Key Findings:

• The Center for Public Integrity’s investigation of federal advisory committees found at least 900 groups operating in the background that directly influence government policy. In total, the Center found that these groups consist of about 67,000 members, who collectively meet more than 7,000 times each year, and spend nearly $400 million annually.

• The project examined loopholes in the Federal Advisory Committee Act, noting a massive jump in group membership from 2000 to 2006, suggesting an industry imbalance on these various panels and evidence of enormous influence over government agencies by private interests.