The conservative Heritage Foundation has delivered its influential policy agenda to the White House, giving President Trump a reliable road map for the next four years.
Officials told Secrets that upon receiving it, White House chief of staff Mark Meadows said, “I will hand-deliver it to the president of the United States. But perhaps the 2020 ‘mandate’ can be a blueprint for what happens in a second Donald J. Trump term.”
In 2017, Heritage delivered a similar “mandate” and later determined that 64% of its 334 policy prescriptions were “included in Trump’s budget, implemented through regulatory guidance, or under consideration for action in accordance with The Heritage Foundation’s original proposals.”
The new “2020 Mandate for Leadership” includes 209 new policy ideas on economic, domestic, and foreign policy.
“Heritage researchers develop model policies for government with the individual in mind,” said Heritage President Kay James, adding, “They are policies that allow every American to experience even more freedom and opportunity to flourish and pursue his or her dreams.”
The package twins with Heritage’s “Solutions 2020,” a guide for Congress.
The mandate idea dates back to 1981, when Heritage presented President Ronald Reagan with its “Mandate for Leadership,” a collection of more than 2,000 policy suggestions. Heritage noted that it became a bestseller and was considered a “bible of sorts for many in the Reagan White House.”
Heritage officials said that Trump implemented more of its policy plans faster than Reagan.
Trump, as with all recent Republican administrations, has relied on Heritage for policy ideas and staff. At least 70 Heritage alumni have worked with Trump’s team.
James said, “The Heritage team’s all-in effort to create these critical tools is something I am very proud of. The Reagan administration adopted nearly half of ‘Mandate for Leadership’ recommendations in its first year, and the Trump administration embraced nearly two-thirds in 2017. The Heritage Foundation is committed to ensuring these policy proposals and well-considered recommendations continue to shape our federal government.”
