Thursday, February 4, 2021

Trump's HUD Secretary Ben Carson Starts His Own Think Tank

Former Trump Administration officials continue to embrace think tanks.  Here is the latest announcement from The Hill:

Former Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson announced Wednesday that he’s launching a conservative think tank. 

Carson, a former neurosurgeon who served as the Trump administration's only HUD chief, said his think tank, the American Cornerstone Institute (ACI), will provide “common-sense solutions to some of our nation’s biggest problems” and be centered around the “cornerstones” of faith, liberty, community and life.

 

Here is what Ben Carson has to say about his new think tank.  Here is a link to ACI's new site, which is slim on details right now.  You can sign up for their newsletter and donate money, but that's about it.  No brilliant policy papers yet.

Here is a Think Tank Watch piece from last month noting that Trump's OMB chief Russ Vought is launching his own think tank and sister lobbying arm. 

While those two high-level officials have started their own think tanks, others have been joining the so-called "H" think tanks. 

Elaine Chao, who was the Transportation Secretary in the Trump Administration, is returning to the Hudson Institute as a Distinguished Fellow.  And Trump's Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is also joining Hudson as a Distinguished Fellow.

Three of Trump's Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Chad Wolf, Ken Cuccinelli, and Mark Morgan, have joined the Heritage Foundation as fellows.

Here is a list of think tankers that have gone into the Biden Administration.