Why It Matters
Mathematica is a federal research and data analytics firm with deep ties to federal contracts across USDA, CMS, and other agencies. Its move to expand its lobbying footprint into agriculture, via a new lobbying registration disclosure with Russell Group, signals an interest in engaging policymakers on issues central to its contract work. The firm has been active in Medicare and Medicaid lobbying through Tarplin, Downs & Young since at least April 2025. The addition of Russell Group for agriculture-focused work represents a broadening of its Washington strategy.
By the Numbers
The new lobbying registration disclosure lists no dollar amount for the engagement, which is standard for initial filings before quarterly activity reports are due. Mathematica's separate engagement with Tarplin, Downs & Young covers Medicare and Medicaid issues and was registered in April 2025, with a subsequent filing in April 2026.
The lobbying team across both firms includes four lobbyists:
- Tyson Redpath (Russell Group) — Previously served in a brief capacity for Rep. John Boehner (R-OH). His recent lobbying work has been heavily concentrated on Tyson Foods Inc., where he has logged more than $4.1 million in lobbying activity across eight quarterly filings from the second quarter of 2024 through the first quarter of 2026, working on trade, tax, agriculture, labor, and energy issues.
- Jessica Schulken (Russell Group) — A former professional staff member on the Senate Appropriations Committee, she has appeared as a co-lobbyist on agriculture-focused filings for Zoetis Inc. through Russell Group.
- Peter Fise (Tarplin, Downs & Young) — A former health counsel on the Senate Finance Committee, he has worked extensively on healthcare and Medicaid issues for clients including Gainwell Technologies LLC and Health Care Service Corp.
- Charlotte Ivancic (Tarplin, Downs & Young) — A former legislative counsel for Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) and former counsel on the House Budget Committee, she has worked on healthcare, budget, and civil rights issues for clients including Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America and the National Down Syndrome Society.
The Agenda
The new lobbying registration disclosure filed by Russell Group lists Agriculture (AGR) as the issue area. No specific legislation or bills are identified in the filing. The separate Tarplin, Downs & Young filings cover Medicare and Medicaid policy, also without specific legislation listed. There are relevant bills moving through Congress on both agriculture and Medicaid that could intersect with Mathematica's work, though the filings do not specify which measures the firm is tracking.
Broader Context
The broader environment for federal research contractors has grown more uncertain. The New York Times reported in March 2025 that Mathematica was among the organizations whose outside workers lost jobs as a result of Department of Education contract cuts tied to DOGE-driven reductions. Federal contract terminations have created significant disruption for firms that depend on government work.
On the Medicaid side, proposed cuts in the federal budget reconciliation process have drawn significant attention. The Congressional Budget Office projected that Medicaid provisions in a House-passed reconciliation bill would reduce federal Medicaid spending by $698 billion over 2026 to 2034 and decrease enrollment by 10.3 million by 2034, according to published research. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities has reported that the Senate version of the reconciliation bill would cut more than $1 trillion from Medicaid. Mathematica supports CMS's Transformed Medicaid Statistical Information System and related data products, according to its own published project descriptions.
On the agriculture side, USDA nutrition programs including SNAP have faced budget pressure and appropriations uncertainty. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) has been tracking how the Republican reconciliation bill affects SNAP, a program Mathematica has historically evaluated for USDA.
Between the Lines
The House Committee on Agriculture held a hearing in February 2026 to consider H.R. 7567, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026. A separate hearing in April 2026 focused on the Trump administration's trade policy agenda and its effects on U.S. agricultural products. The Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry held a confirmation hearing for USDA leadership positions covering research, education, and economics functions, areas that intersect with Mathematica's evaluation work.
On Medicaid, KFF has been tracking the Medicaid provisions in the 2025 reconciliation bill, which includes new work and verification requirements and reductions to the expansion match rate.
Competitive Landscape
Russell Group represents a large portfolio of agriculture-focused clients, giving Mathematica's lobbyists direct familiarity with the legislative and regulatory landscape. The firm's other agriculture clients include Cargill Inc., Bayer U.S. LLC, Zoetis Inc., Land O'Lakes Inc., and General Mills Inc., among others. Those clients are lobbying on issues including trade, the Farm Bill, nutrition policy, and H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Tarplin, Downs & Young's Medicaid-focused client roster includes health insurers, home health companies, and pharmaceutical manufacturers, putting Mathematica alongside organizations with direct financial stakes in Medicaid reimbursement and coverage policy.
The Bottom Line
Mathematica's decision to engage Russell Group on agriculture issues, while maintaining its existing Tarplin, Downs & Young engagement on Medicaid, reflects a two-front lobbying effort at a moment when federal spending on programs the firm supports is under active review.
Access the Legis1 platform for comprehensive political news, data, and insights.