Berkshire Hathaway's prior acquisition of Precision Castparts, once decried as a 'big mistake' for having led to significant job cuts, has seen a $2 billion rebound that narrows losses. Notably, Warren Buffett admitted he 'paid too much' for the company, an act of corporate accountability that contrasts with the severe impact on workers.

OpenSecrets data reveals that Berkshire Hathaway contributed approximately $6.4M in political donations and spent about $6.9M on lobbying in the 2024 cycle. The profile also highlights a revolving door phenomenon, with 52 of 85 lobbyists in 2023 and 60 of 97 in 2024 previously holding government positions, raising concerns about corporate influence and regulatory capture.

An analysis of Berkshire Hathaway's political contributions and lobbying activities reveals significant involvement in front-end lobbying efforts, including a revolving door of lobbyists with previous government positions that may undermine democratic processes. The data from OpenSecrets suggests that these activities contribute to a broader pattern of corporate complicity in fostering authoritarian influence.

A tracked overview of Berkshire Hathaway's political contributions raises questions about the company's potential influence on democratic processes and whether its political spending indirectly supports authoritarian agendas.

Berkshire Hathaway's CEO, Warren Buffett, played a key role in defeating a shareholder proposal that would have forced Occidental Petroleum to disclose details about its lobbying efforts and political trade group affiliations, thereby reducing corporate transparency in political activities.

Berkshire Hathaway's subsidiary BNSF has implemented significant job cuts among unionized maintenance workers, prioritizing profit margins over worker safety and fair labor practices. This decision is seen as an exploitative measure that undermines labor rights and aligns with a broader pattern of corporate neglect of worker welfare.

In his annual shareholder letter, Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett lambasted federal interventions in labor negotiations, particularly citing how government-mandated wage hikes in the rail industry (BNSF) and regulatory pressures on utilities (BHE) adversely affected company earnings. His rhetoric criticizes the role of presidential and congressional involvement, framing such interventions as counterproductive despite the potential benefits these measures could have for worker protections.

Shareholder advisory firms and activist investors have proposed a resolution requiring Berkshire Hathaway to provide twice-yearly disclosures on its political contributions and expenditures. The board, however, has opposed this resolution, arguing that political spending is minimal (less than 0.1% of annual expenditures) and noting that the parent company itself has never made political contributions, despite some subsidiaries contributing. This resistance to enhanced transparency raises concerns about the company’s oversight of politically relevant activities.

Trident Mortgage Co., a division of Berkshire Hathaway’s HomeServices of America, has agreed to pay $20 million as part of a settlement addressing allegations of redlining and discriminatory lending practices that targeted Black and Latino homebuyers in minority-majority neighborhoods in Philadelphia, Camden, and Wilmington.

Trident Mortgage Co., a division of Berkshire Hathaway's HomeServices of America, was accused by the Justice Department of engaging in redlining practices by denying mortgage services to Black and Latino homebuyers in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. The settlement includes a $4 million fine and measures to improve lending in underserved neighborhoods.