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Defense contracting transparency

Where money moves through U.S. defense — federal spending (Department of Defense), the top prime contractors by dollars received, lobbying, congressional trades in defense stocks, and the revolving door. Coverage-honest: figures we don't have yet show "—"; the contractor list is a curated set of major primes, not every DoD vendor.

Defense is the largest slice of discretionary federal spending — money Congress appropriates each year for the military and the contractors it buys from. Learn more →

The defense revolving door — LDA filings, 2026

Registered lobbyists on defense (DEF) filings who disclosed a prior covered government position — a role they previously held in Congress or the executive branch, including the Department of Defense. This is a transparency signal, not an accusation; the prior post is exactly as the filer reported it. For the full cross-sector registry, see the Revolving Door page.

Scoped to filings carrying the DEF issue code in the Lobbying Disclosure Act database.

Lobbyists with prior government posts (defense filings)

Ranked by the number of defense filings each appears on. Read each covered-position note for the specific prior role. Registering as a lobbyist is legal and disclosed, and prior public service is common experience.

20 lobbyists
  • ANDREW QUINNSA, LA - Rep. Hoyer14 filings
  • ELIZABETH FOLEYLA - Rep. McCollum12 filings
  • BRANDON REALI - Rep. Cuellar12 filings
  • WESTON HAYCOCKSA, LA, PS - Sen. Tester8 filings
  • ADRIELLE CHURCHILL WIESETeam Chief (OASD LA), Strategic Comms (USD R&E), Senior Director Legislative Affairs (NSC) - Trump Administration (1)8 filings
  • JESSE APPLETONLegislative Assistant, Sen. James Talent; Senior Advisor, Department of Treasury6 filings
  • BRETT THOMPSONLegislative Director, Sen. James Talent4 filings
  • MARTIN WHITMERDeputy CoS - USDOT4 filings
  • DANIEL BIRNSN/A4 filings
  • MARY MOODY JOHNSONU.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions3 filings
  • MARCUS P LUBINCOS-Congressman Henry Bonilla (TX-23)3 filings
  • JENNY CAROLINE DEBERRYSenior Legislative Assistant/ Legislative Assistant, Congressman John J. Duncan, Jr.; Senior Campaign Finance Analyst/ Campaign Finance Analyst, Federal Election Commission3 filings
  • BENJAMIN JAMES SCHULTZTechnical Advisor in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Air Force for Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration.3 filings
  • CASSANDRA MILLERDirector of Government Affairs2 filings
  • MATTHEW WOMBLEPSM, Senate Appropriations Committee (Jul 2018 - Dec 2021)2 filings
  • BRET STROGENSpecial Assistant for Energy -- Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment2 filings
  • JEFF BURTONDirector of Outreach - Republican Whip Eric Cantor Chief of Staff - Rep. Mike Conaway2 filings
  • JAKOB JOHNSENChief of Staff, Legislative Director, Congressman Hal Rogers; Senior Legislative Assistant, Military Legislative Assistant, Congressman Don Young2 filings
  • JAMES A. CONWAYLegislative Correspondent, Congressman Stephen F. Lynch2 filings
  • JASON JACKSON FRYEtom emmer MN 06 LD2 filings

Top defense lobbying firms

Registrant firms and organizations reporting the most defense-scoped lobbying spend this year.

15 firms