Based on my research of current sources from Washington, D.C., here are 20 of the most influential behind-the-scenes figures shaping policy and political outcomes:
White House & Administration
1. Susie Wiles – White House Chief of Staff under President Trump. She is considered the most senior political appointee in the White House and holds a position of great power and influence through daily contact with the president.
2. Stephen Miller – Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Homeland Security Advisor. Miller’s role has been elevated in the Trump White House, with particular influence on immigration, cyber, and counterterror issues.
3. Robert Gabriel – Deputy National Security Adviser and Assistant to the President for Policy. Gabriel works closely with Chief of Staff Susie Wiles as her main advisor and played a key role during the 2024 campaign.
Lobbyists & Government Affairs Leaders
4. Seth Bloom – President and Founder, Bloom Strategic Counsel. Bloom is regarded as one of Washington’s leading antitrust lobbyists, representing major clients including Amazon, Comcast NBCUniversal, and Live Nation.
5. Bruce Harris – Vice President of Federal Government Affairs, Walmart. Harris leads lobbying for the $700 billion company, handling policy issues such as tax cuts, trade negotiations, and Inflation Reduction Act programs.
6. Julie Philp & Sarah Kohn – ACG Advocacy. Both were named among the top 100 lobbyists nationally in 2025 out of more than 50,000 state and federal lobbyists.
7. Neil Bradley – U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Bradley is among the most influential lobbyists representing America’s largest business federation.
Trade Association & Industry Leaders
8. Candida Wolff – Executive Vice President and Head of Global Government Affairs, Citigroup. Wolff acted as liaison for the US government regarding unprecedented financial sanctions imposed against Russia for its war against Ukraine.
9. Tim Adams – President and CEO, Institute of International Finance. A former Treasury Department official under George W. Bush, Adams leads the trade organization representing 400 of the world’s largest financial institutions.
10. Everett Kelley – National President, American Federation of Government Employees. Kelley’s leadership has been instrumental in shaping labor policies and negotiating with government agencies on wages, benefits, and job security.
Think Tank & Policy Experts
11. Robert Doar – American Enterprise Institute. Doar is considered a particularly influential figure at the conservative think tank during the current administration.
12. Tony Samp – DLA Piper Principal Policy Advisor and Head of AI Policy. Samp is the founding director of the Senate’s AI Working Group and now lobbies for OpenAI and other leading AI organizations, helping craft legislative and regulatory proposals for artificial intelligence deployment.
Communications & Strategic Advisors
13. Taylor Budowich – Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications and Public Liaison, and Cabinet Secretary. Budowich oversees the White House Office of Communications, Public Liaison, and Cabinet Affairs.
14. Steven Cheung – White House Communications Director. Cheung serves as Assistant to the President and manages White House messaging.
Legal & Regulatory Strategists
15. John Schmidtlein – Partner and Co-Chair of Antitrust Practice, Williams & Connolly. Schmidtlein has represented major corporations in high-profile antitrust cases, including serving as lead trial counsel for Google in ongoing Department of Justice litigations.
16. Jonathan Turley – J.B. and Maurice C. Shapiro Professor of Public Interest Law, George Washington University. Turley was included in Washingtonian’s 500 Most Influential People list for his policy impact.
National Security & Foreign Policy
17. Michael Waltz – National Security Advisor. Though a government official, his role is crucial in shaping behind-the-scenes national security strategy and coordination.
18. Kevin Harrington – Senior Director for Strategic Planning, NSC. Harrington holds one of the most important positions on the National Security Council, responsible for turning the president’s agenda into a guiding strategy document.
Campaign & Political Operatives
19. Sean O’Brien – General President, International Brotherhood of Teamsters. O’Brien became a central figure in the 2024 presidential campaign after speaking at the Republican National Convention, with the Teamsters declining to endorse Kamala Harris, leaving O’Brien with more leverage at the White House.
20. Mike Zamore – American Civil Liberties Union. Zamore is identified as a particularly influential figure during the current administration.
These individuals wield significant influence through their expertise, relationships, and strategic positions in lobbying firms, think tanks, trade associations, and advisory roles. They shape legislation, regulations, and policy decisions while operating largely outside the public spotlight.
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The American Newspaper
www.americannewspaper.org
Published: Saturday, December 27, 2025, (12/27/2025) at 12:05 P.M.
[Source/Notes]
This article was written/produced using AI Claude. Written/authored entirely by Claude itself. The editor made no revisions. The model used is Sonnet 4.5. Images were were made/produced using both ChatGPT and Gemini.)
[Prompt History/Draft]
1. “Select the 20 most influential behind-the-scenes figures in Washington, D.C.”
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