Authors and Contributors

Authors

Daren Bakst contributed to Trump-aligned policy initiatives through his work at The Heritage Foundation.
Jonathan Berry served as Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General at the Department of Justice from 2017 to 2018 and was a member of Trump’s presidential transition team, focusing on ethics and legal policy. His roles in the DOJ and during the transition reflect his involvement in shaping Trump’s judicial and regulatory policies.
Lindsey M. Burke, through her work at The Heritage Foundation, supported educational initiatives that aligned closely with Trump’s policy priorities, particularly in promoting school choice and reducing federal involvement in education.
David R. Burton influenced Trump’s economic policies through his work at The Heritage Foundation.
Adam Candeub served as Deputy Associate Attorney General at the Department of Justice in 2020 and as a high-ranking official at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) in 2019, with both roles during the Trump administration highlighting his alignment with Trump’s policy framework.
Dustin J. Carmack served as Chief of Staff to Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe during the Trump administration, placing him within Trump’s intelligence community. His previous work with Congressman Ron DeSantis also involved collaboration with Trump-aligned figures.
Brendan Carr was appointed to the Federal Communications Commission by President Trump and worked closely with the administration on telecommunications and national security policies.
Benjamin S. Carson, Sr. MD was a key Trump administration member, serving as the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
Ken Cuccinelli served as Acting Secretary of Homeland Security from 2019 to 2021, where he played a key role in advancing Trump’s immigration policies, despite a 2020 congressional watchdog report declaring his appointment unlawful.
Rick Dearborn served as Deputy Chief of Staff in Trump’s White House from 2017 to 2018 and was the Staff Director of the presidential transition team before Trump’s inauguration.
Veronique de Rugy, through her work at the Mercatus Center, advocated for economic policies that often aligned with the Trump administration’s free-market and deregulatory agenda.
Donald Devine
Edwin J. Feulner, through his leadership of The Heritage Foundation, significantly influenced the policy agenda of the Trump administration.
Diana Furchtgott-Roth served as Acting Assistant Secretary for Economic Policy at the Department of the Treasury during the Trump administration.
Thomas F. Gilman served as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Administration and Chief Financial Officer during the Trump administration.
Mandy M. Gunasekara served as Chief of Staff at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and as a Senior Policy Adviser during the Trump administration and later founded a non-profit organization to advance Trump’s energy policies.
Gene Hamilton served as Counsel to the Attorney General at the Department of Justice (DOJ) during the Trump administration, working closely with Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
Jennifer Hazelton served as a public affairs official at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in 2020 and 2021, and at the State Department in 2017. She also played a significant role in Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign as Communications Director for Georgia, managing media relations and strategic communications in a key battleground state.
Karen Kerrigan, through her leadership of the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council, supported several of Trump’s economic initiatives for small businesses.
Dennis Dean Kirk was nominated by Trump in 2018 to serve as Chairman of the Merit Systems Protection Board, though he was not confirmed, leading to operational delays. His eventual appointment as Chairman of the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) by Trump reflected his role in advancing Trump’s approach to federal labor relations, which emphasized efficiency and reducing union influence.
Kent Lassman, as president of the Competitive Enterprise Institute, supported numerous deregulatory initiatives aligned with the Trump administration’s policy agenda, particularly in environmental and economic sectors.
Bernard L. McNamee was nominated by President Trump to serve on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
Christopher Miller served in three key roles during the Trump administration: Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense, Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, and Acting Secretary of Defense.
Stephen Moore served as a senior economic advisor during Trump’s 2016 campaign and was later nominated by Trump for a position on the Federal Reserve Board.
Mora Namdar served in senior roles at the State Department during the Trump administration, implementing the president’s immigration and foreign policy objectives.
Peter Navarro served as Director of the Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy from 2017 to 2021 and as Director of the National Trade Council in 2017. As a close adviser to Trump, Navarro was key in shaping trade policies, including tariffs on Chinese goods and the USMCA. He also advised on the COVID-19 response and supported Trump’s false election fraud claims. Navarro was indicted for contempt of Congress, pled guilty, and was sentenced to four months in jail and fined $9,500, being released just before the RNC.
