When he declared the Fannie Mae-Freddie Mac takeover by the federal government, Federal Housing Finance Agency Director James Lockhart said both companies would have to immediately cease lobbying. The move threw the two mortgage behemoths’ contracts with outside firms into disarray, and also raises questions about the future of their substantial in-house lobbying operations.
Fannie Mae has reported spending $2.9 million on in-house lobbying so far this year, and its second-quarter disclosure report listed 12 lobbyists. Fannie spokeswoman Amy Bonitatibus said the company had no comment on the future of the in-house lobbying group. Freddie Mac, meanwhile, has reported $4.47 million in-house lobbying expenses so far this year, and its second-quarter disclosure report listed eight in-house lobbyists. Freddie Mac did not immediately return calls for comment.
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