Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger speaks before President Joe Biden's remarks at Intel Ocotillo Campus on March 20, 2024 in Chandler, Arizona. Biden announced $8.5 billion in federal funding from the CHIPS Act for Intel Corp. to manufacture semiconductors in Arizona.
Rebecca Noble/Getty Images
The CHIPS and Science Act, offering over $30 billion in incentives, spurred semiconductor lobbying.
Nvidia, TSMC, and Intel are enhancing government relations amid evolving trade policies.
Most heads of government relations and lobbyists are part of the "revolving door."
In 2022, Nvidia spent $90,000 on lobbying in Washington. In 2023, that number quintupled to more than $500,000.
While Big Tech companies have spent millions lobbying in Washington, DC, on issues such as AI and antitrust regulation, the CHIPS and Science Act, which is set to give out more than $30 billion in incentives funding to chip companies, kicked things into high gear for the semiconductor industry.
American manufacturers like Intel and Micron boosted their lobbying funding, while foreign companies like TSMC assembled their DC-based government relations teams in response. And while chip designers like Nvidia and AMD are not direct CHIPS Act funding recipients, they hold an interest in shifting manufacturing dependence on TSMC in case of any geopolitical conflicts in Taiwan.
Business Insider reviewed lobbying public disclosure reports associated with various chip companies and focused on the top listed lobbyists and governmental affairs departments. Most members were part of the "revolving door," switching from staffing on the hill, campaigns, and other agencies to the private sector.
"Given that more government policies are impacting the chip industry relative to several years ago–tariffs, incentives, tax policies, etc.— it isn't surprising that the chip industry is focusing more on this," said Chris Miller, the author of the book "Chip War: The Fight for the World's Most Critical Technology."
President Joe Biden's administration has scrambled to finalize CHIPS Act funding since the election of Donald Trump, who advocated for higher tariffs and attacked the bipartisan legislation in an interview with Joe Rogan in October.
Only three companies—Polar Semiconductor, Global Foundries, and TSMC—have finalized funding contracts out of 21 set to receive CHIPS Act grant funding. The Department of Commerce has awarded over $10 billion so far and expects to allocate all incentives funds this year, a Department spokesperson said.
Companies will push to finalize their CHIPS Act grants in the short term and try to build more connections with Republican policymakers in the long term, said Lori Yue, an associate management professor at Columbia Business School who studies corporate political strategy.
"Government change would definitely affect lobbying as the executive branch has a lot of power in terms of regulation," she said.
The Department of Commerce spokesperson said that the due diligence and negotiation processes for finalizing funding are "bespoke" for each applicant. The spokesperson declined to comment on chip lobbying efforts and the specifics of individual CHIPS applicants.
Yue said that hiring lobbyists depends on what expertise and networks they already have.
"For example, they have worked on certain governmental issues before. They really know every single regulatory procedure on this issue. That person can be very valuable. Besides what they know is who they know: how can this person bring the company's perspective to the policymakers and connect to the person in power?" said Yue.
Trump nominated Howard Lutnick, CEO of investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald and an advocate for tariffs, as his commerce secretary.
NvidiaNvidia CEO Jensen Huang.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Lobbying spend in 2024: $480,000
Top firms: Nickles Group, Tiber Creek Group
Current top lobbyists: Luke Holland, Don Kent, Jeff Choudhry
While Nvidia employs its own government affairs office, it uses outside firms rather than in-house lobbyists. The Nickles Group was founded by former Oklahoma Republican Sen. Don Nickles, who served 24 years in Congress and focused heavily on deregulation and tax reduction for businesses.
Luke Holland previously served as chief of staff to Republican Sen. Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma. Holland's practice focuses on areas such as aviation, defense, and trade.
Before transitioning to The Nickles Group, Jeff Choudhry worked on Capitol Hill for Arizona's Republican Rep. Trent Franks, acting as a liaison to the House Judiciary Committee. He focused on issues such as interstate commerce, taxation, bankruptcy, and other commercial law. His practice now focuses on antitrust, mergers and acquisitions, IT, and foreign policy related to China.
Don Kent has served in a wide range of positions within the legislative and executive branches in Washington. His practice draws from working at the Department of Homeland Security, at the US Senate Budget Committee, and with senators, focusing on immigration, foreign relations, and technology.
Nvidia declined to comment beyond public filings.
TSMCPresident Joe Biden tours the building site for a new computer chip plant for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022, in Phoenix.
AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File
Lobbying spend in 2024: $2.32 million
Top firms: TSMC government affairs
Current top lobbyists: Peter Cleveland, Nicholas Montella, Claire Sanderson Hambrick, Stefanie Dearie
CHIPS Act recipient amount: $6.6 billion, finalized November 15
Top issues: CHIPS and Science Act implementation, US-Taiwan relations, investment taxes, tax reductions for Taiwanese residents, export and trade regulations, immigration, workforce development, environmental permits for chip factories
TSMC expanded its US-based government relations department to address the rise in US-China trade tensions and the ban on exports to Huawei. One of the company's first hires was Peter Cleveland, a former Intel lobbyist for over a decade, who took on the position of senior vice president. Before working for Intel, Cleveland worked with former Democratic Senators Dianne Feinstein and Chuck Robb.
Other TSMC lobbyists bring experience dealing with Asia-Pacific affairs. Nicholas Montella began his career working as an ESL instructor in China and South Korea before shifting to Washington. He ultimately served as the director of Japan, Korea, and APEC policy in the US Chamber of Commerce.
