The Heritage Foundation has bolstered its ranks in recent months with the addition of four members from former President Donald Trump’s Cabinet. The four leaders bring significant policy experience and a deep knowledge of government to Heritage’s first-class team. 

The new visiting fellows include former Vice President Mike Pence, former acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf, former Veteran Affairs Secretary Robert L. Wilkie, and former Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler. 

Since joining Heritage, they’ve already had a major impact—raising the profile of several policy issues, shaping the narrative in media interviews and op-eds, and connecting with other conservative leaders to help solve some of America’s biggest issues. 

As a distinguished visiting fellow, Pence has appeared at several Heritage events, sharing an optimistic message about American values and defending the accomplishments of the Trump administration. Additionally, the former vice president is contributing a column for The Daily Signal, Heritage’s multimedia news outlet.

“The Heritage Foundation helped shape my conservative philosophy for decades and played a pivotal role advancing conservative policies throughout the Trump administration,” Pence said upon joining Heritage in February. “I look forward to rolling up my sleeves and working with the all-star team at Heritage as we continue to take the case for a strong national defense, free markets and traditional values to policymakers across the nation and to every American who cherishes our Heritage of freedom.” 

Wolf is among the most visible Heritage fellows, frequently making appearance on major news programs to discuss homeland security, China, and cyber policy. He’s helped expose the Biden administration’s border crisis and showcased how to confront the challenges of illegal immigration by applying commonsense immigration reform solutions. 

Wolf served in the administrations of both President George W. Bush and President Trump. He has extensive policy experience through work in the private sector and on Capitol Hill.

Prior to leading the Department of Veterans Affairs in the Trump administration, Wilkie served as a special assistant to President George W. Bush on national security and worked on Capitol Hill. He is providing Heritage with vital research and analysis on how to improve veterans programs, promote military and national service, and improve defense personnel programs.  

“During my tenure as VA secretary, I often looked to Heritage for principled advice and guidance,” Wilkie said upon joining Heritage in May. “We now have an opportunity to build on the successes of the Trump administration and make sure we continue to improve care for veterans and address the needs of our military.” 

Wheeler, the former EPA administrator, is advising the Heritage team on the energy and environmental, and regulatory issues. Wheeler previously served in President George H.W. Bush’s administration as a special assistant in the Environmental Protection Agency’s pollution prevention and toxics office. He’s also worked on Capitol Hill and the private sector. 

“The Heritage Foundation has been a conservative steward in Washington, D.C., for decades and I am deeply honored to join this well-respected team as we work together to advance conservative values with policies that will benefit all Americans,” Wheeler said in May. 

In addition to the four members of Trump’s Cabinet, several other officials who served in his administration have joined the Heritage team in 2021. They include:

• Ken Cuccinelli, deputy secretary at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security 

• Mark Morgan, acting commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection 

• Elan S. Carr, U.S. special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism 

• Dustin Carmack, chief of staff for the director of national intelligence 

• Tim Murtaugh, communications director at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and director of communications for the Trump re-election campaign 

• Michael J. Ellis, special assistant to the president, senior associate counsel to the president, and deputy National Security Council legal advisor 

To learn more about joining the Heritage team and current job openings, click here.