Global defense, aerospace and security giant Lockheed Martin Corporation has hired consulting and lobbying firm The McKeon Group, Inc. for help with the National Defense Authorization Act.
That annual federal spending bill determines the budget and expenditures of the United States Department of Defense. Lockheed Martin in May hired lobbying firm TheGroup for additional budgetary issues surrounding the NDAA for fiscal year 2017.
The NDAA passed in the House on May 18. A Senate bill, S.2943, introduced by Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), saw amendments that increased the defense budget by about $18 billion to a total $602 billion. It passed the Senate on June 14, though President Obama has said he would veto the bill because it does not authorize the closure of Guantanamo Bay’s detention camp, a goal he’d hoped to accomplish before he leaves office.
Most controversially, S.2943 included a mandate that would require women turning 18 in 2018 or later to register for Selective Service.
McKeon Group chairman and CEO Howard “Buck” McKeon, the retired congressman who was formerly chairman of the House Armed Services Committee (R-CA), leads the account. McKeon, who retired from congress last year, introduced the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2015.
Flock Safety has hired Off Hill Strategies, a boutique lobby firm that boasts of its commitment to conservative principles.
Ballard Partners has signed South Korea’s SK Americas unit for representation on US semiconductor policies and developments.
Ballard Partners has signed to a represent the US unit of Rheinmetall, Germany’s biggest defense contractor, on Army procurement issues.
BGR Group signs on to provide lobbying and PR services for Terzo, an AI financial intelligence platform. Douglas Lute, chair of BGR’s international and defense practices, will join Terzo’s board of directors.
Avoq has landed Palantir Technologies, the controversial surveillance company founded by right-wing billionaire Peter Thiel, as a client.
