An influential conservative group is using a questionnaire to test the ideology of potential recruits to the next Republican presidential administration — and the questions reveal the extent to which former President Donald J. Trump transformed the conservative movement in his image.
The group’s questionnaire, the Heritage Foundation, includes questions that suggest it screens candidates who want to pass tariffs, reduce the U.S. military footprint abroad and eliminate executive branch officials who obstruct the president’s agenda . The job application questionnaire was first reported by Axios.
Candidates are asked whether or not they agree with the statement that “the president should be able to advance his agenda through the bureaucracy without hindrance from unelected federal officials.”
Mr. Trump and his allies have promised to “demolish the deep state” and increase presidential power over every part of the federal government that currently operates with some degree of independence from White House political control.
Heritage, the most powerful think tank on the right, has worked in Republican administrations since the Reagan era and campaigned $22 million presidential transition operation called Project 2025 to develop policies and personnel for the next Conservative government.
As a nonprofit group, Heritage cannot endorse political candidates, but its massive staffing project — a collaboration of more than 80 conservative groups — is led by former senior Trump administration officials who remain close to the former president. Heritage’s work will most likely end up in the hands of whoever the Republican Party nominates as its presidential candidate next year.
Much of the heritage questionnaire is mundane. He asks candidates about their political philosophy, private school vouchers and other classic Republican policies. But in a subtle way, the questionnaire shows the extent to which Mr. Trump’s “America First” ideology has permeated the Republican Party. These changes are most pronounced in the framing of questions related to foreign policy and trade.
(The questionnaire asks about the candidate’s political philosophy, offering a number of possible selections such as Traditional Conservative, Libertarian, Paleoconservative and Moderate.)
The heritage used to promote American leadership in the world and a hawkish foreign policy consistent with the views espoused by Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush.
But under the leadership of its chairman, Kevin Roberts, Heritage has argued in recent years that American taxpayer dollars could be better spent at home rather than supporting Ukraine’s fight against the Russian invasion. And, in a further departure from pre-Trump Republican orthodoxy, Heritage has been open to reduce the military budget.
With this in mind, the Heritage questionnaire asks potential recruits whether or not they agree with the idea that “the United States should reduce its heavy military presence abroad.”
Once a proponent of free trade — and still internally divided on the subject — Heritage is now asking recruits for the next Republican administration whether they agree that “the United States should impose tariffs with the goal of to bring back jobs in the manufacturing sector, even if these customs duties lead to an increase in customs tariffs. consumer price.”
The heritage shift toward an “America First” ideology has begun flaws within the conservative movement and caused tension inside the organization. Several foreign policy analysts left Heritage disillusioned with the changes ahead.
In a statement to the New York Times, Heritage President Mr. Roberts said that “the radical left has outpaced the political right when it comes to preparing men and women to serve in presidential administrations.” .
“Project 2025,” he added, “is committed to recruiting and training a significant group of patriotic Americans ready to serve their country on the first day of the next administration.”