Claire Sanderson Hambrick served as a lead policy advisor for Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn, working on legislation such as the CHIPS for America Act and the Secure 5G and Beyond Act.
Stefanie Dearie is a former Hill staffer who focused on monetary policy and trade. She worked at Accenture's government relations team before joining TSMC as a senior counsel.
TSMC declined to comment on its lobbying efforts.
IntelIntel CEO Pat Gelsinger.
The Washington Post/The Washington Post via Getty Images
Lobbying spend in 2024: $5.22 million
Top firms: Intel government affairs
Current top lobbyists: Allen Thompson, Eminence Griffin, David Shahoulian, Jordan Haas, Shannon Taylor
CHIPS Act recipient amount: $8.5 billion, not yet received
For the last decade, Intel has consistently spent more than $3 million lobbying annually. Its $7.08 million efforts in 2022 were likely rewarded when the Department of Commerce announced it would award Intel $8.5 billion to expand its factories across the country. As of this article's publishing date, Intel has not yet received its CHIPS Act funding, prompting worry among its workers.
Former Raytheon government relations director Allen Thompson joined Intel in 2020 to serve as the company's vice president of US-Canada Government Relations. Thompson is a seasoned veteran in securing funding. At Raytheon, he helped secure over $20 million for Navy and aerospace projects. A former Hill staffer, he also worked on tech lobbying projects at Mehlman Consulting and served in the US Coast Guard's intelligence unit.
Intel splits its government affairs advocacy into different focus areas. David Shahoulian oversees workforce policy and brings experience working in general counsel roles for the House Judiciary Committee and the US Department of Homeland Security.
Shannon Taylor, who focuses on technology and manufacturing policy advocacy, worked as counsel for the US House of Representatives on the commerce and energy subcommittees before transitioning to government affairs at the Information Technology Industry Council, a special interest lobbying group for tech companies.
Fellow ITI alum Eminence Griffin, who focuses on public sector relations, worked as a procurement counsel for the House of Representatives and in government affairs at Dell.
Jordan Haas oversees trade policy advocacy, with past work experience at the Office of the US Trade Representative and the Department of Commerce.
Intel did not respond to a request for comment.
AMDAMD CEO Lisa Su.
Steve Marcus/Reuters
Lobbying spend in 2024: $2.13 million
Top firms: AMD government relations and regulatory affairs, Forbes Tate Partners, Mehlman Consulting
Current top lobbyists: Jonathan Hoganson, Grant Gardner, Sarah Badawi
CHIPS Act recipient amount: N/A
Top issues: CHIPS and Science Act implementation, AI, tax credits, trade and outbound investments
AMD's lobbying spending trickled down to when the company underwenta business model transformation and then increased in 2018 when it pitched in $2.29 million, focusing on legislation related to foreign investment and energy research.
Jonathan Hoganson is AMD's corporate vice president of government relations and regulatory affairs. He previously spearheaded government affairs at Micron and worked under former Democratic Illinois Rep. Rahm Emanuel.
Grant Gardner is another AMD government relations director who worked at the Department of Commerce. He also holds many Republican Party connections; he was a legislative staff member under former Speaker of the House John Boehner and served as a special projects director for the Republican National Committee during Trump's 2016 election.
Before joining AMD's government relations team, Sarah Badawi served as a senior advisor and national deputy political director for Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders during his 2020 campaign run. She also planned fundraising events for Elizabeth Warren's senatorial campaign in 2012 and then transitioned to work for the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, an organization that supports progressive down-ballot candidates.
AMD did not respond to a request for comment.
MicronMicron expects to receive $6.1 billion in funding for factory expansions in Idaho and New York.
Current top lobbyists: Jon Dickinson, Bo Machayo, Jeff Wilson
CHIPS Act recipient amount: $6.1 billion, not yet received
Top issues: CHIPS and Science Act implementation, US-Taiwan relations, environmental permits for chips factories, research & development, manufacturing tax credits for semiconductors, US semiconductor competitiveness
In the last three years, Micron has hired Jon Dickinson and Bo Machayo to serve as vice president of global government affairs and head of US government affairs, respectively. Dickinson brings extensive California legislature staffing experience and a decade spent at HP leading government affairs. Machayo previously worked in the Senate, the Department of Homeland Security, and the White House, focusing on the economy, energy, and Africa.
SamsungExecutives onstage at Samsung Unpacked in 2023.
Samsung
Lobbying spend in 2024: $5.69 million
Top firms: Samsung Electronics America
Current top lobbyists: Jennifer Cetta, Kevin O'Hanlon, Holly Pataki
CHIPS Act recipient amount: $6.4 billion, not yet received
Top issues: electric vehicle policy, CHIPS and Science Act implementation, investment in the US by foreign companies, US-Korea relations
Samsung's Washington lobbying efforts span wider than other chip companies, given that the company is also involved in industries such as telecommunications. Jennifer Cetta is cited at the top of lobbying disclosures. She has served as director and senior counsel of government relations for Samsung for more than a decade.
A Micron government affairs alum, Holly Pataki began working for Samsung in 2022. She also previously worked for the National Republican Congressional Committee, advising fundraising campaign strategies for Republican legislators.
Kevin O'Hanlon began his career working for Democratic House representatives from North Carolina and Ohio before shifting to lobbying for the video games industry.
Samsung did not respond to a request for comment.
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