Our Work

About Our Work

We bring national security nationwide, and we bring the diverse viewpoints of the American people to national security policymaking.

Truman defines national security broadly and believes that issues ranging from climate change to immigration to democratic resilience and more all impact America’s national security. Because broader inputs into policymaking lead to better policy outcomes, Truman leverages its national network, unwavering commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Belonging, and a growing body of work that extends throughout America to reshape the national security discourse.

The Truman Center weaves the connective tissue between communities nationwide and Washington through our programs and policy advocacy:

City & State Diplomacy
We’re innovators in the growing field of city and state diplomacy, building the infrastructure for mayors and governors to engage with counterparts abroad and to inform U.S. foreign policy. In 2024, we debuted a detailed map of subnational diplomatic activity happening throughout the United States.
Immigration & National Security
Federal immigration policy is in desperate need of reform but beholden to politics. We’re changing the narrative on immigration by facilitating conversations around the country about why humane immigration policy is essential to national security.
Transnational Challenges
We’re examining how local leaders view some of the most consequential national security issues, including U.S. relations with China and nuclear nonproliferation. We bring what we learn back to Washington policymakers to improve their decision-making.

Truman is reforming the institutions that govern national security to make them more nimble, diverse, and technologically savvy:

Supporting Change Agents
With our sister organization, the Truman National Security Project, a membership organization of 2,000 policymakers, veterans and political professionals -- many of them serving in national security institutions-- we build members’ skills and expand the resources available to them so they can be institutional change agents.
State Department Reform
We reform the structures and practices of institutions, including through our work to diversify the State Department and establish the State Department’s first Unit for Subnational Diplomacy.
Solutions for Institutional Failures
We identify institutional failures and design solutions. For example, we saw firsthand the inability of the public and private sectors to coordinate during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan; in response, we are developing a playbook for public-private coordination during crises.

Truman is reforming the institutions that govern national security to make them more nimble, diverse, and technologically savvy:

With our sister organization, the Truman National Security Project, a membership organization of 2,000 policymakers, veterans and political professionals -- many of them serving in national security institutions-- we build members’ skills and expand the resources available to them so they can be institutional change agents.

We reform the structures and practices of institutions, including through our work to diversify the State Department and establish the State Department’s first Unit for Subnational Diplomacy.

We identify institutional failures and design solutions. For example, we saw firsthand the inability of the public and private sectors to coordinate during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan; in response, we are developing a playbook for public-private coordination during crises.

We pursue our goals using ​our voice, our programs, ​and an extensive network ​of thought leaders.

Our tools range from task forces designed to address specific national security ​weaknesses, to public reports and statements, to behind-the-​scenes advocacy, to convenings nationwide, including our flagship ​annual conference, TruCon. Join us as we build a national security ​ecosystem that serves all Americans.
The Truman Center for National Policy

Contact Us

Learn more about how to partner with and support the Truman Center. info@trumancnp.org

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