Cerberus Capital Management is reportedly preparing a formal proposal to buy the strategic Port of Darwin from Landbridge Group’s billionaire owner. This move follows their previous $100M investment in an Australian facility supporting defense and surveillance, and is notable for its executive ties, including co-founder Steve Feinberg's current role as US Deputy Secretary of Defence. Critics argue that such an acquisition could align the firm’s financial and strategic interests with militaristic and authoritarian tendencies.

Cerberus Capital Management is preparing a bid to acquire the 99‐year lease for the Port of Darwin from Chinese firm Landbridge Group. The report also highlights Cerberus' political connections, including co-founder Steve Feinberg's recent appointment as US deputy defence secretary under the Trump administration, raising questions about the firm's political influence and alignment with authoritarian practices.

The OpenSecrets profile for Cerberus Capital Management details its political contributions of $325,569 and notably high lobbying expenditures of $3,060,000 during the 2024 cycle, as reported by various government sources, including lobbying data released on April 24, 2025.

Cerberus Capital Management spent $550,000 on lobbying in the first quarter of 2025, according to data from OpenSecrets based on Senate Office of Public Records.

On February 26, 2025, during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, Senator Elizabeth Warren questioned Cerberus Capital Management CEO Stephen Feinberg regarding his role in the financial decline of Steward Health Care. The questioning focused on the firm’s extraction of over $700 million while leaving the hospital system burdened with debt, unsafe staffing levels, and questionable labor practices, raising concerns about Feinberg’s suitability for a high-ranking Department of Defense role.

Senator Elizabeth Warren urged Deputy Defense Secretary Nominee Stephen Feinberg to recuse himself from any matters related to Ligado Networks’ $39 billion lawsuit against the DoD, citing significant conflicts of interest due to his ties with Cerberus Capital Management, which holds a major stake in Ligado.

At a federal hearing concerning the proposed Kroger-Albertsons merger, Cerberus Capital Management has been criticized for employing aggressive financial tactics – including dividend recapitalization – that prioritize investor returns at the expense of consumer interests and economic stability. These practices raise concerns regarding their impact on consumer prices and structural debt burdens on Albertsons.

An article reports that Cerberus Capital Management, which controls Albertsons, stands to be a major beneficiary of the merger between Kroger and Albertsons. The deal is criticized for potentially lowering wages and benefits, exacerbating worker exploitation while fueling market concentration.

Cerberus Capital Management reportedly spent $1,425,000 on lobbying activities in 2023, an expenditure which raises concerns regarding the firm’s influence on political processes and potential impact on democratic accountability and progressive reforms.

Cerberus Capital Management spent approximately $3,035,000 on lobbying activities in 2023 targeting several legislative bills, including the National Defense Authorization Act and various appropriations measures.

In 2010, Cerberus Capital Management acquired an unprofitable Massachusetts hospital chain. Critics have argued that this move prioritized short-term financial gains over quality patient care and undermined community healthcare infrastructure, raising concerns about exploitative business practices and long-term economic impact on vulnerable populations.