20 Best PR Firms and Agencies in Government
This guide spotlights Leading public relations agencies in the Government Sector, known for shaping stories that resonate across corporate, nonprofit, and public sectors.
It explores their unique expertise, service offerings, and influence—while outlining essential evaluation factors such as credibility, experience, service range, measurable impact, and community engagement—to help organizations find the ideal PR partner for meaningful visibility and growth in the government sector distinctive market landscape.
Best PR Firms and Agencies in Government
1. APCO Worldwide
- Washington D.C., USA (HQ)
- 1984
- 600+
- Public Affairs, Government Relations, Strategic Communications, Crisis Management, Digital Advocacy
industries served
Government, Healthcare, Energy, Technology, Corporate
APCO Worldwide is a leading independent global public affairs and strategic communications consultancy founded by Margery Kraus, with a team including former government officials, politicians, and ambassadors across 30+ offices worldwide. The firm specialises in public affairs, government relations, grassroots advocacy, and direct lobbying, helping governments, corporations, and NGOs navigate complex political and regulatory environments.
2. Global Strategy Group (GSG)
- New York, USA (HQ)
- 1995
- 100–200
- Public Affairs, Political Communications, Strategic PR, Research & Polling, Digital Strategy
Industries Served
Government, Politics, Healthcare, Technology, Non-Profits
Global Strategy Group was named PRovoke Media’s Public Affairs Agency of the Year in both 2023 and 2024, and topped the Observer’s 2024 PR Power list, with a track record spanning Fortune 500 companies and national political leaders including senators and presidential campaigns. The firm combines data-driven research, strategic communications, and digital advocacy at the intersection of business and politics.
3. SKDK
- Washington D.C., USA (HQ)
- 2008
- 51-200
- Political Communications, Public Affairs, Crisis Communications, Corporate Reputation, Advocacy Campaigns
Industries Served
Government, Politics, Healthcare, Corporate, Non-Profits
SKDK is one of the most influential political consulting and strategic communications firms in the US, renowned for its work with high-profile Democratic campaigns, advocacy groups, and elected officials at every level of government. The firm specialises in crisis communications, media strategy, voter engagement, and rapid-response messaging for clients navigating complex political and regulatory environments.
4. Mercury Public Affairs
- New York, USA (HQ)
- 1999
- 100–300
- Federal Government Relations, International Affairs, Digital Advocacy, Public Opinion Research, Political Consulting
Industries Served
Government, Politics, Corporate, Healthcare, Energy
Mercury Public Affairs is a high-stakes bipartisan public strategy firm with former government officials, media experts, and political strategists offering federal government relations, international affairs, digital advocacy, and media strategy. The firm operates across more than 20 US offices and has a global presence, providing strategic counsel to governments, political parties, corporations, and advocacy groups.
Mercury Public Affairs is a high-stakes bipartisan public strategy firm with former government officials, media experts, and political strategists offering federal government relations, international affairs, digital advocacy, and media strategy. The firm operates across more than 20 US offices and has a global presence, providing strategic counsel to governments, political parties, corporations, and advocacy groups.
5. BGR Group
- Washington D.C., USA
- 1991
- 50–150
- Government Affairs, Public Relations, Lobbying, Coalition Management, Strategic Communications
Industries Served
Government, Healthcare, Energy, Financial Services, Technology
BGR Group is Washington D.C.’s premier bipartisan lobbying and public relations firm, known across the nation’s capital and globally for its excellence in government affairs, coalition management, and strategic communications. The firm combines deep bipartisan political relationships with full-service PR capabilities spanning media relations, editorial engagement, social media, and website strategy.
6. PLUS Communications
- Washington D.C., USA (HQ)
- 2011
- 200+
- Public Affairs, Strategic Communications, Digital Advocacy, Advertising, Coalition Building
Industries Served
Government, Healthcare, Energy, Consumer, Non-Profits
PLUS Communications is a full-service bipartisan public affairs, strategic communications, and advertising firm with over 200 professionals, including former government officials, corporate communications executives, and news media veterans. The firm has led award-winning advocacy campaigns including PRWeek’s Public Affairs Campaign of the Year for criminal justice reform in Louisiana.
7. FTI Consulting (Public Affairs)
- Washington D.C., USA (HQ)
- 1982
- 8,000+
- Government Relations, Public Affairs, Regulatory Communications, Crisis Management, Stakeholder Engagement
Industries Served
Government, Healthcare, Energy, Financial Services, Corporate
FTI Consulting’s Strategic Communications division is a global leader in government relations and public affairs, advising multinational corporations, governments, and trade associations on regulatory strategy, legislative communications, and reputation management. The firm’s combination of communications expertise with deep technical and regulatory knowledge makes it a trusted advisor for clients operating at the intersection of business and government.
