Since the 2024 presidential election, ASU has paid $270,000 to a lobbying firm with ties to President Donald Trump's administration, according to lobbying disclosure reports.
The University initiated a contract with lobbyists from Continental Strategy at the end of 2024, a University spokesperson confirmed. According to the lobbying registration form, the contract began on Dec. 1, 2024.
"The university hires professionals to assist in working with the federal government to determine its objectives and how ASU may be able to provide resources to meet those needs and to assess opportunities for federal research grants," the spokesperson said in a written statement.
According to lobbying disclosure forms, the University listed the lobbyists' activities as "advocacy for research funding, protection of current programs and existing funding sources." They have worked on behalf of ASU with the Executive Office of the President, National Security Council, Education Department, State Department, Energy Department and Congress.
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The four Continental Strategy lobbyists hired by the University were all connected to the Trump administration or Republican lawmakers.
One of the lobbyists, John Barsa, worked in Trump's first term as the acting administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development.
Alex Garcia served as deputy political director for Trump's 2024 presidential campaign.
Alberto Martinez worked for over a decade as an adviser to Marco Rubio while the now-Secretary of State served in the Senate.
Daniel Gomez was a legislative aide for Republican Sen. Deb Fischer of Nebraska.
In a written statement, Gomez said the firm does not typically comment on its relationships with clients.
The lobbyists focused on research initiatives, particularly in semiconductor manufacturing, the lobbying disclosure forms said.
Continental Strategy was the highest-paid lobbying firm hired by the University in 2025, according to the lobbying disclosure forms. It also employed lobbyists from Mehlman Consulting, which calls itself a bipartisan lobbying firm, and Foresight Law + Policy, which focuses on education issues.
In 2025, Continental Strategy represented companies like Google Cloud, Tesla, the Anthropic AI company and the U.S. subsidiary of Samsung Electronics. They have also represented other universities, including Florida International University, the New College of Florida and the University of North Florida.
FIU and the New College of Florida paid Continental Strategy to lobby on issues related to research funding, while UNF paid to lobby on issues related to higher education, research funding, taxes and economic development, according to lobbying disclosure forms.
The University's relationship with the firm has contributed to controversy, which has emerged over ASU leadership's attempts to work with the Trump administration.
In an Instagram post, the United Campus Workers Arizona union criticized negotiations between Trump officials and University administrators.
Marcos Esparza, a doctoral student at the University of Arizona and president of UCW Arizona, said hiring Continental Strategy is a further step ASU President Michael Crow has taken to "cozy up" to the Trump administration amid its focus on higher education.
"What we found is that there really is no appeasing the Trump administration," Esparza said. "If we give them an inch, they'll keep on asking for more and more control of our University or continue defunding our schools."
Paola Villegas, a senior studying technological leadership and vice president of communications for Young Democrats of Arizona, said in a written statement that she feels "concerned" about the University's decision to hire Continental Strategy not only for its lobbyists' ties to the Trump administration but also their client base.
Villegas pointed to Continental Strategy's representation of The GEO Group, a private prison and detention company that operates processing centers for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
"At a time when the political climate has created fear and uncertainty, particularly for immigrant and marginalized students, this choice feels disconnected from the values ASU publicly promotes," Villegas said.
Villegas understands the University's interest in "securing federal research funding and maintaining relationships with the federal government," she said, but questions "where the line is drawn between education, public service, and political or corporate interests. "
She said connections with entities like Continental Strategy can "send a message" to students and the community that the University aligns with or is "willing to overlook" harmful rhetoric or policies.
The University's charter emphasizes values of inclusion and responsibility to the communities it serves, Villegas said, and this move is a contradiction of the charter.
"Partnering with firms whose clients profit from systems that disproportionately harm those same communities challenges that mission," Villegas said.
Edited by Carsten Oyer, Jack McCarthy, Katrina Michalak and Pippa Fung.
Reach the reporter at apruiz@asu.edu and follow @andiruiz2405 on X.
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Andi Ruiz is a politics reporter at the State Press dedicated to serving her community with truth and honesty in her reporting. She has been working in broadcast and news since high school and was recently an anchor at The Cut Network during her first year at Cronkite. She is going into her second year at ASU as a Barrett Honors student studying journalism and mass communication with a minor in political science.