William Perry Pendley served as Acting Director of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) from 2019 to 2021 under Trump, although his service was deemed unlawful by a judge.
Max Primorac served as Acting Chief Operating Officer for the U.S. Agency for International Development from November 2020 to January 2021 and had been an adviser at the agency since 2018.
Kevin D. Roberts, PhD, as president of The Heritage Foundation, has actively worked to align the organization with Trump’s policy agenda, particularly in areas such as election integrity and border security, while publicly supporting key elements of Trumpism. J.D. Vance, Trump’s VP Candidate, wrote the foreword for Roberts’ book, initially titled The Conservative Ascendancy: Burning Down Washington to Save America, which was revised to Reclaiming the Right: Taking Back Washington to Save America.
Roger Severino served as Director of the Office for Civil Rights at the Department of Health and Human Services during the Trump administration.
Kiron K. Skinner served as Director of Policy Planning at the State Department during the Trump administration.
Brooks D. Tucker served in senior roles at the Department of Veterans Affairs during the Trump administration.
Hans A. von Spakovsky served on President Trump’s Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity.
Russ Vought was a key figure in the Trump administration, serving as Director of the Office of Management and Budget from July 2020 to January 2021, after roles as Deputy and Acting Director from 2018 to 2020. Recent secret footage by the Centre for Climate Reporting indicates that Vought, who authored a chapter for Project 2025, claims Trump supports the Project 2025 and its objectives.
William L. Walton played a significant role in Trump’s 2016 transition team as co-head of economic issues for federal agencies.
Paul Winfree held multiple key positions in the Trump administration in 2017, including Deputy Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, Deputy Director of the Domestic Policy Council, and Director of Budget Policy. In 2019, Trump appointed him to the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.

Editors

Paul Dans who served as Chief of Staff at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) during the Trump administration, closely managed federal HR policies and worked as a White House liaison with the Office of Presidential Personnel.
Steven Groves served as Special Assistant to Trump during the Mueller investigation, Deputy Press Secretary in 2019 and 2020, and Chief of Staff to Nikki Haley while she was U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, all during the Trump administration.

Contributors

Mark Albrecht
Chris Anderson, in his role at the Department of Labor, worked closely with Secretary Eugene Scalia to implement policies aligned with the Trump administration’s goals, supporting efforts to deregulate industries and reduce the influence of labor unions.
Jeff Anderson served as Director of the Bureau of Justice Statistics during the Trump administration.
Michael Anton served in the Trump administration as a National Security Council staffer.
EJ Antoni worked at The Heritage Foundation, an organization that significantly influenced policies during the Trump administration.
Andrew “Art” Arthur
Paul Atkins served as the leader of the financial regulatory transition team during the Trump administration.
Julie Axelrod
James Bacon held positions at the Department of Homeland Security and the Presidential Personnel Office during the Trump administration.
James Baehr served as Special Assistant to the President and Associate Counsel during the Trump administration.
Stewart Baker
Erik Baptist served as Senior Deputy General Counsel at the Environmental Protection Agency during the Trump administration.
Brent Bennett
John Berlau
Russell Berman covered the Trump administration extensively as a political journalist, providing critical insights and analyses on Trump’s policies and impact on American politics.
Sanjai Bhagat
Stephen Billy served as Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Labor during the Trump administration.
Brad Bishop’s role at the American Cornerstone Institute, founded by Ben Carson, connects him to the broader network supporting the Trump administration’s values, particularly in areas like religious freedom, conservative governance, and traditional family values.
Willis Bixby
Josh Blackman
Jim Blew held a position in the Department of Education during the Trump administration.
Robert Bortins
Rachel Bovard
Robert Bowes played a key role in the Trump administration, particularly through his work at the Department of Housing and Urban Development and as a Field Director for Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.
Matt Bowman served as Deputy General Counsel and in the Office for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services during the Trump administration.