8. Edelman (Public Affairs Practice)
- Chicago, USA (HQ); global offices
- 1952
- 6,000+
- Public Affairs, Government Communications, Stakeholder Engagement, Digital Advocacy, Crisis Communications
Industries Served
Government, Healthcare, Technology, Energy, Corporate
Edelman’s public affairs practice operates globally, helping governments, corporations, and non-profits navigate complex political environments, engage policymakers, and communicate effectively with multiple stakeholder audiences. The firm’s Trust Barometer, published annually, provides influential data on public trust in institutions that shapes government and corporate communications strategies worldwide.
- New York, USA (HQ)
- 2005
- 200–400
- Public Affairs, Political Communications, Real Estate Communications, Healthcare Advocacy, Corporate PR
Industries Served
Government, Real Estate, Healthcare, Technology, Non-Profits
BerlinRosen is a strategy-first firm with a highly regarded public affairs practice, advising clients in real estate, healthcare, and technology on government engagement, advocacy campaigns, and political communications. The firm is known for its ability to operate effectively across the boundary between communications, politics, and policy at city, state, and federal levels.
10. Burson (Government & Public Affairs)
- New York, USA (HQ)
- 2024
- 3,000+
- Government Relations, Public Affairs, Corporate Communications, Crisis Management, International Affairs
Industries Served
Government, Corporate, Healthcare, Energy, Technology
Burson, formed from the 2024 merger of BCW and Hill+Knowlton Strategies, brings together two of the most experienced government and public affairs practices in the global PR industry, with a combined legacy spanning decades of work with governments, political parties, and NGOs across more than 40 countries. The combined entity offers government relations, international affairs, regulatory communications, and crisis management at a scale unmatched by any other specialist firm.
11. Penta Group
- Washington D.C., USA (HQ)
- 2014
- 50–150
- Public Affairs, Digital Advocacy, Policy Communications, Corporate Reputation, Stakeholder Engagement
Industries Served
Government, Technology, Healthcare, Financial Services, Energy
Penta Group is a data-driven public affairs firm blending traditional government relations with cutting-edge digital advocacy, helping clients align their goals with policy agendas and stay ahead of legislative and regulatory developments. The firm is recognised for its quantitative approach to stakeholder mapping and its ability to design targeted advocacy campaigns that connect corporate interests with policy outcomes.
12. 720 Strategies
- Washington D.C., USA
- 2004
- 50–150
- Public Affairs, Grassroots Advocacy, Digital Strategy, Coalition Building, Crisis Communications
Industries Served
Government, Corporate, Non-Profits, Healthcare, Energy
720 Strategies is a bipartisan public affairs and grassroots advocacy firm staffed by former White House officials, congressional staffers, political appointees, and military veterans, providing a genuinely diverse set of perspectives on policy and political strategy. The firm has supported clients including Southwest Airlines, Target, AARP, and Accenture on public relations and public affairs programmes.
13. Portland Communications (Government Practice)
- London, UK (HQ)
- 2001
- 100–200
- Government Relations, Public Affairs, Policy Communications, Corporate Reputation, International Affairs
Industries Served
Government, Energy, Infrastructure, Healthcare, Corporate
Portland Communications is a leading public affairs and strategic communications agency with deep political networks across Westminster, Brussels, and Washington, advising governments, corporations, and NGOs on policy engagement, regulatory communications, and reputation management. The firm is known for its political intelligence, its understanding of legislative processes in multiple jurisdictions, and its ability to design and execute multi-stakeholder advocacy programmes.
14. Rasky Partners (Government Practice)
- Boston, USA (HQ)
- 1989
- 50–100
- Government Relations, Public Affairs, Strategic Communications, Crisis Communications, Policy Advocacy
Industries Served
Government, Healthcare, Education, Energy, Non-Profits
Rasky Partners is a Boston and Washington D.C.-based independent PR and public affairs firm named by Forbes as one of America’s top PR firms, with a government relations practice rooted in decades of experience at the intersection of politics, media, and business. The firm’s lobbying team includes former Massachusetts Senate presidents, House Ways and Means chairs, and Kennedy insiders, giving it exceptional access in New England and federally.
15. Golin (Government & Public Affairs Practice)
- Chicago, USA (HQ)
- 1956
- 1,500+
- Government Relations, Public Affairs, Corporate Communications, Digital Strategy, Crisis Management
Industries Served
Government, Corporate, Healthcare, Consumer, Technology
Golin’s government and public affairs practice operates within one of the most creatively awarded PR agencies in the world, helping corporations, trade associations, and advocacy groups engage with government and manage their reputations in politically complex environments. The firm’s integrated model combines public affairs with earned media, digital advocacy, and corporate communications for clients needing coherent strategies across multiple stakeholder groups.
