After becoming a political lightning rod during the 2024 campaign, the Heritage Foundation has pledged $1 million to help President-elect Donald Trump appoint members of his Cabinet.
“Taking down the deep state isn’t just a priority for President Trump — it’s the mandate the American people gave him,” Heritage President Kevin Roberts said in a statement. “If he succeeds, it will cement his legacy as the president who confronted Washington’s unaccountable bureaucracy and restored power to the people.”
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Roberts is calling on “every conservative” to unite behind Trump’s nominees, which will be tricky because Trump has made some unusual selections and has already seen one pick, former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, flame out under pressure from the Senate.
Heritage was in an awkward situation with Trump after its Project 2025 policy manifesto became a centerpiece of Democratic attack ads during the presidential campaign. Trump said in July that he knew “nothing about” the effort, and his team celebrated when Project 2025’s director stepped down later that month.
But with the election over, Trump has tapped some of the manifesto’s contributors to join his administration, including border czar Tom Homan, Federal Communications Commission Commissioner Brendan Carr, and possibly Russ Vought to lead the Office of Management and Budget.
Heritage said its new Cabinet campaign will focus on “educating the American public” on the importance and history of presidential authority over Cabinet appointments and will specifically target the home states of senators whose votes could make or break a confirmation.
“Heritage Action and our millions of grassroots conservatives stand ready to support President Trump and his slate of nominees through a swift Senate confirmation process,” said Ryan Walker, executive vice president of Heritage Action for America, the think tank’s advocacy arm. “The new Senate Republican majority must unite to deliver on the promises made to the American people to implement the America First agenda as soon as possible.”
Steve Bradbury, a Heritage fellow and former Department of Transportation general counsel, acknowledged the Senate’s advice and consent function but said it should “not be used to obstruct the president’s ability to put qualified appointees in place.”
“The president is also right to demand an end to the Senate’s dubious practice of using pro forma sessions to prevent recess appointments,” he said. “Throughout the history of our nation until very recently, presidents have exercised their authority under the Constitution to fill vacancies during recesses of the Senate with temporary appointments.”
Roberts, the Heritage Foundation president, has acknowledged what he described as a tactical error over his organization’s response to the Project 2025 backlash. The Democratic National Committee is still criticizing Trump for the association after the election.
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“After spending months lying to the American people about the ties between his campaign and Project 2025, Donald Trump has spent the past two weeks rewarding the Project 2025 lackeys who crafted this dangerous blueprint with new jobs in his administration,” DNC spokeswoman Rosemary Boeglin said on Thursday.
While some of Trump’s Cabinet picks are expected to be confirmed easily, a few of his more controversial choices, such as Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for health and human services secretary and former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard to be the director of national intelligence, may need help to get across the finish line.