Third Way (policy think tank)

Third Way (policy think tank) is a centrist public policy think tank founded in 2005 and headquartered in Washington, D.C.. The organization promotes policy proposals aimed at pragmatic reform in areas such as climate change, healthcare, higher education, and technology policy. It positions itself between progressive and conservative policy groups, engaging with actors across the Democratic Party and federal institutions such as the United States Congress.

History

Third Way was established in 2005 by former staffers and political operatives associated with the Democratic Leadership Council and the administrations of Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. Early initiatives linked the group to debates around the No Child Left Behind Act, the PATRIOT Act, and the 2004 and 2008 presidential campaigns. In the 2010s Third Way expanded research into clean energy, responding to policy debates shaped by events like the Paris Agreement and legislative efforts epitomized by the Green New Deal. The organization has since produced reports coinciding with electoral cycles involving figures such as Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, and senators like Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders.

Organization and Leadership

Third Way operates from an office in Washington, D.C. and is structured into programmatic teams including climate, fiscal policy, national security, and social policy. Leadership has included presidents and senior fellows drawn from political staffs, academia, and think tanks such as Brookings Institution, Center for American Progress, and American Enterprise Institute. Board members and advisors have included former congressional staffers, policy professionals from administrations like George W. Bush and Barack Obama, and figures associated with institutions like Harvard University, Yale University, Columbia University, and Princeton University. Third Way staff frequently testify before committees such as the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Senate Committee on Finance and collaborate with legislators from the Democratic caucus and bipartisan coalitions like the Problem Solvers Caucus.

Policy Positions and Research

Third Way produces policy briefs, white papers, and grassroots toolkits focused on pragmatic solutions to issues including climate change, healthcare reform, college affordability, and technology policy. In climate policy, Third Way has advocated market-oriented mechanisms interacting with initiatives like the Clean Air Act and state programs such as California's cap-and-trade. On healthcare, the organization has analyzed legislation like the Affordable Care Act and alternatives proposed by lawmakers in the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. Higher education research has examined the impact of student debt relief proposals associated with policymakers such as Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders and administrative actions from the U.S. Department of Education. In technology, Third Way has engaged with issues pertinent to regulatory actions by the Federal Trade Commission, antitrust inquiries involving firms like Google, Apple Inc., Facebook, and Amazon (company), and workforce trends tied to entities such as National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health.

Influence and Advocacy

Third Way seeks to influence public policy through coalitions, media engagement, and direct outreach to lawmakers and executive-branch officials. The group has participated in coalitions alongside organizations like Business Roundtable, Chamber of Commerce of the United States, and advocacy groups aligned with environmentalism while differentiating itself from progressive organizations such as MoveOn.org and Our Revolution. It has organized events with congressional staffers, briefings attended by representatives from committees such as the House Committee on Oversight and Reform and the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and published commentary in outlets including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal. Third Way’s policy proposals have been cited by presidential transition teams and campaign platforms in contests involving Barack Obama, Joe Biden, and other national candidates.

Funding and Affiliations

Third Way is funded through a mix of donations from individuals, foundations, and corporate supporters. Donors have included philanthropies such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and entities tied to energy and technology sectors represented by firms like ExxonMobil and Microsoft Corporation in broader policy dialogues, though affiliations vary by program. The organization is registered as a nonprofit and engages in partnerships with academic centers, public policy programs at universities like Georgetown University and George Washington University, and civic groups involved in campaigns comparable to those run by Rockefeller Brothers Fund and Carnegie Corporation of New York. Financial disclosures and nonprofit filings have been the subject of scrutiny and reporting by outlets such as ProPublica and investigative journalists from The New Yorker.

Category:Think tanks based in the United States