An article from the Virginia Public Access Project highlights Smart Start's role as a lobbying client represented by Seven Hills Strategy Group. The listing reveals the appointment of a Chief Government Affairs Officer and multiple registered contacts, indicating active engagement in political lobbying and executive political activities. Such involvement may support policies and political influences that align with authoritarian practices.

A recent Forbes article highlights how many companies neglect robust human rights due diligence in their supply chains, including issues such as forced labor and inadequate supplier oversight. While Smart Start, Inc. is not directly implicated, this piece raises critical questions about whether its supply chain practices sufficiently address human rights risks. In an era of increased regulatory and consumer scrutiny, failure to proactively manage these risks can contribute indirectly to broader systemic abuses.

Leaked internal documents reveal that Smart Start, Inc. orchestrated a sophisticated lobbying campaign. The documents detail top-down directives for letter-writing, media manipulation through planted online comments, and coordinated meetings with local newspapers to generate favorable editorials. This political machine, funded by taxpayer dollars, appears designed to preserve existing bureaucratic power and secure ongoing state funding, thereby undermining democratic processes.