Americans for Jobs Group Invests In Energy Policy Lobbying

Why It Matters

A newly filed lobbying registration disclosure signed May 5, 2026 shows Americans for Jobs, Energy, and Security has retained Covenant Government Affairs LLC to lobby on energy and nuclear issues, the group's first entry into the lobbying database. As Bloomberg Government has reported, energy advocates are increasingly linking their policy arguments to jobs, national security, and geopolitical competitiveness, rather than making narrower industry-specific cases.

By the Numbers

The registration lists a filing amount of zero dollars, consistent with a new client registration that precedes quarterly activity reports, and the lobbying team is lean.

A single lobbyist is listed on the disclosure, Jeff Loveng of Covenant Government Affairs LLC. Loveng brings congressional staff experience, having served on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and briefly as chief of staff to Rep. Bill Shuster (R-PA-9) during the 109th through 111th Congresses. His background is in economics, with a degree from the University of Idaho. Over the past two years, Loveng's lobbying activity has spanned multiple clients and firms. He has appeared on disclosures representing Oracle America Inc. through the Jeff Miller Group LLC, totaling $480,000 across eight filings, as well as the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians, Midwater Trawlers Cooperative, and Jeff Davis County, Texas. His issue portfolio has included energy, transportation, taxation, and natural resources.

In the year prior to this registration, Covenant Government Affairs reported approximately $3.4 million in lobbying revenue across more than 40 clients. Its client list skews heavily toward defense and military procurement, with companies like Cubic Corp. Inc. and Ultra Intelligence and Communications among its top-revenue relationships. Energy clients, including Southern Co. Gas LLC, Plug Power Inc., and Constellation Energy Generation LLC, are a smaller but present segment of the firm's portfolio.

Broader Context

Congress passed a fiscal year 2026 appropriations bill in January 2026 that directed $49.1 billion to the Department of Energy, a two percent decrease from the prior year. The Office of Nuclear Energy, however, received $1.9 billion, which was $522 million above the administration's budget request, according to reporting by the American Nuclear Society.

In April 2026, Sens. Mike Lee (R-UT) and Dave McCormick (R-PA) introduced the Nuclear Energy Innovation and Deployment Act, which would accelerate deployment of next-generation nuclear technologies and expand the Department of Energy's authority over nuclear facilities. The bill also seeks to make public-private partnership frameworks permanent.

Permitting reform is also in play. McCormick has separately introduced legislation described as the "Unlock American Jobs and Energy Act," which Americans for Prosperity characterized as addressing bottlenecks in energy infrastructure deployment.

The Department of Energy has also flagged workforce development as a growing concern, noting that a pipeline of skilled workers will be essential as advanced reactor projects move toward commercialization.

Between the Lines

Relevant hearings on energy and nuclear issues include a Senate examination of the Department of Energy's implementation of President Trump's May 2025 nuclear energy executive orders (March 2026), a House hearing titled "The New Atomic Age: Advancing America's Energy Future" (July 2025), and multiple budget hearings involving DOE Secretary Christopher Wright.

Member communications in this space have leaned heavily Republican. Across 25 tracked communications referencing energy and nuclear themes in the past year, 24 came from Republican members. Rep. Pat Fallon and Rep. Aaron Bean both addressed energy independence and job creation in recent statements. Rep. Byron Donalds has expressed support for nuclear energy legislation.

References to the "One Big Beautiful Bill" have also appeared in member communications alongside energy provisions, suggesting the reconciliation process may carry energy-related policy riders that could be relevant to groups active in this space.

Competitive Landscape

Covenant Government Affairs already represents several energy-sector clients whose interests overlap with the broad energy/nuclear issue area. Constellation Energy Generation LLC is lobbying on energy policy and the 2025 reconciliation package. Plug Power is focused on hydrogen and fuel cell technology. Southern Co. Gas is engaged on natural gas access and transportation issues. Each of those clients is represented by Covenant, meaning the firm is navigating a portfolio with multiple energy stakeholders simultaneously.

The Bottom Line

Americans for Jobs, Energy, and Security is a new entrant with no lobbying history, a single registered lobbyist, and a broad issue mandate. The registration establishes a presence in a policy environment where energy and nuclear issues are seeing active legislative and executive branch attention.

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