Top 10 Public Policy Issues of 2025
President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans are pursuing sweeping changes that would redefine the political and regulatory landscape.
As House and Senate Republicans manage their narrow majorities and interparty divisions, businesses, nonprofits, and lobbying firms alike are scrambling to position themselves for success.
This article explores the top 10 public policy issues Congress will tackle in 2025 and highlights key opportunities for lobbyists and government affairs professionals to push their agendas in an increasingly polarized environment.
2025 congressional legislative priorities
Congress is aligning its legislative priorities with the Trump administration’s agenda. Many of these initiatives would enact campaign promises, from border security to rolling back clean energy policies to extending tax cuts. However, narrow majorities in the House and Senate leave little room for dissent within the GOP’s ranks.
The budget reconciliation offers Republicans a critical tool for advancing their priorities. The technique allows tax and spending measures to bypass the Senate’s 60-vote threshold.
Barricaded by fiscal deadlines – including a complex budget process and a midyear debt ceiling crisis – Congress must act quickly.
[Get exclusive analysis of the 119th Congress and Trump administration priorities, and preview major policy changes in our 2025 Hill Watch report.]
Key areas of policy action in 2025
Here are the 10 critical public policy issues expected to dominate as Congress and lobbyists shape the year:
1. Reconciliation
Republicans are actively working to extend Trump’s 2017 tax cuts and enacting tough border policies, showing that making permanent policy will be far more challenging and delicate than the executive actions the president barreled through on Inauguration Day.
House Republicans want everything packaged into one bill. They argue that with such a thin majority in their chamber, a single proposal with all the GOP’s top priorities is the only way to keep their entire conference on board.
Senate Republicans would prefer two bills – the better, they think, to move fast on border security while taking time to work out the more thorny and divisive details around taxes.
2. Debt ceiling
The reinstatement of the debt ceiling in early 2025 has reignited partisan debates over federal spending. The GOP is pushing for $2.5 trillion in spending cuts while increasing the debt ceiling. Lawmakers have discussed increasing the debt limit in reconciliation, a proposal that’s sure to cause heartburn with the dozens of conservatives who’ve never voted for such an increase.
Failure to act by midsummer could result in a catastrophic economic crisis with global repercussions. Lobbyists focused on financial services and federal program funding have a pivotal role in shaping this conversation.
3. Budget and appropriations
With government funding set to expire on March 14, the GOP faces the daunting task of passing appropriations bills or resorting to yet another stopgap funding measure. Challenges include reconciling $2.5 trillion in proposed mandatory spending cuts and battling over funding allocations for social programs, government efficiency, and defense. Trump’s actions to freeze money provided in previous laws could also influence discussions on future spending. Key beneficiaries of appropriations lobbying this year include defense contractors, energy firms, and health-care providers.
4. Tax overhaul
Key provisions of the 2017 tax law, including individual tax cuts and estate tax benefits, are set to expire at the end of the year. Republicans are focusing on making them permanent while exploring further tax changes, such as reducing corporate tax rates to 15% and potentially adjusting the state and local tax (SALT) deduction cap. The debate presents major lobbying opportunities for corporations and trade groups advocating for favorable tax conditions.
5. Immigration and the border
The administration will pursue sweeping immigration measures, including reviving construction of the U.S.-Mexico border wall and expanding deportations. Republicans are exploring ways to fund these efforts through appropriations and reconciliation, a move that faces Democratic opposition. Lobbyists focusing on border cities, immigration advocacy, and supply chain organizations can influence this debate.
6. Energy and environment
Republicans aim to expand domestic oil and gas drilling by reallocating permitting authority and reversing clean energy tax credits allocated by the Biden administration. Environmental advocates will play defense against these policies by lobbying for clean energy research and regulations.
7. Farm bill
The farm bill is up for reauthorization in 2025, encompassing major agricultural subsidies, food assistance programs (e.g., SNAP), and conservation efforts. Republicans are advocating for higher commodity price supports and stricter cost-neutrality in food aid programs, opening the door for extensive lobbying by agribusinesses, trade groups, and nutrition program advocates.
8. Crypto and financial services
The GOP is working to establish crypto-friendly regulations, such as empowering the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to oversee digital assets and stabilize coin markets. Trump’s appointment of a White House crypto adviser role signals how crucial this space has become in the new administration. Lobbyists in the fintech and blockchain sectors are uniquely positioned to shape the first round of comprehensive U.S. crypto legislation.
9. Health care
Congress will revisit legislation targeting drug pricing and health-care plan flexibility. This includes overhauling pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to lower drug costs and enabling affordable short-term plans outside the ACA framework. Lobbyists for pharmaceutical companies, insurance providers, and patient advocacy groups are preparing to weigh in on these high-stakes health-care policies.
10. Technology, AI, and privacy
One of Trump’s Inauguration Day executive orders rescinded the Biden administration’s executive order regulating AI, marking a significant shift in federal oversight for the technology. The move immediately halted the implementation of key safety and transparency requirements for AI developers.
Regulation of artificial intelligence, data privacy, and social media platforms will continue to have bipartisan attention. Early discussions include creating national AI standards, combating AI-fueled disinformation, and revisiting children’s online privacy laws. Meta Platforms Inc. and TikTok parent company ByteDance spent record sums on federal lobbying last year, and the tech industry is now stepping up its outreach to the Trump administration and Congress.
[For a complete outlook of legislative action on major policy issues, download Bloomberg Government’s exclusive 2025 Hill Watch report.]
Opportunities for lobbyists in 2025
Change is always a driver of lobbying activity and spending, and with President Trump in the White House again, change is expected. Even before his inauguration, the prospect of a GOP trifecta in Washington spurred an uptick in federal lobbying activity.
Specifically, our experts have identified the following areas as having the most potential for bipartisan legislative action – and where they expect lobbyists and public affairs professionals to focus their efforts:
- Tax cut extension and expansion
- Energy policy
- Technology and privacy issues
- Budget and appropriations
Health care remains a hot topic for this Congress. Top spenders in federal lobbying last year included the drug industry’s Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. The group pushed changes to pharmacy benefit managers. Those items narrowly missed a ride on last year’s spending deal, so the policy fight will keep going.
By staying hyper-focused on these priority areas, lobbyists can deliver high-impact results for their clients and organizations.
Taking charge in a pivotal policy year
2025 is shaping up to be a year of bold legislative initiatives and significant challenges in the American political landscape. Lobbying and public affairs professionals have a vital role to play in shaping public policy outcomes during this turbulent time.
To effectively influence these priorities, preparation is key. Staying informed on legislative nuances, maintaining a proactive stance, and tracking the interests of policy makers are all critical to success.
Bloomberg Government’s all-in-one public affairs solution has unmatched tools and expert insights to help you build a strong government affairs strategy to effectively shape public policy. From legislative tracking and custom alerts to in-depth news and analysis, our actionable intelligence helps you stay one step ahead.
Get exclusive analysis of the 119th Congress and Trump administration priorities, and preview major policy changes in our 2025 Hill Watch report.