The conservative political organization "Advancing American Freedom," founded by former U.S. Vice President Pence, is making a large-scale effort to recruit key senior executives from the Heritage Foundation, highlighting the deepening factional divisions within the American conservative movement. Pence's side stated that it plans to hire about 15 employees from the Heritage Foundation, including heads of key departments such as law, data analysis, and economic policy. Pence said in an interview that the Heritage Foundation has "abandoned its principles," shifted toward isolationism, stopped supporting Ukraine, supported tariff policies, and backed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for cabinet positions, reflecting its tolerance for "populist big government" and anti-Semitic sentiments. The Heritage Foundation strongly retaliated, accusing some departing employees of being "disloyal" and stating that its leadership and mission have not changed. Meanwhile, two more senior officials from the institution's legal center have resigned, openly stating that they can no longer fulfill their original mission. This personnel upheaval occurs at a critical moment when the Republican Party is vying for influence after the Trump era. The conservative camp's internal disagreements on foreign intervention, economic nationalism, and social issues are becoming increasingly public, evolving into direct confrontations between different factions. Although Pence has seen a decline in influence within the party since his split with Trump in 2021, he is still regarded as an important representative of traditional conservatism, while the Heritage Foundation still maintains institutional influence in Washington, albeit facing unprecedented internal turmoil.
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Original article: toutiao.com/article/1852270093327370/
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