FiscalNote, Inc.

Government affairs professionals are feeling intense pressure to manage growing complexity with limited resources.

To understand the landscape, FiscalNote surveyed 181 professionals working across government relations, public policy, and regulatory affairs. The findings in the 2026 State of Government Affairs Report suggest this year will continue to present a challenging environment — read our top takeaways.

Top 5 Challenges Facing Government Affairs Professionals in 2026 From issue overload to proving ROI, government affairs teams face mounting pressure in 2026. See how your challenges compare to 181 industry peers.

The government affairs teams that stay ahead aren't working more hours — they're working with better systems.

From how they structure their days to how they manage stakeholder outreach, the difference is process.

Here are 20 practical tips to help your team cut the noise, protect focus time, and spend more energy on the work that actually moves issues.

Time-Saving Tips for Government Affairs Professionals Twenty practical tips to help government affairs teams stop reacting and start working smarter — covering workflows, triage, stakeholder strategy, and more.