Jeff Small is a Partner at the 76 Group and leads the firm’s Washington, D.C. Federal Affairs office, where he represents clients in the mining, energy, local government, and natural resources sectors. With more than 15 years of experience in federal affairs, public policy, and strategic advocacy, Jeff has built a distinguished career advancing projects that power America’s economy—from minerals development to energy infrastructure and transportation initiatives.
Jeff previously served as a presidential appointee and Senior Advisor to the Secretary of the Interior during the Trump Administration, where he focused on energy, mining, and regulatory policy within the Department’s Land and Minerals programs. In that role, he was instrumental in modernizing the federal permitting process, implementing the Great American Outdoors Act, and expanding access to federal lands and energy resources. His work helped streamline complex federal systems and ensure that responsible development could move forward efficiently and transparently.
Jeff has held numerous senior positions on Capitol Hill, including Chief of Staff, Legislative Director, and Executive Director of the Congressional Western Caucus. During his tenure working in Congress, he authored and passed 19 bills and 96 appropriations requests into law—most with strong bipartisan support—delivering billions in federal investments for energy, water, and infrastructure projects— primarily in the West. Under his leadership, the Congressional Western Caucus became the most influential policy coalition in Congress on issues related to energy development, mining, and natural resources. During his tenure, the Caucus grew to more than 100 members in the House of Representatives and U.S. Senate. Jeff led efforts to pass eight bipartisan bills for the Western Caucus and authored 14 Congressional Review Act measures that helped overturn burdensome energy and mining regulations.
Jeff has played a pivotal role in several landmark energy and mining initiatives. He led the bipartisan effort to pass the Resolution Copper Mine land exchange in Arizona into federal law—a project projected to create 3,700 jobs, contribute $60 billion to the U.S. economy, and supply a quarter of the nation’s copper needs. He also authored legislation securing water rights for Freeport-McMoRan’s Bagdad Mine, supporting thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions in regional economic activity. In addition, Jeff helped build the coalition that restored leases for the Twin Metals project in Minnesota after prior administrations unlawfully canceled them and imposed a 20-year mineral withdrawal.
A recognized expert in oil and gas, mining, and federal land exchange policy, Jeff has successfully passed seven federal land exchanges into law and continues to lead comprehensive exchange efforts for clients nationwide. He has helped oil and gas clients get targeted parcels into lease sales and his work has unlocked access to energy and mineral resources, streamlined permitting, and delivered long-term economic benefits to communities across the country. He has also secured more than $30 million in Community Project Funding and Congressionally Directed Spending for local governments to support water and infrastructure projects.
At the 76 Group, Jeff represents a diverse portfolio of clients, including mining companies, energy producers, local governments, and even a pro-law-enforcement company. His federal advocacy regularly engages senior officials at the White House, Department of the Interior, Department of Energy, Environmental Protection Agency, and Department of Transportation, where he advances policies that promote domestic energy production, minerals access, infrastructure, and regulatory certainty.
Jeff lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and two daughters. He enjoys sports, the outdoors, and spending time with his family.
