Why It Matters
Scientific publisher Springer Nature America Inc. has expanded its federal lobbying operation by hiring, for the first time on record, an outside lobbying firm, following years of in-house advocacy on scientific integrity and public access to research.
The company filed a registration amendment Oct. 8, listing no issue codes, legislation, or specific lobbying issues. The filing follows its September engagement of FGS Global (US) LLC, supplementing its longstanding in-house operation. Springer Nature's third-quarter 2024 and second-quarter reports identified Science/Technology as a lobbying issue area, with the specific issue described as "scientific integrity and public access."
By the Numbers
The Oct. 8 registration amendment lists a filing amount of $0 and identifies one lobbyist: Laura Patton, director of U.S. government affairs. The second-quarter report disclosed $30,000 in lobbying expenses, the only nonzero amount across the past four quarters of in-house filings. FGS Global's registration, signed Sept. 23, names two lobbyists: Aryana Khalid and Adam Goldstein, both partners at the firm.
Broader Context
Federal policy governing public access to research has changed significantly. In August 2022, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy issued guidance directing federal agencies to update public-access policies for federally funded research and establish implementation timelines. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) issued a final scientific-integrity policy in September 2024, aiming to promote a continuing culture of scientific integrity. NIH subsequently rescinded that policy in March 2025 and replaced it with revised guidance.
Between the Lines
Rep. Bill Foster (D-IL) criticized Springer Nature's decision to sell Scientific American and lay off staff in a July 14 post on X, calling it "a tragedy for scientific journalism in the U.S." Foster said the layoffs occurred during a staff union election and expressed support for the workers' organizing efforts, stating that he "fully support[s]" their effort to unionize.
The Bottom Line
Springer Nature America is supplementing its in-house lobbying operation with an outside firm for the first time in the available record. The October amendment provides no additional details about the issues the expanded lobbying team will pursue.
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