Search tablesRead PowerBook →

The think tanks and federally funded research centers that draft, cost and staff Washington's agenda, sorted by issue and by political orientation. Tap any tile or name for details.

Power ThinkersColumns show the issue; rows show orientation; FFRDCs work under federal contract
ProgressiveNonpartisanConservativeLibertarianFFRDCs
Corner codes:A Appointee benchC Signature convening$ Corporate-sponsored programsI Staff detailed into government (IPA)T Track II dialoguesM Scoring model! Status changed since 2025All publish reports and briefs.

Orientation labels are PowerBook's reading; many of these institutions describe themselves as nonpartisan. Each tile sits in its signature issue column. FFRDC count and sponsors from the NSF Master Government List (February 2026).