U.S. President Donald Trump uses a gavel after signing the sweeping spending and tax legislation, known as the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 4, 2025. REUTERS/Ken Cedeno
Corporations are bypassing traditional lobbying channels and directly engaging with President Donald Trump and his inner circle – with the president "micromanaging" the process "phenomenally," according to a report published in Politico on Sunday.
"The president and a handful of lieutenants have seized full control over policies once considered the remit of Congress and experts at agencies, including hyperspecific issues like tariff rates, high-skilled visa fees and funding freezes. Trump’s gravitational pull has forced CEOs to act as their companies’ top lobbyists, plying the president with gifts and concessions to secure their policy priorities," the report said.
The report highlighted how Intel Corporation's experience exemplifies this new approach. Initially, the company invested years in lobbying Congress and federal agencies to secure over $10 billion in government subsidies. However, a controversy over CEO Lip-Bu Tan's ties to Chinese firms threatened the deal.
When Tan met directly with Trump, it resulted in Intel agreeing to transfer nearly $10 billion in stock to the government, a move not mandated by law.
The report noted that this direct engagement with the president is becoming more common across industries.
Pharmaceutical companies, tech giants, and energy firms are increasingly seeking to influence policy through personal connections with Trump and his aides, rather than through traditional lobbying efforts.
Niki Christoff, a tech consultant, told the outlet: "The C-suites of America are now getting a first-hand opportunity to bang their heads against the wall."
The shift has sidelined many veteran lobbyists and trade associations, per the report. Rich Gold, a Democrat heading the public policy group at Holland & Knight, was quoted as saying: "Congress has basically taken itself out of the equation."
Instead, companies are turning to firms with direct access to the White House, such as Ballard Partners and Continental Strategy.
According to the report, the new lobbying landscape is also influencing how policies are formed.
James Thurber, a professor emeritus at American University, expressed concern that bypassing expert input could lead to policies "divorced from reality."
“He’s micro-managing phenomenally in terms of a variety of issues,” Thurber said of Trump.
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