Bipartisan Policy Center

Bipartisan Policy Center
Name	Bipartisan Policy Center
Formation	2007
Type	think tank
Headquarters	Washington, D.C.
Leader title	President
Leader name	Jason Grumet

Bipartisan Policy Center is a Washington, D.C.-based public policy think tank formed in 2007 to promote bipartisan solutions to major national challenges. It was founded by former congressional leaders seeking to bridge partisan divides and advance consensus-based recommendations on issues including fiscal policy, health care, energy, and national security. The organization convenes former lawmakers, subject-matter experts, and stakeholders to produce reports, host forums, and advocate for legislation that reflects cross-party compromise.

History

The organization was launched by a group of prominent former legislative leaders who served in the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives during contentious periods including the post-1994 era and the aftermath of the 2006 United States House of Representatives elections. Founders included former leaders associated with institutions such as the Republican Party (United States), the Democratic Party (United States), the Senate Republican Conference, and the House Democratic Caucus. Early initiatives addressed pressing issues highlighted by events like the Financial crisis of 2007–2008, debates over the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and energy disputes involving the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Over time the organization expanded programs modeled on bipartisan commissions such as the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform and echoed approaches used by the Commission on Wartime Contracting in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Mission and Organization

The group articulates a mission to promote pragmatic, bipartisan policy solutions through convening, research, and advocacy. Leadership draws on networks that include former members of the United States Congress, staff from landmark institutions such as the Brookings Institution, the Heritage Foundation, the American Enterprise Institute, and the Center for American Progress, as well as experts from the RAND Corporation and the Urban Institute. Governance incorporates a board structure akin to other policy centers like the Wilson Center and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and senior advisers often have backgrounds at agencies including the Department of Defense, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Energy. The organization operates policy programs spanning fiscal, health, energy, and homeland security issues and maintains partnerships with universities such as Harvard University, Georgetown University, and George Washington University for events and research collaborations.

Policy Programs

Programs target discrete arenas: fiscal policy and budget reform; health policy and insurance markets; energy and climate; and national security and immigration. Fiscal work has addressed debt ceilings and entitlement reform through task forces similar to the Simpson-Bowles Commission and has produced proposals related to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 and the Budget Control Act of 2011. Health initiatives have examined the Medicare (United States) program, the Medicaid (United States) program, and the implementation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. Energy and climate teams have analyzed policy options connected to the Clean Air Act, the Paris Agreement, and innovations in the Department of Energy loan programs. National security programs have focused on issues related to the Department of Homeland Security, cybersecurity concerns highlighted by incidents such as the Office of Personnel Management data breach, and immigration debates shaped by rulings from the Supreme Court of the United States.

Research and Publications

The center issues reports, white papers, and policy briefs that synthesize expert testimony from panels including former members of Congress, scholars from institutions such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, and Princeton University, and practitioners from organizations like the Federal Reserve System and the Securities and Exchange Commission. Major publications have proposed comprehensive plans on deficit reduction, health care stabilization, and energy innovation; these have been cited in congressional hearings before committees such as the Senate Committee on Finance and the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. The organization also produces regular commentary, podcast series, and convenings that feature speakers from the Office of Management and Budget, the National Security Council, and major foundations such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Funding and Governance

Funding sources include philanthropic grants, corporate contributions, and individual donations, following a model common to policy centers like the Koch Foundation-funded networks, the Ford Foundation, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The board comprises former elected officials, corporate executives, and civic leaders, mirroring governance seen at the Council on Foreign Relations and the Atlantic Council. Executive leadership has included presidents and senior fellows with prior roles in administrations such as those of President George W. Bush, President Barack Obama, and President Donald Trump. The organization maintains disclosure practices for donors and grantees and publishes annual reports detailing program expenditures and staffing, comparable to transparency efforts by the Pew Charitable Trusts.

Criticism and Influence

Critics have questioned the balance between private funding and public interest, drawing comparisons to controversies that have affected the Cato Institute and the Center for Strategic and International Studies regarding donor influence. Commentators from outlets such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Politico have debated the extent to which the group shapes legislation versus serving as a convener for ideas originating in legislatures like the United States Congress. Supporters point to instances where recommendations influenced bipartisan measures in the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives, while detractors cite tensions inherent in aligning former partisan leaders similar to those in the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act debates. The center’s role in shaping policy remains prominent in discussions involving think tanks, interparty collaboration, and the policymaking ecosystem.

Category:Think tanks based in the United States