Why It Matters
The American Institute of Architects's lobbying portfolio touches federal tax credits that directly fund affordable housing construction, energy efficiency incentives that are set to expire, federal procurement rules that govern how architects compete for government contracts, and disaster mitigation programs that have faced significant cuts. Each of these areas has seen notable federal action in recent months.
AIA has added Public Strategies Washington Inc. to its lobbying roster, according to a federal lobbying registration disclosure signed May 4, 2026. The registration covers urban development and municipalities issues, adding a fourth outside firm to AIA's already active congressional lobbying records.
By the Numbers
AIA's American Institute of Architects spent approximately $810,000 on lobbying in 2024, rising to roughly $1.3 million in 2025, and has already reported $420,000 through the first quarter of 2026, according to federal lobbying disclosure records. That spending flows through four organizations:
- In-house (AIA): Lobbyists Alexander Cochran, Brittany Meyer, Erin Waldron, and Lino Peña-Martinez handle the bulk of direct advocacy. Waldron previously served as senior adviser for Rep. Val Demings (D-FL-10). Peña-Martinez previously worked as a policy analyst for the House Energy and Commerce Committee and interned for Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-CA-34).
- Hance Scarborough LLP: A four-person team including Kent Hance, David Pore, Mike Tomberlin, and Theresa Reed. Pore served as legislative director for Rep. Jim Turner (D-TX-2). Tomberlin was chief of staff for Rep. Chip Cravaack (R-MN-8). Reed served as legislative director for Rep. Sandy Adams (R-FL-24). Hance Scarborough has billed $60,000 per quarter for AIA.
- Fulcrum Public Affairs LLC: Registered as a new client in early 2026. Lobbyist Dana Thompson previously served as chief counsel and legislative Director for Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA-43) and Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX-18).
- Public Strategies Washington Inc.: The newest addition. Lobbyist Abbie Sorrendino brings significant Hill experience, including serving as senior professional staff member on the Senate Rules and Administration Committee and senior adviser to the ranking member on the House Administration Committee. She also briefly served as chief of staff for Rep. Joseph D. Morelle (D-NY-25).
The Agenda
The new Public Strategies Washington lobbying registration disclosure lists urban development and municipalities as the sole issue area. AIA's broader lobbying agenda, as reflected across its other active disclosures, spans a wider range: tax policy, housing, energy efficiency, disaster mitigation, federal procurement, appropriations, and education.
On taxes, AIA has focused on the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), the Historic Tax Credit, the Section 179D energy-efficient commercial buildings deduction, and Research and Development provisions. On housing, the organization has lobbied on the Community Development Block Grant program and adaptive reuse conversions. On government procurement, the focus has been on GSA contracting, architect and engineer fee structures, and federal design standards.
No specific legislation is listed in the new Public Strategies registration. In prior disclosures, Hance Scarborough referenced the reconciliation bill as a vehicle for several of AIA's tax priorities.
Broader Context
Several federal policy developments have created a challenging environment for the architectural profession.
The 179D energy-efficient commercial buildings deduction, a direct financial benefit for architects who design qualifying structures, is set to expire for projects beginning construction after June 30, 2026. AIA has publicly called for Congress to extend the deduction, citing its importance for long-term planning and competitiveness.
At GSA, which is the federal government's primary client for architectural services, DOGE-related workforce reductions have cut roughly 24 percent of the agency's staff, according to reporting by The Architect's Newspaper. Architectural Record reported that some firms with active GSA projects have lost more than half of their agency contacts. GSA also disposed of 90 federally owned properties in fiscal year 2025.
On disaster mitigation, FEMA has lost roughly one-third of its full-time workforce since January 2025, and the agency's Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program has been terminated. The Urban Institute reported that communities will miss out on $600 million in grants that had been previously announced.
On housing, the House passed a reconciliation bill in May 2026 that included what Novogradac described as the largest LIHTC expansion in a quarter century, passing 215-214.
Between the Lines
Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA-1) posted about meeting with the organization in February 2026 to discuss the Housing for the 21st Century Act, which had just passed the House. Rep. Ed Case (D-HI-1) noted a visit from AIA-Hawai'i in February 2026 focused on affordable housing.
In December 2025, AIA's National President was quoted in a press release from Rep. Kevin Mullin (D-CA-15) and Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL-27) announcing the FIREWALL Act, which addresses disaster-resistant construction. AIA was listed as an official endorser of the bill.
A House Judiciary subcommittee held a hearing in April 2026 on the PROCodes Act, addressing copyright protections for standards development organizations and public access to building codes. Separate House subcommittee hearings on housing supply, held in May and July 2025, also touched on issues relevant to AIA's portfolio.
The Bottom Line
AIA enters the second quarter of 2026 with four outside lobbying firms and a growing in-house team, operating against a backdrop of federal policy uncertainty across nearly every issue it tracks. The addition of Public Strategies Washington, with its Hill-connected lobbyist, reflects an organization continuing to invest in its federal advocacy capacity at a moment when several of its core policy priorities are in active play.
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