Steven G. Bradbury served as General Counsel and Acting Deputy Secretary of Transportation during the Trump administration.
Preston Brashers
Jonathan Bronitsky served as Chief Speechwriter and Senior Policy Advisor to Attorney General William Barr during the Trump administration.
Kyle Brosnan served as Associate General Counsel at the Department of Health and Human Services and as Deputy General Counsel at the Department of Homeland Security during the Trump administration.
Patrick T. Brown
Robert Burkett served in various positions with the U.S. Department of Defense, Commerce, and Labor during the Trump administration.
Michael Burley
David R. Burton influenced Trump’s economic policies through his work at The Heritage Foundation.
Jonathan Butcher worked at The Heritage Foundation, an organization that significantly influenced policies during the Trump administration.
Mark Buzby served as Administrator of the Maritime Administration with the Department of Transportation during the Trump administration.
Margaret Byfield
David Byrd served as Assistant Secretary for Administration at the U.S. Department of Agriculture during the Trump administration.
Anthony Campau worked at the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs during the Trump administration, overseeing key deregulatory measures central to Trump’s agenda.
James Jay Carafano worked at The Heritage Foundation, an organization that significantly influenced policies during the Trump administration.
Frank Carroll
Oren Cass
Brian J. Cavanaugh served as Special Assistant to the President during the Trump administration, where he played a key role in advising on and implementing domestic policies, particularly in healthcare and economic reform, aligning with the broader objectives of the administration.
Spencer Chretien played a crucial role in the Trump administration as Associate Director of Presidential Personnel, where he advanced the administration’s agenda through strategic staffing decisions and later served as Special Assistant to the President. His current role as Associate Director of Project 2025 continues his focus on shaping government personnel in alignment with Trump’s vision.
Claire Christensen’s connection to Donald Trump is highlighted by her co-authorship of “Trump versus China,” her role with Gingrich 360, and her fellowship at the American Cornerstone Institute, which was founded by Ben Carson, Trump’s former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
Victoria Coates served as Deputy National Security Advisor during the Trump administration, playing a key role in shaping national security and foreign policy strategies. She continued to influence policy as a senior advisor at the Department of Energy, focusing on energy security.
Ellie Cohanim was appointed to the State Department during the Trump administration.
Ezra Cohen served as Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict during the Trump administration.
Elbridge Colby, in developing the National Defense Strategy, played a central role in the Trump administration’s defense policy.
Earl Comstock served as Director of Policy and Strategic Planning in the Trump administration.
Lisa Correnti
Monica Crowley served at the Treasury Department during the Trump administration.
Laura Cunliffe served at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations and the White House Office of Management and Budget during the Trump administration.
Tom Dans was appointed by President Donald Trump as a Commissioner of the U.S. Arctic Research Commission in December 2020 and managed significant financial relief efforts at the Treasury Department during the Trump administration.
Sohan Dasgupta
Sergio de la Peña served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Western Hemisphere Affairs during the Trump administration.
Chris De Ruyter
Corey DeAngelis
Caroline DeBerry serves as Director of Communications at the Paragon Health Institute, founded by former Trump administration official Brian C. Blasé.
Arielle Del Turco work at the Family Research Council supported and complemented the Trump administration’s focus on religious freedom, opposition to abortion, and traditional family values.
Irv Dennis worked at the Department of Housing and Urban Development during the Trump administration.
David Deptula
Donald Devine
Chuck DeVore
C. Wallace DeWitt
James Di Pane worked at The Heritage Foundation, an organization that significantly influenced policies during the Trump administration.
Matthew Dickerson worked at The Heritage Foundation, an organization that significantly influenced policies during the Trump administration.
Michael Ding works at America First Legal Foundation, which was founded by Stephen Miller, a former senior advisor to President Trump.
David Ditch worked at The Heritage Foundation, an organization that significantly influenced policies during the Trump administration.
Natalie Dodson
Dave Dorey
Max Eden
Troy Edgar served as CFO of the Department of Homeland Security during the Trump administration.
