Boardroom Inaction at Heritage

When Good Institutions Let the Poison Spread

The Heritage Foundation: Teetering on the Edge of Irrelevance?

Folks, it’s Old Eagle here, perched high above the fray, scanning the horizon of our great nation’s conservative landscape. I’ve been watching the Heritage Foundation for decades now – that stalwart think tank that’s shaped policy from Reagan’s revolution to the Trump era. But lately, I’ve got to ask: Can this bird still fly? Or has it clipped its own wings with a series of boneheaded missteps that no amount of donor dollars can patch up? The board’s sitting on their hands like they’re auditioning for statues in the Capitol, and it’s putting the whole outfit at risk. Let’s dive in, because if we don’t call this out, we risk losing a key pillar of the movement we hold dear in Covenant Nation.

First off, let’s rewind to the heart of the storm. Back in October 2025, Tucker Carlson – love him or hate him, he’s a lightning rod – sat down with Nick Fuentes, that young firebrand who’s made a name for himself peddling white nationalist nonsense and Holocaust denial. Now, I’m no fan of cancel culture, but there’s a line between free speech and giving a platform to outright poison. Heritage President Kevin Roberts jumped in with both feet, releasing a video defending Carlson against what he called a “venomous coalition” trying to shut him down. It was like watching a general defend a flank that’s already overrun by the enemy. The backlash was swift and brutal, even from within our own ranks. Roberts backpedaled in an all-staff meeting, admitting he’d “let down this institution. Period. Full stop.” But apologies are cheap when the damage is done. This wasn’t just a PR hiccup; it eroded trust in an organization that’s supposed to be the intellectual backbone of conservatism.

And it didn’t stop there. In December 2025, Heritage doubled down by appointing Scott Yenor as a director. Yenor’s got a track record that’s raised eyebrows – controversial takes on women, marriage, and LGBTQ issues that got him bounced from the University of Florida’s board of regents earlier that year. Look, I’m all for traditional values, but when you hitch your wagon to folks who alienate broad swaths of the base, you’re not building a coalition; you’re building a bunker. Critics inside and out saw this as Heritage cozying up to the far-right fringe, and it only widened the cracks.

Then there’s Project 2025, that ambitious blueprint for reshaping the federal government under a conservative administration. On paper, it’s gold – cracking down on DEI nonsense, tightening immigration, and slashing bureaucracy. It’s influenced real policy, like the Trump team’s moves on education and borders. But it’s become a lightning rod too. Groups like Stephen Miller’s America First Legal bailed from the advisory board mid-2025, wanting distance amid the political heat. Opponents paint it as a threat to marginalized communities, and even some allies worry it’s too aggressive, risking backlash that could hand wins to the left. Heritage’s involvement has tied them to these debates, and without clear leadership, it’s like steering a ship through fog with a broken compass.

Now, about that board – the folks who should be the guardians at the gate. Instead of cleaning house, they’ve watched as the exodus unfolds. In late 2025, we saw high-profile resignations: Robert P. George from Princeton, Shane McCullar, and Abby Spencer Moffat all jumped ship. McCullar didn’t mince words: he couldn’t stay on a board “unwilling to confront the lapses in judgment that have harmed its credibility, its culture, and the conservative movement.” Moffat echoed that, warning that failing to tackle harmful ideas “forfeits the moral authority on which its influence depends.” That’s not just quitting; that’s a indictment.

And it’s not just the board. Over 60 senior staffers have bolted, including heavy hitters from economic policy, legal, and data teams. Many landed at Mike Pence’s Advancing American Freedom, which tells you something about the ideological split. Even Heritage’s own antisemitism task force cut ties over the Carlson-Fuentes mess. This ain’t a trickle; it’s a flood. Yet Roberts stays put, and the board’s response? Crickets, mostly. They’ve spun it as a chance to “add new talent,” but that’s like putting lipstick on a pig.

So, can Heritage survive? Short answer: Yeah, it’ll limp along. It’s got deep pockets, a storied history, and it’s still churning out work. Just this year, in early 2026, they dropped guidance on higher ed reform – pushing for less federal meddling and more state accountability, aligning with Trump-era priorities. They’re tackling family policy, illegal immigration in schools, and even calling out shareholder activism on issues like Airbnb’s exposure to antisemitism. Their website’s buzzing with reports on debt, energy, and gender ideology. They’re not shuttering the doors tomorrow.

But survival ain’t the same as soaring. These rifts expose deeper fractures in the conservative movement – MAGA purists versus traditionalists, anti-extremism folks clashing with those who flirt with the edges. If Heritage doesn’t purge the poison, it’ll lose donors, talent, and clout. Remember, this isn’t their first rodeo; they’ve bounced back from leadership shakes in 2017 and 2021. But history’s no guarantee. In a polarized world, think tanks thrive on credibility. Lose that, and you’re just another echo chamber.

Here’s the Old Eagle take: Heritage matters because it’s fought for the covenant – limited government, strong families, secure borders – that binds our nation. But if the board doesn’t act, clearing out the dead wood and recommitting to principled conservatism, it’ll fade into irrelevance. We need them to reject the fringes, not embrace them. Call your contacts, write the op-eds, demand accountability. Covenant Nation demands no less.

We’ve got to preserve institutions that uphold our values, not let them crumble from within. Stay vigilant, friends. The eagle’s eye never blinks.