More than a dozen staff members from the Heritage Foundation are leaving the conservative think tank to join former Vice President Mike Pence's nonprofit, Advancing American Freedom. The departures follow internal turmoil over the organization's stance on antisemitic figures and right-wing influencers. This move expands Pence's group and highlights divisions within the conservative movement.
The Heritage Foundation, a prominent conservative think tank influential in the Trump administration through its Project 2025 policy blueprint, is experiencing significant staff exodus. On Monday, Advancing American Freedom (AAF), founded by Mike Pence in 2021, announced that leaders from Heritage's legal, economic, and data teams, along with several team members, will join the organization next year. This brings AAF's staff from 18 to more than 30 employees.
The departures stem from ongoing controversy at Heritage. In October, President Kevin Roberts defended Tucker Carlson's interview with Nick Fuentes, a white nationalist who has praised Adolf Hitler. Roberts' video sparked backlash, leading him to apologize. In a November all-staff meeting, captured in a leaked video published by the Washington Free Beacon, Roberts called it a "mistake" and sought a chance to "clean it up." Critics, including Ben Shapiro, rebuked the stance, amid broader debates in the conservative movement over antisemitism. A task force on fighting antisemitism recently severed ties with Heritage.
Pence welcomed the hires, stating they "bring a wealth of experience, a love of country, and a deep commitment to the Constitution and Conservative Movement that will further the cause of liberty." AAF President Tim Chapman noted the group raised $13 million toward a $15 million goal in two weeks to fund the new salaries over three years. Chapman emphasized promoting traditional conservative principles like low taxation, strong national defense, and limited regulation, as the movement grapples with life beyond figures like Donald Trump.
Heritage Chief Advancement Officer Andy Olivastro accused some departing staff of "disloyalty," adding that several were "terminated for conduct inconsistent with Heritage’s mission and standards." He said the exits pave the way for a "stronger, more focused team."
Specific roles include John Malcolm leading the relocated Edwin Meese III Institute for the Rule of Law, with Jessica Reinsch as director of programs. Five staff from Heritage's economic policy and federal budget centers will join AAF's Plymouth Institute for Free Enterprise, and Kevin Dayaratna will head the Center for Statistical Modeling & Scientific Analysis. Legal scholar Josh Blackman resigned Sunday, criticizing Roberts' remarks in a letter as an "indefensible" blunder that aided antisemitism on the right.
The infighting has rippled through the GOP, with figures like Carlson, Shapiro, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Steve Bannon debating Fuentes' place at Turning Point USA's AmericaFest in Phoenix.
