Center for a New American Security

The Center for a New American Security (CNAS) was co-founded in 2007 by Michèle A. Flournoy and Kurt M. Campbell, both prominent figures in Democratic national security circles, as an independent, bipartisan, nonprofit research institution focused on U.S. national security and defense policy. Based at 1701 Pennsylvania Ave NW in Washington, DC, CNAS conducts research across eight major program areas: Defense, Indo-Pacific Security, Technology and National Security, Transatlantic Security, Middle East Security, Energy/Economics/Security, National Security Human Capital, and National Security Law. The Technology and National Security program, led by Senior Fellow and Director Vivek Chilukuri, focuses on helping U.S. and allied policymakers navigate great power competition with China over critical and emerging technologies. Key initiatives include America's AI Leadership, Biopower, Quantum Leap, and Countering the Digital Silk Road. The program has published influential work including "Promethean Rivalry," examining how AI may reshape geopolitical power dynamics. CNAS operates a dedicated Artificial Intelligence Safety and Stability project as a cross-program initiative integrating its Technology, Defense, Indo-Pacific, and Energy/Economics programs. The project's five major lines of effort include: mitigating risks from advanced AI in cyber, biological, nuclear, and financial domains; developing compute governance frameworks; establishing standards for safe military AI; analyzing U.S.-China AI competition dynamics; and developing responsible AI diffusion frameworks. Notably, CNAS explicitly distinguishes its focus on near-term catastrophic AI risks from longer-horizon existential risk framings, arguing catastrophic risks are more likely and demand immediate policy attention. Executive Vice President Paul Scharre, named one of TIME's 100 Most Influential People in AI in 2023, leads much of the AI safety and stability work. CNAS employs approximately 87 full-time staff as of 2024 and maintains an additional roster of adjunct senior fellows. The organization holds a 4-star Charity Navigator rating. For fiscal year ending September 2024, CNAS reported annual revenue of approximately $14.1 million and total expenses of approximately $13.8 million. It receives funding from government agencies, defense contractors, foreign governments, and private philanthropic sources including Coefficient Giving for its AI safety work.