(From L to R) Atul Keshap, Ruchi Bhowmik, Neera Tanden, Karan Bhatia, Kavita Patel, (Below L to R) Anand Parekh, Nitin Chadda, Radhika Fox, Samir Kapadia, Jay Khosla / U.S. Chamber of Commerce/ LinkedIn/ Wikipedia/ X/ Wikipedia/ University of Michigan/ LinkedIn/ Wikipedia/ Cleveland Clinic Newsroom

Several Indian Americans have been named to Washingtonian magazine’s list of the 500 Most Influential People in Washington this year. 

The magazine has identified experts and advocates, outside the government, who are shaping critical policy debates across sectors such as healthcare, national security, climate policy, and global trade. 

Also Read: Anand Giridharadas named to TIME100 Philanthropy list

The Indian Americans on the list are:

Neera Tanden, president and CEO of the Center for American Progress (CAP), who returned to the think tank after her tenure in the Biden administration. Tanden has resumed her role as a leading progressive voice, countering GOP-led proposals on Medicaid and promoting middle-class economic investments, including a higher minimum wage. She emphasizes the importance of providing alternatives to the status quo and effectively communicating the detrimental effects of policies such as proposed Medicaid cuts to voters.

In the healthcare policy sphere, Kavita Patel, a physician at Mary’s Center and former Obama health official, continues to advocate for the strength of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). She has reiterated that the ACA "cannot be undone by a White House pen," defending its enduring impact on American healthcare access.

Anand Parekh, chief medical adviser at the Bipartisan Policy Center, has played a critical role in reactivating the House Congressional Primary Care Caucus, educating lawmakers on the importance of revitalizing primary care to strengthen the healthcare system nationwide. Drawing on his experiences as a clinician and former deputy assistant secretary of health, Parekh emphasizes that improving population health requires policymakers to reinvest in prevention, primary care, and public health.

Jay Khosla, Humana’s chief government affairs officer and a veteran of Senate GOP leadership, leverages his deep experience at the intersection of healthcare and economic policy to influence federal strategy from the private sector.

In the realm of technology and content policy, Ruchi Bhowmik, vice president of public policy at Netflix, draws on her Obama-era experience to shape conversations around net neutrality, copyright, data privacy, and streaming regulation. She leads efforts to align Netflix’s interests with evolving regulatory frameworks globally and domestically.

Atul Keshap, president of the U.S.–India Business Council (USIBC) at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, has underscored the importance of advancing India’s economic reforms following the 2024 general elections. He has also urged India to push for more ambitious reforms in taxation, regulatory frameworks, and business procedures to enhance the country's global competitiveness and attract greater investment.

Samir Kapadia, managing principal of the Vogel Group, is recognized for his expertise in steel tariffs and his work with multinational firms navigating complex trade compliance issues.

Nitin Chadda, co-founder of WestExec Advisors and Vice Chairman at Teneo, represents the national security and tech strategy domain. At one of the capital’s most influential consultancies, Chadda advises major defense and technology clients on engaging with the federal government in an increasingly dynamic global security landscape. Prior to founding WestExec, he served as the Senior Advisor for Strategy to former Secretary of Defense Ash Carter and held various roles at the White House and Department of State.

Karan Bhatia, vice president of Government Affairs and Public Policy at Google, oversees a global policy team spanning more than 50 countries. As principal adviser to the tech giant’s CEO, Bhatia’s role places him at the nexus of discussions around global tech regulation, AI governance, and digital rights. He previously served as the Deputy U.S. Trade Representative and held senior positions in the Bush administration.

Radhika Fox, now principal at North Star Strategy and the former head of the EPA’s water program, lends her deep expertise on environmental policy, particularly drinking-water regulation and lead pipe removal, to top executive teams navigating the new environmental policy terrain. During her tenure at the EPA, she led the development of the water pillar of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, securing a $50 billion appropriation, the single largest federal investment in water.