Joseph Edlow served as Deputy Director for Policy at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services during the Trump administration, and he currently works at The Heritage Foundation, an organization that significantly influenced policies during the Trump administration.
Jen Ehlinger held a position at the U.S. State Department during the Trump administration.
John Ehrett served as Legal Counsel to Senator Josh Hawley, who has been a strong supporter of many Trump administration policies.
Kristen Eichamer worked at The Heritage Foundation, an organization that significantly influenced policies during the Trump administration.
Robert S. Eitel served as Senior Counselor to the Secretary of Education with the U.S. Department of Education during the Trump administration.
Will Estrada
Jon Feere served as Senior Advisor to the Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement during the Trump administration.
Baruch Feigenbaum
Travis Fisher served at the Department of Energy during the Trump administration; currently, he works at The Heritage Foundation, an organization that significantly influenced policies during the Trump administration.
George Fishman served as Deputy General Counsel at the Department of Homeland Security during the Trump administration.
Leslie Ford served as Special Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy during the Trump administration.
Aharon Friedman
Bruce Frohnen
Joel Frushone held a position at the U.S. Agency for International Development during the Trump administration.
Finch Fulton served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy in the Trump administration.
Diana Furchtgott-Roth served as Acting Assistant Secretary for Economic Policy at the Department of the Treasury during the Trump administration.
Caleigh Gabel works at the American Cornerstone Institute, led by Dr. Ben Carson, who served as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President Trump.
Christopher Gacek
Alexandra Gaiser worked closely with Secretary Mnuchin at the U.S. Department of the Treasury during the Trump administration, focusing on financial deregulation and innovation.
Mario Garza
Patty-Jane Geller worked at The Heritage Foundation, an organization that significantly influenced policies during the Trump administration.
Andrew Gillen
James S. Gilmore III served as U.S. Ambassador to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe during the Trump administration.
Vance Ginn served as Associate Director for Economic Policy at the Office of Management and Budget during the Trump administration.
Alma Golden served as Assistant Administrator for Global Health at USAID during the Trump administration, where she implemented conservative policies, including the expansion of the “Global Gag Rule” that restricted U.S. aid to organizations involved in abortion services.
Mike Gonzalez worked at The Heritage Foundation, an organization that significantly influenced policies during the Trump administration.
Chadwick R. Gore
David Gortler served as a Senior Advisor to the Food and Drug Administration Commissioner under the Trump administration.
Brian Gottstein worked at The Heritage Foundation, an organization that significantly influenced policies during the Trump administration.
Dan Greenberg
Rob Greenway served as a key figure in the National Security Council during the Trump administration, notably contributing to the Abraham Accords and Iran strategy.
Rachel Greszler worked at The Heritage Foundation, an organization that significantly influenced policies during the Trump administration.
DJ Gribbin served as President Trump’s infrastructure advisor.
Garrison Grisedale worked at the American Cornerstone Institute, which was founded by former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson, and he previously served as a speechwriter for Carson during the Trump administration.
Joseph Grogan served as a health policy advisor during the Trump administration.
Andrew Guernsey
Jeffrey Gunter served as U.S. Ambassador to Iceland during the Trump administration.
Joe Guy
Joseph Guzman served as Co-Chair for Michigan in the Trump Presidential Campaign.
Amalia Halikias’s work at The Heritage Foundation and her connections with Trump allies like J.D. Vance underscore her strong involvement with the Trump administration.
Gene Hamilton served as Counsel to the Attorney General at the Department of Justice (DOJ) during the Trump administration, working closely with Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
Richard Hanania
Simon Hankinson served as a policy researcher at The Heritage Foundation during the Trump administration.
David Harlow worked at the Environmental Protection Agency under the Trump administration.
Derek Harvey served on the National Security Council under President Trump and later advised Congressman Devin Nunes, closely aligning with the Trump administration’s national security agenda, particularly in supporting its foreign policy goals in the Middle East.
