Congressional lobbyists employed by fossil fuel companies are simultaneously representing more than 300 local governments that are seeking funding to recover from climate damage, according to a new analysis of federal lobbying disclosures. The research, conducted by the groups F Minus and Make Polluters Pay, reviewed congressional lobbying records for the first quarter of 2026.
The analysis found that the same lobbyists who work for firms contributing to the climate crisis are also hired by municipalities to advocate for resources tied to climate recovery. In addition to the 300-plus governments pursuing climate damage funding, the review identified another 568 local governments that retained fossil fuel lobbyists during the same period to work on issues unrelated to climate, including some climate-adjacent matters such as healthcare and home insurance.
The findings highlight a structural conflict within the lobbying system, where the same professional advocates can represent both the interests of companies whose products are linked to rising global temperatures and the communities now bearing the costs of extreme weather, sea-level rise, and other climate impacts. For many of these local governments, the arrangement is a practical one: experienced lobbyists are often the most effective route to securing federal attention and funding, regardless of their other clients.
The report's authors argue that the dual representation raises questions about accountability and transparency in federal lobbying. They note that local governments may not always be aware of the full extent of a lobbyist's client list, and that the overlapping interests can create situations where the same individual is advocating for policies that increase emissions while also requesting taxpayer support for climate adaptation and recovery.
Climate-related damages have become a growing fiscal burden for cities and counties across the United States. From hurricane recovery in the Southeast to wildfire response in the West and flood mitigation in the Midwest, local governments have increasingly turned to federal programs to cover costs that exceed their own budgets. The demand for such funding is expected to rise as extreme weather events become more frequent and severe.
The analysis comes amid broader debates over who should bear the financial responsibility for climate change. Some states and municipalities have filed lawsuits against major fossil fuel producers, seeking damages for past and future climate impacts. Others have pursued funding through federal disaster relief and infrastructure programs. The new report does not assess the legality or ethics of the dual representation, but it provides a detailed picture of how deeply the fossil fuel industry's lobbying presence is woven into the fabric of local government advocacy.
F Minus and Make Polluters Pay, the groups behind the analysis, are known for tracking the influence of the fossil fuel industry in American politics. Their work relies on publicly available lobbying disclosure forms, which require firms to list the clients they represent and the issues they are hired to address. The first-quarter 2026 data used in this analysis represents a snapshot of active lobbying relationships during that period.
Neither the lobbying firms nor the fossil fuel companies named in the analysis have publicly responded to the findings. The report does not name individual lobbyists or specific municipalities, but it aggregates the data to show the scale of the overlap. For the hundreds of local governments involved, the arrangement reflects the practical realities of navigating federal politics, where access and experience are often as important as the substance of the issues being advocated.
