In Washington, the credibility of a public affairs operation depends partly on the record it can substantiate. GAO’s latest annual review offers a focused test of that discipline.
What the audit examined
Published on 30 June 2026, GAO-26-108486 reviewed quarterly LD-2 reports from the third and fourth quarters of 2024 and the first and second quarters of 2025. It also examined contribution reports from year-end 2024 and midyear 2025.
GAO estimates that 94% of lobbyists filing quarterly reports had documentation confirming lobbying income and expenses. It also found that 22% of quarterly reports listed lobbyists whose relevant prior federal positions were not fully disclosed.
IGAPA perspective
A practical internal review should connect financial records with the people identified in a filing. Teams can check those records together, identify missing employment-history details and assign an owner to resolve discrepancies before submission.
This is a 2026 publication reviewing earlier reporting periods. It does not measure total U.S. lobbying spending or compliance for the full 2026 calendar year.
Primary source: U.S. Government Accountability Office — GAO-26-108486
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