Why It Matters

GTI Energy is lobbying to secure federal research and development funding amid a turbulent policy environment where Congressional support for energy innovation remains strong, but the Trump administration is aggressively rescinding clean energy commitments.

The organization targets the FY2025 and FY2026 Defense and Energy & Water Appropriations bills—the primary vehicles for federal energy R&D funding. While Congress recently passed a $49 billion Energy and Water bill that protected certain clean energy programs above administration requests, the administration has simultaneously cancelled $2.2 billion in hydrogen hub funding and attempted to rescind $23.3 billion in prior clean energy grants.

GTI Energy’s focus on Defense appropriations may offer a more resilient funding pathway, as the Department of Defense maintains statutory requirements to strengthen installation energy resilience by 2030.

By the Numbers

GTI Energy reported $60,000 in in-house lobbying expenses for the final quarter of 2025 continuing a two-decade dominance of direct government relations. The organization has filed 374 total disclosures since 2003, spending over $11.7 million on lobbying, with its in-house operation alone accounting for $6.9 million across 87 filings.

The Q4 filing features Richard Matthew Kaelin as the sole registered lobbyist. Kaelin has represented GTI Energy since 2013 across 52 disclosures and previously served as Assistant to Rep. Pete Visclosky on the House Appropriations Committee—the exact committee overseeing the Defense and Energy & Water Appropriations bills GTI Energy targets.

GTI Energy maintains in-house lobbying as its primary strategy rather than outsourcing to external firms. While the organization has worked with 25 external firms historically, including Hackney Government Affairs Group Inc., these relationships remain supplementary.

The Agenda

GTI Energy is lobbying to secure federal R&D funding through appropriations legislation. The organization spent $60,000 in the final quarter of 2025 targeting the FY2025 and FY2026 Department of Defense Appropriations Bills and FY2025 and FY2026 Energy and Water Appropriations Bills. These bills fund research and development across energy innovation, grid modernization, hydrogen technology, and military installation energy resilience.

Broader Context

Congress has recently completed action on the FY2026 appropriations bills that GTI Energy targets. The Senate passed the FY2026 Energy and Water Development appropriations bill with an 82-10 vote, appropriating just over $49 billion for the Department of Energy. Congress protected certain clean energy and innovation programs from deeper Trump administration budget cuts, including $3.1 billion for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy programs.

However, the landscape presents substantial headwinds. The Trump administration has attempted to cancel roughly $23.3 billion in clean energy grants, and terminated $7.5 billion in DOE funding for 223 clean energy projects. Most notably, the administration cut $2.2 billion in federal funding for two West Coast hydrogen hubs.

Despite these pressures, opportunities remain. Federal law requires that 100 percent of the energy load required to maintain critical military missions be provided by resilient energy sources by fiscal year 2030, potentially creating an avenue for funding through defense appropriations.

Between The Lines

Two federal courts have blocked the administration’s attempts to halt certain clean energy projects, creating legal uncertainty around rescission enforceability. Additionally, Congress secured over $15.7 billion in earmarks for environmental and energy projects in fiscal 2026, demonstrating sustained Congressional commitment to specific energy initiatives despite broader budget pressures.

Competitive Landscape

GTI Energy operates in a crowded environment for federal energy R&D funding. Major industry players are actively lobbying on similar issues, including the National Association of Manufacturers, which advocates for hydrogen, methane reduction, and carbon capture. Schneider Electric USA Inc. is lobbying on grid modernization and hydrogen hubs, while academic institutions like Western Michigan University compete for clean energy research funding.

The Bottom Line

GTI Energy’s $60,000 fourth quarter lobbying effort reflects a strategic bet on congressional appropriations despite administration hostility to clean energy funding. The organization’s in-house expertise, particularly Kaelin’s appropriations experience, positions it to navigate the disconnect between Congressional support and executive branch opposition. While the Department of Defense’s energy resilience mandate offers a potential funding pathway, GTI Energy faces intense competition in a constrained fiscal environment.

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