A Brookings Institution expert, Vanda Felbab-Brown, raised concerns regarding the Trump administration’s punitive measures on fentanyl, including proposed tariff threats and cuts to public health programs. Her analysis challenges the aggressive policies and contributes to public discourse that resists authoritarian economic and security measures.

According to OpenSecrets, the Brookings Institution has not reported engaging in federal lobbying or lobbying on specific bills, indicating a deliberate avoidance of direct political influence through lobbying. This lack of lobbying activity is viewed positively from an anti-authoritarian perspective, as it minimizes the risk of enabling corporate or elite influence over policy.

Jessica Brandt, policy director at the Brookings Institution, contributed the sixth chapter to a Global Policy e-book on Digital Repression. The chapter examines how democratic governments have employed repressive technologies such as commercial spyware and biometric monitoring, highlighting the risks these practices pose to civil liberties and democratic integrity.

The Brookings Institution published an article analyzing how rapidly declining digital storage costs could enable authoritarian regimes to conduct pervasive surveillance. The report details how technology could allow these regimes to systematically record communications and activities of citizens, thus intensifying state control and repression.

The Brookings Institution published an article endorsing comprehensive lobbying reforms in the Senate bill. The piece calls for enhanced disclosures on lobbyist-contributed funds to Members of Congress, increased penalties for noncompliance, and an extended cooling-off period for former legislators to curb the revolving door between public service and lobbying. These proposed reforms aim to improve accountability in the political process and diminish the undue influence of money in politics.

The Brookings Institution released a policy paper titled 'A Better Way to Fix Lobbying' that outlines a proposal for the Library of Congress to create a centralized website serving as a clearinghouse for all public policy advocacy. The paper argues that such a portal would level the playing field by providing a cost‐effective alternative to expensive lobbying efforts, increasing transparency and accountability in the policymaking process.

The Brookings Institution published a research article that analyzes labor standards in trade agreements and advocates for stronger enforcement of worker rights. The publication explores how enforceable labor standards can protect basic human rights and promote fair working conditions in a global context.

The Brookings Institution published a commentary highlighting significant labor standard violations in the U.S., particularly in the agriculture exports sector employing migrant workers. The commentary calls for enforcing equal labor standards domestically as a condition for insisting on improved conditions abroad.

The Brookings Institution published an analysis detailing how migrant workers on US farms are subjected to forced labor and exploitation under the USMCA. The report calls for stronger enforcement of labor rights and structural reforms in immigration and recruitment practices to ensure fair competition and worker protection.

The Brookings Institution released a working paper titled 'Exporting the surveillance state via trade in AI' that examines how China’s facial recognition technology is being exported to autocratic regimes. The analysis highlights the risks associated with bolstering surveillance states and calls for regulatory measures on AI trade to mitigate global externalities.

Senator Elizabeth Warren sent a letter to the Brookings Institution asking for full disclosure of its funding agreements with foreign governments, including Qatar, following concerns over the institution’s independence and alleged inappropriate lobbying activities by former officials such as Marine Corps General John R. Allen.

Senator Elizabeth Warren sent a letter demanding explanations from the Brookings Institution after allegations emerged that its former president, General John R. Allen, engaged in illegal lobbying efforts on behalf of Qatar and failed to address internal conflicts of interest. The letter calls for transparency and accountability regarding the institution’s ties with foreign entities and potential breaches in ethical standards.

The article notes that Intel provides financial support to The Brookings Institution, a well-known public policy organization. Given Intel's documented links to surveillance technology that aids authoritarian regimes, this financial relationship may raise concerns about potential conflicts of interest and bias in policy research.