Over the last several days, Washington, D.C. has been abuzz over the rumor that Heritage Foundation President Jim DeMint is being forced out, after just 4 years on the job.
While no announcement has been formally made, reports suggest that his departure is due to a major disagreement with some board members over the direction of the conservative think tank.
The story, first reported by Politico claims that “Some Heritage board members believe that DeMint has brought in too many Senate allies and made the think tank too bombastic and political — to the detriment of its research and scholarly aims.”
Well, a new report suggests that if DeMint is officially relieved of his duties, he could be replaced by one of President Donald Trump’s top aides: Steve Bannon.
Will Steve Bannon take over Heritage after Jim DeMint leaves? Mike Needham won’t say https://t.co/mKzdAHqLjG pic.twitter.com/6iln5pMAPU
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) May 1, 2017
One of the leading figures behind DeMint’s reported ousting is Rebekah Mercer, a major donor to President Trump and a Heritage board member.
The New York Times reports that “Ms. Mercer was described by people with knowledge of the events as helping drive the effort toward a shake-up. Another person close to the discussions, who asked not to be identified, said that Mr. DeMint was not seen as sufficiently pro-Trump by some members of the board.”
Bannon, who previously lead the conservative Breitbart website, has been a longtime supporter of President Trump, and being named as the new head of Heritage would be a major shakeup for the establishment conservative organization.
From The Washington Examiner:
Will blistering populist Steve Bannon replace fiery conservative Sen. Jim DeMint as the next president of the Heritage Foundation? Heritage Action CEO Michael Needham won’t say.
Asked by Chris Wallace whether Heritage would be Bannon’s “safety net as he’s forced out of the White House,” Needham demurred on “Fox News Sunday.” “I can tell you,” Needham replied, “there’s a lot of speculation in the room and in the media that never misses a chance to divide and attack conservatives.”
With that non-answer, speculation over the fate of Heritage Foundation will no doubt reach a new fever pitch. News of DeMint’s ouster has already sent shockwaves throughout the think tank and reverberations through right wing circles in Washington, D.C.
—
Less than 24 hours before Needham arrived at Fox News’ D.C. studios, Heritage vice president of personnel, Wes Dyck, sent a staff-wide email warning employees not to talk to the press.
“I ask all of you to avoid speculation, especially outside the Heritage family or with the media,” a copy of the email obtained by the Washington Examiner reads. “Further public speculation is not helpful to the cause we all share: advancing principled, conservative public politics for all Americans.”
The Heritage Foundation was founded at the height of the Reagan administration, and has been at the forefront of pushing conservative policy throughout the country. Heritage is also a fixture in the Republican establishment, which has been at odds with President Trump for months.
DeMint’s ousting might signal that Heritage has lost its influence, and replacing him with someone who has deep ties to the White House might ensure that their policy goals get enacted into law.
The only question that remains is whether or not Steve Bannon has the connections necessary to work with the traditional Heritage donors and board members, who may not be as closely aligned with President Trump as donors liker Mercer are.
Do you think that Jim DeMint should be fired from The Heritage Foundation? Would Steve Bannon be a good replacement pick? Share your thoughts below!