Washington, DC–The Bipartisan Policy Center and the National Governors Association are launching the American Opportunity Project (AOP), a unique federal-state partnership to produce bipartisan policy options to restore America’s fiscal health while expanding economic opportunity for workers and families. Current and former governors, federal policymakers, business leaders, and local stakeholders will develop concrete ideas for how America can invest, modernize, and pay for its future and promote them prior to the 2028 election cycle.
Without swift action on unsustainable debt, AI-driven economic disruption, and a fragile social safety net, budgets for states and families are at risk of serious repercussions that will touch the lives of all Americans. Because of their vital role in managing these consequences while balancing their budgets, governors belong at the table for discussions on how to address these challenges. States are laboratories of innovation, and the AOP for the first time will recognize governors as front-line problem solvers to surface state challenges and promote successful approaches that can address these national challenges.
“We can’t print money in Oklahoma, so every year, we balance our budget. Our national debt is out of control, and every year the federal government is spending $2 trillion over its revenue. That’s unsustainable, and it’s time for leaders to come together and find solutions to this and other issues that are impacting our nation. I appreciate the partnership between the Bipartisan Policy Center and National Governors Association to approach the biggest issues of our day.”
—Gov. Kevin Stitt (R-OK), chairman of the National Governors Association
“In a rapidly evolving economy, governors are working with urgency to empower our workforce and strengthen hardworking families to thrive, all while being fiscally responsible. In Maryland, that has meant record investments to our schools and in lighthouse industries–or industries of the future–and building pathways to work, wages, and wealth. So, while Washington, DC, is busy raising costs for working families and failing to deliver real results for the communities that need it most, governors are showing there is a better way; and, as chair of the NGA, I look forward to amplifying the state’s role in this national conversation.”
—Gov. Wes Moore (D-MD), vice chair of the National Governors Association
Rather than starting from scratch, the AOP builds directly on the foundation of previous efforts, as well as on BPC’s own ongoing work on fiscal sustainability, health, workforce, and entitlements. Three things set it apart:
- The Right Partners—governors in both parties face the same challenges, having to balance budgets and deliver results in the face of the changing federal-state relationship, threats to the social safety net, and a changing economy.
- Greater Urgency—policymakers must begin to confront the challenges of entitlement solvency, economic displacement, and the impact they are having on state and family budgets right now.
- A Built-In Path to Action—BPC Action and NGA will build the political infrastructure to build the political will for legislative action and advance these options.
“Americans are deeply concerned that rising debt, a fragile social safety net, and economic disruption are going to mean benefit cuts, lost access to health care and, and less economic opportunity. They are hungry for a new approach. The American Opportunity Project will bring together governors and other experts to consider innovative policy options that soften the ground for decisive action by the next president and Congress.”
—Margaret Spellings, president and CEO, Bipartisan Policy Center
“The national conversation about America’s debt is usually centered in Washington, D.C., but budget impacts hit every state and territory. Governors are accustomed to balancing their budgets while investing in economic growth at the same time, and their perspectives are essential in tackling the national debt before it reaches crisis levels. The window to solve this challenge is closing, and it’s time to try something different. The American Opportunity Project is unique in its focus on states, its comprehensive framework, and in the mix of leaders it brings to the table. The National Governors Association is proud to partner with the Bipartisan Policy Center in this urgent work.”
—Dr. Brandon Tatum, CEO, National Governors Association
The AOP will be led by a steering committee, with additional working groups of policy experts applying a modeling and scoring framework to evaluate fiscal and economic impacts. The working groups will focus on:
- American Competitiveness—Infrastructure, energy, and capital formation to drive long-term growth and national competitiveness.
- Modern Tax Code—Modernizing the tax code for growth, innovation, and workforce participation in an AI economy.
- Workforce of the Future—Federal and state investments to help Americans live longer, more productive working lives.
- Sustainable Benefits and Health Care—Smarter benefit structures to sustain Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare for the Americans who depend on them.
“Business leaders understand that these problems touch our entire country. They affect every business that has to plan for the future, every state that has to balance its budget, and every family trying to make ends meet. What is missing is a comprehensive approach and credible solutions. The American Opportunity Project brings together governors, business leaders, and policy experts to consider tradeoffs and new approaches to difficult problems. The Bipartisan Policy Center and the National Governors Association can lead the way to a better future.”
—Tom Falk, Chair of the Bipartisan Policy Center board and retired Chair and CEO of Kimberly-Clark Corporation
From 2026 to 2027, the AOP will draw on both federal and state experts to consider impending challenges for state budgets and innovative policy solutions developed at the state level and scalable for national action. Final policy options will be published and briefed to candidates for office prior to the 2028 election. The AOP will brief the incoming presidential administration and new Congress in 2029 and follow up with an aggressive advocacy strategy to promote final policy options.