Jason Hayes
Jennifer Hazelton served as a public affairs official at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in 2020 and 2021, and at the State Department in 2017. She also played a significant role in Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign as Communications Director for Georgia, managing media relations and strategic communications in a key battleground state.
Lou Heinzer
Edie Heipel worked in communications for the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) during the Trump administration.
Troup Hemenway served as Associate Director for National Security in the White House Presidential Personnel Office, where he was involved in vetting new appointees. He also founded the Association of Republican Presidential Appointees.
Nathan Hitchen
Pete Hoekstra served as Ambassador to the Netherlands during the Trump administration and was a co-chair of Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign in Michigan.
Gabriella Hoffman worked at the Independent Women’s Forum with Mandy Gunasekara, who served as a senior advisor at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and was involved in the Trump administration’s environmental policies, including the withdrawal from the Paris Agreement.
Tom Homan served as Acting Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during the Trump administration.
Chris Horner was part of Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency transition team and aligned closely with the administration’s deregulatory and climate-skeptic policies through his work with conservative think tanks like the Competitive Enterprise Institute and the Heritage Foundation.
Mike Howell served at the Department of Homeland Security during the Trump administration; he currently holds a position at The Heritage Foundation, an organization that significantly influenced policies during the Trump administration.
Valerie Huber served in key roles within the Department of Health and Human Services during the Trump administration. She was instrumental in promoting policies aligned with the administration’s pro-life agenda, including championing the Geneva Consensus Declaration, which opposes the recognition of abortion as a human right and emphasizes the importance of family.
Andrew Hughes worked at the Department of Housing and Urban Development during the Trump administration.
Joseph Humire
Christopher Iacovella
Melanie Israel worked at The Heritage Foundation, an organization that significantly influenced policies during the Trump administration.
Ken Ivory
Roman Jankowski worked at The Heritage Foundation, an organization that significantly influenced policies during the Trump administration.
Abby Jones
Emilie Kao worked at The Heritage Foundation, an organization that significantly influenced policies during the Trump administration.
Jared M. Kelson
Aaron Kheriaty
Ali Kilmartin’s association with Alliance Defending Freedom connects her to a network that played a significant role during the Trump administration, particularly in advocating for religious liberty and opposing LGBTQ rights.
Julie Kirchner worked at the Department of Homeland Security during the Trump administration and served as a senior advisor to Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen.
Dan Kish has been closely aligned with the Trump administration’s energy agenda, focusing on expanding fossil fuels and rolling back environmental regulations.
Kenneth A. Klukowski’s extensive work with the Trump administration includes roles such as Senior Advisor on Trump’s Presidential Transition Team and collaboration with Jeffrey Clark at the Department of Justice.
Adam Korzeniewski’s work in the Treasury and Commerce Departments during the Trump administration, coupled with his involvement in the contentious 2020 Census citizenship question and his role on the Presidential Council for Improving Federal Civic Architecture, illustrates his deep engagement with Trump’s policy priorities. His ongoing role with the American Principles Project and the Claremont Institute highlights his continued influence in conservative circles aligned with Trump’s agenda.
Kathy Nuebel Kovarik served as an advisor to Secretary John Kelly at the Department of Homeland Security and held leadership roles at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services during the Trump administration.
Bethany Kozma’s role as Deputy Chief of Staff at USAID was instrumental in advancing the Trump administration’s conservative agenda, focusing on family and religious values, advocating for significant changes in areas like climate change and gender ideology.
Matthew Kozma served as the Chief Information Officer for the Intelligence Community during the Trump administration.
Julius Krein
Stanley Kurtz
David LaCerte served as a Senior Advisor at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management under the Trump administration.
Paul J. Larkin
Kent Lassman, as president of the Competitive Enterprise Institute, supported numerous deregulatory initiatives aligned with the Trump administration’s policy agenda, particularly in environmental and economic sectors.
James R. Lawrence III served as Deputy General Counsel at the Department of Health and Human Services and Chief Counsel at the Food and Drug Administration during the Trump administration.
Paul Lawrence served as Under Secretary for Benefits at the Department of Veterans Affairs during the Trump administration.
