Heritage Foundation Announces Staff Changes Amid Controversy

On Friday, Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts revealed staff adjustments following a backlash from conservatives over his defense of Tucker Carlson, who recently associated with white supremacist Nick Fuentes.

Roberts has appointed Derrick Morgan, currently the think tank’s executive vice president, as acting chief of staff until the year’s end. Ryan Neuhaus, who previously held this role, will transition to a senior advisory position.

The announcement came via an email to staff titled “Heritage’s Stand Against Anti-Semitism and For Civilized Truth.”

In the email, which was leaked to The Hill, Roberts stated that under his leadership, the foundation has launched various initiatives aimed at fighting anti-Semitism.

He emphasized that their stance on Israel is both principled and equitable, highlighting, “There is a huge difference between believing that Israel does nothing wrong and blaming Israel for all its mistakes.”

Roberts further clarified that while the organization opposes cancel culture, “rejecting cancel culture does not mean condoning evil.”

He asserted, “At Heritage, we understand the moment we are in. This is a time for moral courage and conviction. We want to lead, not by suppressing dissent, but by challenging and overcoming misguided ideas with truth.”

The changes were described as necessary to “ensure we meet this moment with focus and excellence.”

Roberts praised Neuhaus, indicating he would continue to be a vital member of the team in his new role at the Simon Center, where he will work on significant issues like housing. The president expressed confidence in Neuhaus’s future success.

Neuhaus is slated to take over as chief of staff in January 2025, following his tenure as legislative director for Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah). He has publicly supported Roberts’ remarks, some of which were contentious, including statements suggesting that Heritage staff who were outraged should resign.

The B. Kenneth Simon Center for American Studies, to which Neuhaus is now reassigned, focuses on maintaining the fundamental intellectual and moral principles upon which the nation was established.

As executive vice president, Morgan oversees policy, communication, and government relations. He previously served as chief of staff to Heritage’s founder, Ed Feulner, who passed away earlier this year.

In his email, Roberts noted, “This structure allows us to finish the year strong, with unity and discipline,” also mentioning a need for the team to adapt quickly to advance “Heritage 2.0.”

The conservative magazine National Review reported that Roberts communicated the staff changes in an email early Saturday.

He has positioned the influential think tank closer to the MAGA base and contended in a recent video that the “toxic coalition” criticizing Carlson was “sowing the seeds of division,” asserting that “any attempt to cancel him will fail.” However, he stressed that Fuentes’ cancellation isn’t the solution.

This stirred considerable backlash from Heritage’s allies, colleagues, and even within his organization, with some staffers expressing that Fuentes’s ideas are of no merit.

Roberts later responded to this criticism, acknowledging his discontent with Fuentes’ ideologies, stating, “He incites hatred against Jews, and that incitement is not only immoral but also poses a risk of violence.”

The ongoing debate regarding anti-Semitism in conservative circles has stirred public comments from Heritage’s board members. Trustee Robert P. George, a law professor at Princeton, remarked that the conservative movement must not embrace white supremacists or ideologies that contradict the intrinsic dignity of all individuals.

George expressed his disapproval of the notion of having no “right enemy,” noting that such figures should neither be welcomed nor normalized in the conservative movement.

Roberts articulated in his first video that the focus should remain on political adversaries on the left, not those on the right.

John Coleman, a director at Heritage and co-CEO of Sovereigns Capital, also voiced his thoughts, stating, “You cannot be a faithful Christian and be an anti-Semite (or, more broadly, a racist). Anti-Semitism undermines key aspects of the Christian faith.”