Neera Tanden has returned as the CEO of the Center for American Progress (C.A.P.), a significant think tank in Democratic politics. Previously a vocal critic of Donald Trump, Tanden emphasized the need for Democrats to not only resist Trump but also propose their own solutions ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Despite financial struggles and layoffs at C.A.P., she remains optimistic about the organization’s future. Tanden, who has a longstanding history in Democratic campaigns, underscored the necessity of offering alternatives to Trump’s agenda, believing that effective competition for ideas is crucial in the current political climate.
Neera Tanden, a prominent figure in Democratic politics in Washington, is reclaiming her previous role as the head of the party’s foremost think tank, where she was a vibrant and outspoken critic of President Trump during his initial term.
The Center for American Progress announced on Thursday that Ms. Tanden will return as its chief executive. Since its inception over twenty years ago, the center, located in Washington, has been a focal point of Democratic resistance whenever Republicans have occupied the White House.
Ms. Tanden steps into this position at a time when numerous Democratic donors are holding back contributions, party leaders are finding it challenging to articulate a unified message, and no clear figures have come forward to challenge Trump.
According to Ms. Tanden, this is a critical moment for Democrats to not only counter Trump but also present their own ideas ahead of the 2026 midterm elections and the 2028 presidential race.
“We should certainly engage in reflection, but a degree of self-doubt that paralyzes people is unhelpful at a time when Trump poses a serious threat to millions of Americans,” she stated in an interview on Wednesday. “A core purpose of the Center for American Progress is to create an alternative, not merely to critique.”
Ms. Tanden has been involved in Democratic presidential campaigns since 1988, when she volunteered for Michael Dukakis. She served as a steadfast aide to Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama — positions where she often clashed with more progressive Democrats — before becoming the president of the Center for American Progress in 2017. From this platform, she played a pivotal role in the Democratic effort to safeguard Mr. Obama’s landmark health care legislation and was one of the party’s prominent voices against Trump.
Her tendency to voice unfiltered opinions about Republicans online ultimately sabotaged her nomination to lead the Office of Management and Budget under President Joseph R. Biden Jr.
She referred to Senator Susan Collins, Republican of Maine, as “the worst,” and told Senator Lisa Murkowski, Republican of Alaska, that “you’re high on your own supply.” At that time, Ms. Tanden expressed remorse, but it was not enough to keep support from Senator Joe Manchin III of West Virginia, who thwarted her nomination with his announcement of opposition.
Following this, President Biden appointed Ms. Tanden as a senior adviser, and later she became his staff secretary and director of the Domestic Policy Council, significant White House roles that did not necessitate Senate confirmation.
Currently, her social media activity primarily involves sharing others’ posts on X and Bluesky.
“I’m still going to tweet,” Ms. Tanden mentioned in the interview on Wednesday, “but less frequently.”
She is returning to C.A.P. with its founder, John Podesta, who recently served as Mr. Biden’s global envoy on climate issues and has now been appointed chairman of the organization’s board. Patrick Gaspard, who has been acting as the organization’s president, will transition to a senior adviser role.
C.A.P. is one of several liberal organizations facing financial challenges in the early days of the Trump administration. Earlier this month, the center laid off 22 employees, marking an approximately 8 percent reduction in its workforce. Ms. Tanden expressed confidence that there would be no further layoffs.
Ms. Tanden emphasized the importance for Democrats to recognize that although the current political climate may seem extreme and alarming, it is not without precedent.
“We have experienced moments like this — during Trump’s first term and Bush’s second term — when people thought, ‘Democrats are lost, they lack a response, and the nation is fundamentally transformed,’” she commented. “We must rise, brush ourselves off, critique what we believe is incorrect, and propose improved alternatives.
“There is a contest of ideas, and perhaps a portion of Trump’s strength lies in the fact that if we fail to address a problem, he will present a radical solution,” she added. “This underlines the necessity for us to provide solutions.”