One of the two think tanks the Times' Eric Lipton and Brooke Williams raked over the coals was the Center for Strategic and International Studies, which published a report advocating the expansion of drone sales while being funded by drone makers, namely General Atomics (emphasis added):
As a think tank, the Center for Strategic and International Studies did not file a lobbying report, but the goals of the effort were clear.

"Political obstacles to export," read the agenda of one closed-door "working group" meeting organized by Mr. Brannen that included Tom Rice, a lobbyist in General Atomics' Washington office, on the invitation lists, the emails show.

Boeing and Lockheed Martin, drone makers that were major CSIS contributors, were also invited to attend the sessions, the emails show. The meetings and research culminated with a report released in February 2014 that reflected the industry's priorities.