You Should Lobby the White House More

When I started at the White House Domestic Policy Council, friends from the advocacy world kept asking me the same question:

“So… is everyone beating down your door?”

The honest answer? Not even close.

That surprised me. Before joining the Administration, I had spent more than a decade in health care and disability advocacy. I knew the ecosystem. I knew the players. I made sure people had my email. And still—very few used it.

I don’t blame them. Most government relations professionals are trained to focus on Congress. It’s where the action is visible. You can watch hearings on C-SPAN, track legislation in real time, follow committee updates, and rely on a deep bench of Hill reporters.

The executive branch is different. Much harder to see. Much harder to understand. And because of that—much easier to overlook.

The Visibility Problem

Inside the executive branch, policy development is largely invisible from the outside.

Disagreements between agencies? Closed doors.
Debates within the White House? Rarely reported.
Staff discussions? Often restricted by the Administrative Procedure Act, which limits how and when policy in development can be discussed externally.

So instead of lobbying, most advocates default to monitoring.

They follow rulemaking. They read notices from the Office of Management and Budget. They submit comments. They hire regulatory specialists to track the details. That work matters. A lot. But it’s not the whole game.

The Missed Opportunity

Influence in the executive branch doesn’t just happen at the end of the process—it happens all the way through it.

And yet, many organizations only engage once a rule is proposed… or worse, finalized. By then, you’re not shaping policy—you’re reacting to it.

Part of the challenge is structural. Congressional lobbying is intuitive: you target specific members, tailor your message, and align with their priorities. In the executive branch, that clarity disappears.

Who actually matters?
Who is shaping the decision?
What do they care about?

Often, it’s not obvious. Backgrounds vary. Priorities aren’t always public. Conversations happen quietly. Which means advocacy here requires something different: more initiative, more persistence—and yes, sometimes a few shots in the dark.

What Actually Works

If you want to influence the executive branch more effectively, here’s where to start:

1. Show up early—and keep showing up.
Don’t wait for a rule to drop. Share what you want from the administration early, clearly, and in writing. Follow up with research, data, and materials that reinforce your position.

2. Think beyond a single decision-maker.
Policy doesn’t move through one office—it moves through a chain. Staff, managers, Assistant Secretaries, Secretaries, and ultimately the White House all play a role. If one link resists, your proposal can stall.

3. Ask for meetings—even when nothing is “live.”
You don’t need a pending rule to start a conversation. During my time at DPC, I can’t recall turning down a single meeting request.

4. Remember: not everything is rulemaking.
Formal rules matter, but agency guidance can often achieve similar outcomes—sometimes faster.

5. Don’t assume OMB review means it’s over.
When a rule is under review at the Office of Management and Budget, the policy is still evolving. Disagreements can—and do—continue until the final days.

6. Use EO 12866 meetings (even if they feel awkward).
Under Executive Order 12866, advocates can meet with OMB during rule review. These meetings can feel one-sided—staff often can’t say much—but they are one of the most underused ways to get your perspective directly in front of decision-makers.

7. Don’t let your comments disappear into the void.
After submitting regulatory comments, send them directly to relevant White House or agency staff. When briefing memos are written, you want your materials at the top of the pile—not buried in a docket.

The Bottom Line

If you’re only lobbying Congress, you’re leaving influence on the table. The executive branch may be harder to navigate—but it’s where policy is shaped, refined, and implemented every day. And more often than you might think, the door is open.

You just have to knock.