16. Finsbury Glover Hering (FGS Global - Government)
- New York, USA (HQ)
- 1994
- 1,000+
- Government Affairs, Public Policy, Corporate Strategy, Regulatory Communications, Crisis Management
Industries Served
Government, Corporate, Financial Services, Healthcare, Energy
FGS Global’s government affairs practice provides high-level strategic counsel to corporations, governments, and institutional clients on public policy, regulatory strategy, and corporate affairs at the most senior levels of government. The firm is trusted by business leaders and government officials globally for its ability to navigate sensitive, complex political situations with precision and discretion.
17. Qorvis Communications
- Washington D.C., USA
- 2000
- 100–200
- Public Affairs, Government Relations, Public Diplomacy, Digital Strategy, Crisis Communications
Industries Served
Government, Corporate, International Affairs, Non-Profits, Healthcare
Qorvis Communications is Publicis Groupe’s public affairs and public diplomacy offering based in Washington D.C., comprising a large corps of public affairs, public diplomacy, and communications strategists with diverse government and policy backgrounds. The firm is known for its ability to engage complex multi-stakeholder environments, combining traditional government relations with digital strategy and international public affairs for clients navigating politically sensitive issues.
18. Cornerstone Government Affairs
- Washington D.C., USA (HQ)
- 2002
- 150+
- Government Relations, Lobbying, Public Affairs, Regulatory Issues, Advocacy
Industries Served
Government, Healthcare, Energy, Financial Services, Education
Cornerstone Government Affairs is a well-known Washington D.C. public affairs and lobbying firm trusted for its expertise in government relations, regulatory navigation, and policy shaping, with particular depth in healthcare, energy, and financial services. The firm’s team has extensive bipartisan government experience and is known for its ability to build relationships and drive policy outcomes at federal and state levels.
19. Weber Shandwick (Public Affairs Practice)
- Washington D.C., USA (HQ)
- 2001
- 3,000+
- Public Affairs, Government Communications, Digital Advocacy, Stakeholder Engagement, Corporate PR
Industries Served
Government, Healthcare, Technology, Energy, Corporate
Weber Shandwick’s public affairs practice is one of the largest and most resourced in the global PR industry, combining government relations, digital advocacy, and integrated communications for corporations, trade associations, and government agencies. The firm is consistently ranked among the top public affairs agencies globally and is known for its data-driven approach to stakeholder engagement and its ability to manage complex, multi-audience policy communications programmes.
20. Ruder Finn (Government & Public Affairs)
- New York, USA (HQ)
- 1948
- 500+
- Government Relations, Public Affairs, Corporate Communications, Digital Strategy, Crisis Management
Industries Served
Government, Healthcare, Technology, Energy, Non-Profits
Ruder Finn is a major independent global PR agency consistently ranked by O’Dwyer’s among the top public affairs and government communications firms, with a practice spanning corporate public affairs, government relations, and advocacy for clients across healthcare, technology, and energy. The firm’s longevity, independence, and investment in AI-powered communications tools set it apart as a strategic long-term partner for government-facing organisations.
How we Picked the Best Government PR Agencies for Your Business.
Government PR requires agencies with genuine, current relationships inside legislatures, regulatory bodies, executive agencies, and political offices — relationships built over years of direct engagement that cannot be bought or rapidly acquired. We assessed each agency's staffing, including whether it had former elected officials, political appointees, senior civil servants, or legislative staffers on its team, and whether those relationships were active rather than historical. Agencies whose senior leadership had direct experience in government and could demonstrate current access to policymakers and regulators scored significantly higher.
The most commercially valuable government affairs agencies are those capable of operating credibly across the political aisle — building relationships with both parties and across the ideological spectrum without being perceived as partisan advocates. We assessed each agency's demonstrated bipartisan capability, including its track record of achieving policy outcomes for clients in administrations of different political persuasions. Agencies that positioned themselves exclusively as partisan operators were viewed as significantly less strategically flexible.
We assessed each agency's documented track record of achieving tangible policy and advocacy outcomes for clients — including legislation passed, regulations shaped, planning approvals secured, and public opinion campaigns won. Agencies that could point to named public affairs campaigns with measurable outcomes demonstrated the kind of strategic and operational depth that government relations work demands. Industry recognition from publications including PRovoke Media and PRWeek was used as an additional indicator of campaign quality.
Modern government affairs strategy requires agencies that can combine traditional relationship-based lobbying with sophisticated digital advocacy — including grassroots mobilisation, social media engagement, coalition building, and data-driven stakeholder mapping. We assessed each agency's genuine digital capabilities and their ability to design integrated campaigns that apply pressure through multiple channels simultaneously. Agencies that treated digital advocacy as a complementary capability to traditional government relations, rather than a separate service, were considered the most strategically advanced.
