tracked organizations by disclosed lobbying spend. The sector leader is Lockheed Martin at $69.2M; the sector average is $12.6M. Rocket Lab USA's $1.9M sits 85% below the sector average.
Rocket Lab USA's LobbySpend Influence Score of 55/100 (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 | Holland & Knight | DEFGOVAER | 1 | $96K |
| 2024 Jul-Sep | Covington & Burling | GOVAER | 2 | $80K |
| 2024 Apr-Jun | Fierce Government Relations | DEFGOV | 1 | $97K |
| 2024 Jan-Mar | Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld | DEFAER | 1 | $75K |
| 2023 Oct-Dec | Fierce Government Relations | DEFGOV | 1 | $69K |
| 2023 Jul-Sep | Venable LLP | AERDEFGOV | 2 | $69K |
| 2023 Apr-Jun | S-3 Group | DEFAER | 1 | $71K |
| 2023 Jan-Mar | Van Scoyoc Associates | AERDEF | 1 | $91K |
Rocket Lab USA Lobbying FAQ
Rocket Lab USA has spent $1.9M on federal lobbying across 3 policy areas. This includes spending on registered lobbyists and direct government contacts.
Rocket Lab USA lobbies on 3 policy issues, including Aerospace, Defense, Government Issues. These disclosures are filed quarterly with the Senate Office of Public Records.
Rocket Lab USA has an Influence Score of 55/100 (Grade C). This proprietary score is based on total lobby spend (40%), policy issue breadth (30%), and revolving door connections (30%).
Rocket Lab USA employs 2 registered lobbyists, of whom 1 have revolving door connections, meaning they previously held government positions before becoming lobbyists.
Rocket Lab USA has contacted 4 government entities as part of their lobbying activities, including Dept of the Interior, Federal Communications Commission, 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.