Nathan Leamer served as Policy Advisor to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai during the Trump administration.
David Legates was appointed Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Observation and Prediction at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in 2020 during the Trump administration. His appointment was controversial due to his skepticism about human-caused climate change, which aligned with the administration’s approach to climate science. He later worked in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, where he contributed to climate change briefing documents that faced significant criticism.
Marlo Lewis
Ben Lieberman
John Ligon worked at The Heritage Foundation, an organization that significantly influenced policies during the Trump administration.
Evelyn Lim served in the Trump administration with a focus on immigration and housing policy.
Mario Loyola served as Associate Director for Regulatory Reform at the White House Council on Environmental Quality under Trump.
John G. Malcolm worked at The Heritage Foundation during the Trump administration, supporting judicial and legal initiatives focused on constitutional originalism and reducing federal overreach. He advised on Supreme Court nominations and other judicial appointments aligned with conservative values.
Joseph Masterman worked at Cooper & Kirk, which handled cases challenging federal regulations and defending positions from the Trump administration.
Earl Matthews worked at the National Security Council, where he advised on defense policy and strategy, including the development of the Space Force, a major initiative of Trump’s defense agenda.
Dan Mauler worked as a trial attorney at the Department of Justice during the Trump administration, where he defended the administration’s policies in court.
Drew McCall worked at the American Cornerstone Institute, an organization founded by Ben Carson, who served as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development during the Trump administration.
Trent McCotter
Micah Meadowcroft worked as a White House liaison at the Environmental Protection Agency during the Trump administration.
Edwin Meese III received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Trump in 2019.
Jessica Melugin
Frank Mermoud
Mark Miller served as Chief of Staff to Governor Kristi Noem, whose alignment with Donald Trump’s policies on issues like election integrity and immigration mirrored Trump’s conservative agenda. Miller’s involvement in South Dakota’s legislative efforts and policy shaping reflected the conservative framework that Trump championed.
Cleta Mitchell was directly involved in contesting the 2020 presidential election results, including participating in the January 2, 2021, phone call where Trump pressed Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to overturn the election results. This involvement led to her resignation from Foley & Lardner, as the firm was concerned about her role in these efforts.
Kevin E. Moley, appointed by Trump as Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs, played a significant role in shaping U.S. policy towards international organizations, including the United Nations.
Caitlin Moon
David Moore’s role as Acting Deputy Administrator and General Counsel at the United States Agency for International Development under President Trump involved shaping U.S. foreign aid and development strategies.
Clare Morell served in the Department of Justice under Attorney General Bill Barr, during the Trump administration.
Mark Morgan served as Acting Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection under President Trump, where he was key in advancing the administration’s border security and immigration policies. His work included overseeing the expansion of the border wall and enforcing stricter immigration laws. At The Heritage Foundation, Morgan continues to focus on border security and immigration, reflecting the policies of the Trump administration.
Hunter Morgen served as a Special Assistant to the President during the Trump administration, working closely with senior advisors Peter Navarro and Stephen Miller on trade and immigration policies. Morgen was involved in drafting executive orders and policy guidance, particularly related to Trump’s “Buy American, Hire American” initiatives. He also contributed to the Presidential Council on Improving Federal Civic Architecture, focusing on federal building design and functionality.
Rachel Morrison
Jonathan Moy worked at The Heritage Foundation, an organization that significantly influenced policies during the Trump administration.
Iain Murray worked with the Competitive Enterprise Institute to shape policies during the Trump administration, focusing on deregulation, energy independence, and financial freedom.
Ryan Nabil
Michael Nasi
Lucien Niemeyer served as the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and Environment, a position appointed by President Trump.
Nazak Nikakhtar served at the Department of Commerce during the Trump administration.
Milan “Mitch” Nikolich, appointed during the Trump administration, advanced the Department of Defense’s technology strategy, focusing on enhancing U.S. military technological capabilities and modernization.
Matt O’Brien worked at United States Citizenship and Immigration Services during the Trump administration.