Many corporations operate across multiple regulatory jurisdictions and need government affairs partners that can coordinate coherent policy strategies across different political systems, legislative processes, and regulatory environments simultaneously. We assessed each agency's genuine international capability — going beyond office locations to evaluate whether local teams had the political knowledge and government relationships needed to deliver in each jurisdiction. Agencies with demonstrated multi-jurisdictional government affairs track records at national and international level scored highest.
Five Questions to Ask an Government PR Agency Before You Hire.
Government relations is a relationship-intensive discipline, and the quality of an agency's government connections depends entirely on the backgrounds of the people on your account. Ask specifically who would work on your programme, what roles they held in government, and how recently they maintained those relationships — former positions that ended many years ago may no longer translate to active access. The best government affairs agencies are transparent about who their political relationships are actually with, and will introduce you to relevant team members before the contract is signed.
Government affairs agencies often describe their work in terms of process — meetings secured, relationships maintained, briefings submitted — rather than outcomes. Ask for specific examples of clients who achieved tangible policy objectives as a result of the agency's work, including what the objective was, what the agency did, and what the result was. An agency that cannot point to named examples of legislation influenced, regulations shaped, or planning processes navigated is not demonstrating the commercial effectiveness your programme requires.
Traditional government relations is increasingly insufficient on its own — legislators and regulators are more likely to act when they perceive broad public or constituency support, which requires agencies to build and activate coalitions beyond professional stakeholders. Ask how the agency designs and executes digital advocacy and grassroots campaigns, and for examples of programmes that successfully converted online engagement into political pressure. Agencies that can describe a structured approach to digital advocacy — including data on reach, engagement, and policy impact — are operating at the modern standard the sector demands.
Government issues rarely respect political or geographic boundaries, and an agency with deep relationships on only one side of the political aisle — or in only one jurisdiction — is a significantly less valuable partner than one with genuine bipartisan or multi-jurisdictional capability. Ask directly how the agency maintains credible relationships across party lines and how it manages clients whose issues require engagement in multiple states or countries simultaneously. An agency that cannot describe its bipartisan approach or multi-jurisdictional coordination model with specificity is likely to be more limited than its pitch presentation suggests.
Government relations work is subject to extensive legal compliance requirements — including FARA registration for foreign agent activities, Lobbying Disclosure Act filings, and state-level equivalent requirements — and an agency that does not have robust compliance protocols creates serious legal risk for its clients. Ask how the agency tracks its lobbying activities, manages disclosure filings, and ensures that client communications remain within legal boundaries. An agency that is vague or dismissive about compliance is either inexperienced or operating in ways that could expose your organisation to reputational and legal risk.
Things to Watch Out for When Choosing an Government PR Agency
Choosing the wrong PR partner can cost both time and money. Watch out for these key warning signs:
Government relationships depreciate quickly — a former congressional staffer who left office a decade ago may have far less current access than their biography suggests. Be cautious of agencies that lead their pitch with impressive-sounding former titles without clarifying how recently those individuals held those positions and what their current relationships actually are. Ask directly when team members last had substantive engagement with the officials most relevant to your issues, and probe whether those relationships translate to genuine access today.
An agency with strong relationships on only one side of the political aisle is a significant liability when the political environment shifts or when your issues require engagement with officials from multiple parties. Be cautious of agencies that are openly partisan — their value may evaporate entirely after an election cycle, or their access may be structurally limited in divided-government environments. Government affairs requires sustained bipartisan relationships that outlast any single administration.
Modern public affairs strategy requires the full integration of relationship-based government engagement with digital advocacy, coalition building, and public communications — and agencies that treat these as separate services miss significant opportunities to create political pressure. Be cautious of agencies that hand off digital advocacy to a separate team or external partner, as this creates coordination gaps and inconsistencies in messaging that sophisticated political operatives will immediately identify and exploit.
Government affairs agencies are sometimes incentivised to report on activity — meetings held, briefings submitted, relationships maintained — rather than on the policy outcomes that actually matter to their clients. Be cautious of agencies that cannot describe a clear framework for measuring whether their work is actually moving the policy needle in your direction. Define outcome-based success metrics at the outset of any engagement and require reporting against them, not just reporting on activity.
Government relations work is subject to significant legal compliance requirements that vary by jurisdiction, and an agency without robust lobbying registration, disclosure filing, and compliance monitoring systems creates serious legal exposure for its clients. Ask how the agency manages FARA filings, Lobbying Disclosure Act requirements, and state-level equivalents, and whether it has dedicated legal or compliance support. An agency that does not take compliance seriously is either inexperienced or operating in ways that could damage your organisation.
