Apple spent more money on federal lobbying in 2025 than in any year before. The company crossed the $10 million mark after a sharp jump in spending in 2024. This rise shows how serious Apple has become about shaping laws that affect its business, especially as pressure grows around the App Store, artificial intelligence, and global trade.
Bloomberg reported that tech companies increased their lobbying spending in 2025. The report did not list Apple, but later checks of public filings showed how large Apple’s numbers really were.
Apple hits a new lobbying record
Records filed under the United States Senate Lobbying Disclosure Act show that Apple spent exactly $10 million on federal lobbying in 2025. That figure is 27.9 percent higher than what the company spent in 2024. It also sets a new all-time high for Apple’s political activity in Washington.
Spending also rose steadily through the year, which shows Apple did not slow down as 2025 went on. In fact, the company put its biggest push in the final months.
Here is how Apple’s lobbying spending broke down by quarter:
- Q1: $2.45 million
- Q2: $2.29 million
- Q3: $2.53 million
- Q4: $2.73 million
The fourth quarter was the busiest, both in money and in the number of issues Apple worked on.
What Apple focused on in Washington
Apple’s lobbying filings show a wide range of topics. Still, some issues stayed front and center throughout the entire year. App Store regulation appeared in every single quarter, which highlights how much Apple wants to protect how its app platform works.
These App Store-related bills showed up again and again:
- App Store Accountability Act
- Open App Markets Act
- App Store Freedom Act
All three aim to change how large app platforms operate and compete. Lawmakers have pushed these bills as part of a wider effort to limit the power of major tech companies.
Beyond the App Store, Apple also worked on many other topics, including:
- Artificial intelligence and consumer protection
- Semiconductor manufacturing
- Trade and international competitiveness
- Health technologies
- Immigration
Apple also reached deep into the federal government. Its lobbying contacts included Congress, the Executive Office of the President, and agencies such as the FCC, EPA, Treasury, Commerce, Defense, Energy, HHS, and the US Trade Representative.
How Apple compares to other tech giants
Bloomberg also published a list of the biggest tech lobbyists for 2025. Meta topped the ranking with $26.2 million. Amazon followed with $17.7 million, and Google spent $13.1 million.
Apple did not appear in that original list. If it had, its $10 million total would have placed it fourth, just ahead of Microsoft, which spent $9.3 million.
That position shows Apple now sits among the most active political players in the tech industry, even if it still trails Meta and Amazon by a wide margin.
Apple’s record spending signals how much is at stake. Governments continue to look at how big tech companies run app stores, handle data, and compete in global markets. Apple clearly wants a strong voice in those debates.
With spending rising every quarter, the company showed that 2025 was not a one-time push. It was a full-year effort to shape rules that will define how Apple does business for years to come.