Caleb Orr’s work with Senator Rand Paul connects him to a network of Trump allies who supported his policies.
Michael Pack, appointed by President Trump to lead the U.S. Agency for Global Media, oversaw efforts to align the agency’s broadcasts with the administration’s viewpoints. His tenure involved restructuring the agency and shifting its focus to promote a more conservative narrative in international media.
Leah Pedersen, appointed to her role at the U.S. Agency for International Development by President Trump, was involved in shaping international development strategies.
Michael Pillsbury served as a key advisor on China policy during the Trump administration, influencing the approach to U.S.-China relations.
Patrick Pizzella served as the Deputy Secretary of Labor under Trump.
Robert Poole
Christopher B. Porter served as the National Intelligence Officer for Cyber at the National Intelligence Council during the Trump administration.
Kevin Preskenis worked at the U.S. Department of Commerce during the Trump administration as Chief of Staff to the Assistant Secretary and CFO
Pam Pryor served as the Senior Bureau Official for International Organization Affairs at the U.S. Department of State during the Trump administration.
Thomas Pyle led Trump’s Department of Energy transition team in 2016.
John Ratcliffe served as Director of National Intelligence from May 2020 to January 2021 under President Trump. In this role, he oversaw the U.S. intelligence community and provided critical briefings to the President.
Paul Ray, as head of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs during Trump’s presidency, was directly involved in implementing deregulation policies aligned with Trump’s goals and now continues to contribute to conservative initiatives at The Heritage Foundation.
Joseph Reddan
Jay W. Richards worked at The Heritage Foundation, an organization that significantly influenced policies during the Trump administration.
Jordan Richardson’s roles in the White House and the Department of Labor during the Trump administration involved significant policy work.
Jason Richwine was appointed to a position at the National Institute of Standards and Technology during the final months of the Trump administration, reflecting the administration’s alignment with his views on immigration.
Shaun Rieley
Lora Ries worked at The Heritage Foundation, an organization that significantly influenced policies during the Trump administration.
Leo Rios
Mark Robeck served as Deputy General Counsel for Energy Policy at the Department of Energy during the Trump administration.
James Rockas’s roles at the Department of Commerce and the State Department during the Trump administration positioned him as a key figure in advancing Trump’s trade, economic, and national security policies.
Mark Royce
Reed Rubinstein served as Principal Deputy General Counsel at the USDA during the Trump administration.
William Ruger was nominated by Trump as U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan.
Austin Ruse
Brent D. Sadler worked at The Heritage Foundation, an organization that significantly influenced policies during the Trump administration.
Alexander William Salter
Jon Sanders
Carla Sands served as Ambassador to Denmark, appointed by Trump during his administration.
Robby Stephany Saunders
David Sauve
Brett D. Schaefer works at The Heritage Foundation, an organization that significantly influenced policies during the Trump administration.
Nina Owcharenko Schaefer works at The Heritage Foundation, an organization that significantly influenced policies during the Trump administration.
Matt Schuck worked at the American Cornerstone Institute, founded by Ben Carson, who served as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development during the Trump administration.
Justin Schwab served as Deputy General Counsel at the Environmental Protection Agency, a position appointed by Trump during his administration.
Jon Schweppe
Marc Scribner
Darin Selnick served as a key figure in veterans’ healthcare policy, notably through his work on the VA MISSION Act, during the Trump administration.
Josh Sewell
Kathleen Sgamma led the Western Energy Alliance during the Trump administration.
Matt Sharp
Judy Shelton advised Donald Trump on monetary policy during his 2016 campaign and was nominated to the Federal Reserve Board by Trump.
Nathan Simington was appointed by Trump to influence federal regulatory approaches, particularly regarding social media regulations under Section 230.
Loren Smith served at the Department of Transportation during the Trump administration.
Zack Smith works at The Heritage Foundation, an organization that significantly influenced policies during the Trump administration.
Jack Spencer worked at The Heritage Foundation, an organization that significantly influenced policies during the Trump administration.
