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By Daniel Payne and Lizzy Lawrence

Feb. 23, 2026

Daniel Payne

[email protected]

Daniel Payne reports on how the health industry and Washington influence and impact each other. He joined STAT in 2025 after covering health care at POLITICO. You can reach Daniel on Signal at danielp.100.

Lizzy Lawrence

[email protected]

Lizzy Lawrence leads STAT’s coverage of the Food and Drug Administration. She was previously a medical devices reporter. You can reach Lizzy on Signal at lizzylaw.53.

Pharmaceutical giants, seeing a wave of new risks and potential rewards in President Trump’s second term, are boosting their spending on lobbying firms with connections to the White House.

Three firms — Checkmate Government Relations, Miller Strategies, and Ballard Partners — stand out. Each of the three, which were identified by lobbyists working for other firms as growing players in the space, saw a boom in business in the first year of Trump’s second term. Most of the 16 companies that have signed drug pricing deals with the White House have contracted with one of the firms.

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  1. Daniel Payne

    Washington Correspondent

    Daniel Payne reports on how the health industry and Washington influence and impact each other. He joined STAT in 2025 after covering health care at POLITICO. You can reach Daniel on Signal at danielp.100.

  2. Lizzy Lawrence

    FDA Reporter

    Lizzy Lawrence leads STAT’s coverage of the Food and Drug Administration. She was previously a medical devices reporter. You can reach Lizzy on Signal at lizzylaw.53.