WASHINGTON, D.C. — July 7, 2025 — CFM Advocates continues to grow and increase the capabilities of its federal practice with the hiring of Naseem Mehyar as its new vice president of federal affairs. Mehyar brings nearly a decade of experience shaping national transportation and public safety policy to the firm’s Washington, D.C. office.
Mehyar most recently served as legislative assistant and senior policy lead for transportation and public safety to Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., where he played a pivotal role in developing the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024. His policy work also included advancing public safety legislation such as efforts to improve fentanyl overdose mapping.
“As a child of immigrants and a product of a long line of public servants, giving back through government service has always felt like a calling,” Mehyar said. “Joining CFM allows me to continue that work with purpose and a renewed focus on getting things done.”
During his nine-year tenure in Sen. Cantwell’s office, Mehyar helped secure more than $10 billion in federal transportation funding for Washington state. This includes more than $2.1 billion for the Interstate 5 Bridge Replacement Project between Vancouver, Washington, and Portland, Oregon. He was instrumental in establishing and expanding major federal grant programs such as the MEGA Grant Program, the Rail Crossing Elimination Program, INFRA, RAISE and PIDP.
Mehyar also led efforts to secure key appropriations, advance policy changes and obtain Congressionally Directed Spending for priority projects in Washington state. He worked closely with the Senate Commerce Committee, as well as the Appropriations, Judiciary, and EPW Committees, and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. He maintains strong relationships with key federal agencies, including USDOT, FTA, FHWA, FRA, FAA, Amtrak, DOJ, FBI, ATF and ONDCP.
At CFM, Mehyar will manage client accounts, lead business development initiatives, advocate for smart policy on Capitol Hill, and guide public and private sector clients through the complexities of federal funding and legislative processes. His deep policy expertise and strong relationships across Congress and federal agencies enhance CFM’s capabilities in transportation, infrastructure and public safety.
“Naseem fits the CFM culture of creating meaningful community impacts across the Pacific Northwest, and we are excited to build on what he has accomplished throughout his tenure in the U.S. Senate,” said Joel Rubin, CFM Managing Federal Affairs Partner. “Infrastructure wins are the bread and butter of our practice, and no one brings better skills and experience in that arena than Naseem.”
A native of Olympia, Washington, Mehyar is a proud graduate of Washington State University Vancouver. He previously served as field director for Sen. Cantwell’s 2018 reelection campaign in Southwest Washington, delivering victories in key counties. Beyond work, Mehyar is a devoted Seattle sports fan and enjoys traveling with his wife, exploring D.C.’s food scene, reading historical fiction, attending concerts and quoting lines from The Sopranos and The Wire, his favorite shows.