Adrienne Spero’s role on the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security during the Trump administration connected her to the administration’s national security policies.
Thomas W. Spoehr worked at The Heritage Foundation, an organization that significantly influenced policies during the Trump administration.
Peter St Onge worked at The Heritage Foundation, an organization that significantly influenced policies during the Trump administration.
Chris Stanley’s role at the Census Bureau involved managing congressional relations during the Trump administration.
Paula M. Stannard
Parker Stathatos participated in the White House Internship Program under the Trump administration.
William Steiger served as Chief of Staff at USAID during the Trump administration.
Kenny Stein
Corey Stewart served as Donald Trump’s Virginia campaign chairman in 2016, a role that solidified his alignment with Trump’s populist and nationalist agenda. Stewart’s support for Trump extended into his 2018 U.S. Senate run and continued through his advocacy for Trump’s policies during various controversies.
Mari Stull served as a Senior Advisor at the U.S. Department of State under Trump, focusing on aligning the department with Trump’s political agenda. Her tenure involved enforcing loyalty to Trump’s policies and was marked by controversy and investigations.
Katharine T. Sullivan served in the Trump administration, overseeing justice programs and advising on law enforcement and victims’ services, aligning with the administration’s goals for criminal justice reform and law enforcement support.
Brett Swearingen
Michael Sweeney served as Associate Managing Director at the FCC during the Trump administration, supporting the Chairman’s office and implementing deregulatory policies like the rollback of net neutrality under Chairman Ajit Pai.
Robert Swope
Aaron Szabo worked at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) during the Trump administration, where he supported the regulatory rollback agenda, particularly reducing environmental regulations.
Katy Talento served as a top health advisor in the Trump administration.
Tony Tata served as Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Policy during Trump’s administration.
Farnaz Farkish Thompson worked on education policies in the Trump administration.
Todd Thurman’s role at HUD during the Trump administration involved shaping messaging to support housing policy and urban development, while his earlier work at The Heritage Foundation reinforced his influence in advancing conservative policies aligned with Trump’s agenda. Now he works at the American Cornerstone Institute, founded by Ben Carson, the former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under Trump.
Brett Tolman played a key role in crafting the First Step Act and supported Trump’s legal and policy efforts, including facilitating a pardon for Charles Kushner.
Kayla M. Tonnessen served as Chief of Staff at the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy during the Trump administration.
Joe Trotter
Tevi Troy
Clayton Tufts served as a Special Assistant at the U.S. Department of Commerce during the Trump administration.
Erin Valdez
Mark Vandroff served as a senior advisor on the National Security Council during the Trump administration.
Jessica M. Vaughan worked with the Center for Immigration Studies, which played a key role in shaping immigration policy during the Trump administration.
John “JV” Venable worked at The Heritage Foundation, an organization that significantly influenced policies during the Trump administration.
Morgan Lorraine Viña served as Chief of Staff to U.S. Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley during the Trump administration.
Andrew N. Vollmer
Hans A. von Spakovsky served on President Trump’s Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity.
Greg Walcher
David M. Walsh
Erin Walsh’s roles in the National Security Council and the Department of Commerce during the Trump administration positioned her as a key player in shaping international trade, security, and global relations policies.
Jacklyn Ward worked at the American Cornerstone Institute, founded by Dr. Ben Carson, who served as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under Trump.
Emma Waters worked at The Heritage Foundation, an organization that significantly influenced policies during the Trump administration.
Michael Williams worked at the American Cornerstone Institute, founded by Dr. Ben Carson, who served as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under Trump.
Aaron Wolff
Jonathan Wolfson worked at the U.S. Department of Labor during the Trump administration, managing key deregulatory initiatives.
Alexei Woltornist’s role as Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at DHS involved shaping the Trump administration’s communications strategy on national security and crises.
Frank Wuco served in the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department during the Trump administration.
Cesar Ybarra
John Zadrozny, as Deputy Assistant to the President, was central to Trump’s immigration and homeland security policies, playing a key role in shaping and implementing key initiatives.
Laura Zorc