Harvard Spends $180,000 on Lobbying Firm in 2025 Amid Growing Federal Scrutiny

Strategic Insights -

The University of Harvard continued its robust lobbying efforts in the second quarter of 2025, paying the firm Ballard Partners $90,000, bringing its total payments to the firm in the year to $180,000. This comes as the University faces increased scrutiny from the Trump administration and congressional allies, who have frozen nearly $3 billion in federal research funding, revoked its tax-exempt status, and criticized its governance. Despite not being able to prevent Harvard from becoming the Trump administration's favorite target, Ballard's lobbying presence in Washington may have helped the University quietly notch key wins behind the scenes.

Key Takeaways:

  • Harvard paid Ballard Partners $90,000 in the second quarter of 2025, bringing its total payments to the firm in the year to $180,000.
  • The University faces mounting threats from all branches of the federal government, including the Trump administration and congressional allies.
  • Ballard's lobbying team for Harvard includes firm founder Brian D. Ballard, Michael LaRosa, and Daniel McFaul, who have ties to the Trump administration.
  • Harvard has not disclosed the issues its in-house team lobbied on during the second quarter, including the extent of their involvement in pushing back against the endowment tax.
  • The University's steady payments to Ballard are unsurprising, given the typical structure of contracts on K Street as fixed-fee retainers.
  • Harvard has spent a total of $230,000 on federal lobbying in the first quarter, its highest quarterly total since 2008.
  • The White House and Republican lawmakers froze nearly $3 billion in federal research funding in response to Harvard's growing federal advocacy efforts.
  • Harvard challenged both the Department of Homeland Security's threat to revoke its ability to host international students and Trump's executive order restricting entry to the U.S. for students planning to attend the University.
  • Ballard's lobbying team for Harvard has secured key wins behind the scenes, including reducing the tax rate on investment income from 21 percent to 8 percent in the omnibus spending package.

Statistics:

  • Harvard paid $90,000 to Ballard Partners in the second quarter of 2025 for lobbying services.
  • The University's total payments to Ballard in 2025 reached $180,000.
  • Harvard's in-house team spent an additional amount on lobbying during the second quarter, the total of which is not disclosed.
  • Ballard's lobbying team for Harvard includes 4-5 individuals, including firm founder Brian D. Ballard, Michael LaRosa, and Daniel McFaul.
  • The total federal lobbying costs for Harvard in 2025 reached $230,000 in the first quarter and $180,000 in the second quarter.
  • The White House and Republican lawmakers froze nearly $3 billion in federal research funding.
  • Harvard's endowment tax cost will be $200 million per year under the 8 percent tax rate.

Sources:

  • Harvard paid lobbying firm Ballard Partners $90,000 in the second quarter of 2025 (Source: Harvard Crimson)
  • Harvard University retains lobbying firm Ballard Partners to advocate for "education and educational research" (Source: Harvard Crimson)
  • The Trump administration froze nearly $3 billion in federal research funding (Source: The Washington Post)
  • Harvard President Alan M. Garber '76 acknowledged the University's advocacy efforts in Washington (Source: Harvard Crimson)