Anthropic has significantly increased its lobbying efforts in 2026, with spending in the first half of the year already surpassing the total for all of 2025. According to federal lobbying disclosure documents, the company spent over $3.5 million in the first six months of 2026, compared to $3.1 million for the entire previous year. In the second quarter alone, Anthropic's lobbying expenditure neared $2 million, focusing on critical issues such as export controls, cybersecurity, and AI safety standards. This surge in spending reflects the growing importance of regulatory trends in the AI industry as companies seek to influence policy in these key areas.