Penn’s federal lobbying expenditures totaled $280,000 in second quarter of 2026

Penn spent $280,000 lobbying the federal government in the second quarter of 2026.

According to a disclosure filed earlier this month, Penn lobbied the federal government on several issues — including higher education, international students and visas, financial aid, and nursing education. The report brings the University’s yearly total lobbying expenditures to $570,000.

In the report, Penn named Associate Vice President for Federal Affairs William Andresen and Penn Medicine Corporate Director for Government and Community Relations Kristen Molloy as those who lobbied on behalf of the University.

A University spokesperson declined to comment.

Since 1968 Wharton graduate and President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January 2025, University spending on lobbying has increased. Penn reported its four highest single-quarter lobbying expenditures within the last four reporting periods: the third and fourth quarters of 2025 and the first and second quarters of 2026.

However, spending has shown a marked decline since the fourth quarter of 2025, when the University reported a record-high $510,000 in spending.

During this time, Penn’s lobbying priorities have remained largely consistent. In the second quarter of 2026, the University specifically advocated on the “Save Healthcare Workers Act” and the “Tax Exempt Hospital Transparency Act.”

Between April 1 and June 30, Penn allocated $140,000 to retain two external lobbying firms: BGR Group and Mehlman Consulting.

Penn first contacted BGR Group — one of Washington, D.C.’s largest lobbying firms — in May 2025 to advocate on its behalf with federal policymakers. The University paid the firm $100,000 to “provide strategic counsel and advocate on issues related to higher education and research appropriations.” 

Six BGR Group lobbyists represented Penn, including 1994 Penn graduate and Managing Director David Urban who served as a senior advisor to Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. Earlier this year, Sean Cooksey, who formerly served as Vice President JD Vance’s chief legal and policy adviser, joined the firm.

Penn also paid $40,000 to retain the services of Mehlman Consulting, which lobbied the federal government on “health issues impacting academic medical systems” and “Medicare and federal funding for Medicaid.”

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