About Us
The Bernhardt Group was founded by David Bernhardt, the 53rd Secretary of the Interior under President Donald J. Trump. David is the only person in the 175-year history of the Department of the Interior to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate as Solicitor, Deputy Secretary and Secretary.
The Bernhardt Group was founded on the belief that trusted experience, deep pragmatic knowledge and strategic precision are needed to deliver durable outcomes in Washington, D.C. We leverage our elite strategic insight to navigate complex regulatory and political environments with tested experience and tactical execution. Our commitment to excellence and results, forged in the corridors of power alongside America’s leaders, positions us as trusted policy architects and advisors delivering results for those facing Washington’s toughest challenges and most pressing opportunities.
WHAT WE DO
Our team has operated at the senior-most levels of the executive branch and that experience shapes how we operate. We know how policy gets made behind closed doors and how to engage the right stakeholders to accelerate action. Whether dealing with Cabinet officials, career regulators or White House policy advisors, we can help clients know how to get agencies to act and frame their case, while anticipating the internal pressures of decision makers in power.
We convert deep policy knowledge and powerful relationships into measurable impact. Whether shaping federal rules, defending client interests or building coalitions, we ensure your priorities are clearly understood and strategically championed by those in power. Our advocacy is grounded in credibility and policy expertise, not just access, allowing us to open doors, frame narratives and move decision makers at the right time and in the right way.
From federal permitting to environmental compliance, our team understands the regulatory lifecycle and how to bend it toward timely outcomes. We anticipate risks before they materialize, engage with regulators across agencies and navigate the political and bureaucratic barriers that stall major projects. Whether responding to evolving demands or shepherding a multi-billion-dollar infrastructure effort, we keep your initiatives on track and out of red tape.
We craft and execute legislative strategies that align with political realities, not wishful thinking. Our team maintains close working relationships with lawmakers, committee staff and leadership in both chambers of Congress. We help clients identify legislative vehicles, develop persuasive messaging, navigate the appropriations process and influence policy at every stage of the process. In high-stakes debates, we ensure your voice is not just heard but carries meaningful impact.
Our firm stands alone in its depth of expertise in natural resources, energy and infrastructure policy. From public lands and critical minerals to environmental permitting, we understand the legal, political and technical intersections that determine success. Our policy experts also have extensive experience in oversight and investigations, trade and supply chain policies and navigating the ever-complicated appropriations process.
Our firm provides hands-on project management to ensure complex initiatives flow from concept to completion. Our team drives alignment across legal, political and regulatory workstreams to ensure clients stay on track, on time and ahead of risks. From navigating bureaucratic red tape to get a project off the ground, securing federal funds and navigating interagency coordination, our team can lend expertise while adapting to fast-changing environmental, social and governance expectations.