In the wake of Donald Trumps triumphant declaration of victory in the November elections, Omri Lavie, the cofounder and majority owner of NSO Group, took to social media platform X to express his congratulations. He heralded this moment as the onset of a 'new chapter where the world goes back to common sense' and criticized the outgoing Biden administration as 'weak.' In another enthusiastic tweet written in Hebrew, Lavie celebrated the Republican party's sweeping success across various electoral fronts: 'the presidency, Congress, Senate, and the popular vote.'

Lavie's excitement can be understood within the broader context of his companys interests. NSO Group has been frequently under scrutiny for its alleged involvement in human rights violations, particularly highlighted in February when reports surfaced about journalists in Serbia being targeted by its infamous Pegasus spyware. The company had much at stake in a Trump presidency, hoping to restore its ability to conduct business freely with American entities that had been stymied under the previous administration. In a statement provided to Amnesty International, NSO Group emphasized its commitment to maintaining the highest standards of ethical practices and confidentiality towards its clients, stating that this ethos aligns with industry norms and legal obligations.

For over three years, NSO Group has found itself on the U.S. Commerce Departments 'Entity List,' effectively barring it from engaging in business with U.S. companies without obtaining explicit governmental approval. In a bid to influence change, the company invested at least $1.8 million into a vigorous pre-election lobbying campaign, targeting primarily Republican senators and representatives. Some of these lobbying efforts were reported to have taken place as frequently as eight times, but despite these efforts, NSO Group remains on the notorious blacklist.

Now that there is a new administration in power, NSO Group appears to be recalibrating its approach to political engagement. The company seems to have either ended or modified its collaborations with several previous lobbying firms in Washington, particularly those that were aligned with the Democratic Party. In their place, NSO Group has turned to a significant new lobbying ally: the Vogel Group.

The Vogel Group, founded by Alex Vogel, who previously served as chief counsel to former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, is now providing NSO Group with strategic advisory services focused on cybersecurity policy matters. This shift was documented in lobbying disclosure filings submitted on March 10.

The Vogel Groups ties to the Trump administration are noteworthy, especially in areas critical to NSO Groups interests. One of the new lobbyists for NSO Group, Jonathan Fahey, became a principal at Vogels Washington, DC office on January 29. Fahey has an extensive background in various roles during Trumps first term, serving as acting director and principal legal adviser at Immigration and Customs Enforcement, deputy assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security, and general counsel to the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. Each of these positions is relevant to a company engaged in the sale of surveillance technology.

Moreover, another member of the Vogel Group, Hayden Jewett, is documented in lobbying records as representing NSO Group. Jewett previously acted as a congressional staff liaison for Trump's 2016 inauguration, facilitating interactions between congressional offices and the inaugural committee.

Additionally, the law firm Holtzman Vogel, co-founded by Alex Vogel and his wife, Jill Holtzman Vogela former Virginia state senator, chief counsel of the Republican National Committee (RNC), and current principal at the Vogel Grouphas been known to work with the National Republican Senatorial Committee and the National Republican Congressional Committee. The firm has reportedly received over $9.3 million in reported payments in 2024, bolstered by substantial political contributions from various Republican organizations.