2024 GAO Report Highlights Steady Lobbying Compliance and Continued Enforcement Challenges
In its recent annual report, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has outlined key findings regarding lobbyists' compliance with the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (LDA) for the year 2024. Authored by Yvonne D. Jones, the report, "2024 Lobbying Disclosure: Observations on Compliance with Requirements," provides an insightful overview of compliance trends, challenges, and enforcement efforts by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia.
The GAO reviewed lobbying activities for the third and fourth quarters of 2023 and the first two quarters of 2024, revealing high levels of compliance consistent with previous years. According to the report, 97% of lobbyists who registered for the first time in this period filed their required quarterly lobbying disclosure reports. Additionally, 93% of lobbyists documented their lobbying income and expenses adequately, and 95% included all reportable political contributions in their semiannual reports.
However, despite the generally high compliance rates, the GAO noted persistent areas needing improvement. Specifically, about 21% of lobbyists failed to properly disclose covered positions—roles in the executive and legislative branches that individuals previously occupied, which are legally required to be reported. This ongoing issue underscores a need for better clarity or more rigorous compliance checks regarding these disclosures.
Another significant aspect of the report highlights lobbyists' relative ease in adhering to quarterly disclosure requirements. The majority of lobbyists surveyed found it either very easy or somewhat easy to understand and comply with reporting requirements. This ease indicates that the current system, though robust, effectively guides lobbyists through the compliance process. Nonetheless, the persistence of specific reporting errors suggests potential gaps or complexities in interpreting compliance guidelines that might benefit from further clarification.
Enforcement efforts also remain a critical focus area. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia plays a key role in this process, addressing cases of noncompliance through direct outreach and potential legal action. From 2015 through 2024, the office received 3,566 referrals concerning failures to file quarterly lobbying disclosure reports. Of these, approximately 36% were closed after achieving compliance, while about 63% remained pending, highlighting ongoing challenges in enforcement and compliance management.
In 2024, the Department of Justice pursued one notable civil enforcement action involving a chronic noncompliant lobbyist, resulting in a settlement including a $65,000 penalty and the lobbyist's agreement to permanently retire from federal lobbying. This case illustrates the government's willingness to take serious actions when necessary to uphold the integrity of the lobbying disclosure system.
Disclaimer: This blog post summarizes key points from the GAO report authored by Yvonne D. Jones and is not guaranteed to be accurate. It does not provide legal advice and should not be relied upon as such.
