WASHINGTON—The Heritage Foundation announced today that Mandy Gunasekara is joining The Heritage Foundation as a visiting fellow with the newly created Center for Energy, Climate, and Environment.  

At Heritage, Gunasekara will contribute to the center’s efforts to craft a policy agenda that rejects Biden’s ineffective and unsustainable climate policies, unleashes American energy production, and reduces barriers to economic freedom.  

Gunasekara is a veteran climate and energy strategist, communicator, and environmental attorney who has been at the center of the most consequential energy and environmental decisions of the last decade.  

She served as the chief of staff of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) during the Trump administration. Prior to this role, Gunasekara was the principal deputy assistant administrator for the EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation. She was the chief architect of the Paris Accord withdrawal and the repeal of the so-called Clean Power Plan. She also founded and ran the Energy 45 fund, a nonprofit dedicated to informing the public about energy, environmental, and economic gains made under the Trump-Pence administration. She also served in a number of roles on Capitol Hill.  

Gunasekara received her bachelor’s degree from Mississippi College and her J.D. from University of Mississippi School of Law. 

Roger Severino, Heritage vice president for domestic policy, released the following statement on Gunasekara’s joining the Heritage team:  

“The Biden administration is trying to build their so-called green economy on the backs of the poor. The Heritage Foundation is committed to pushing back on this elitist environmental agenda which is why we are excited to have Mandy join the team. She is a proven warrior against climate alarmism and will help us unleash America’s vast stores of cheap, abundant, and reliable energy for the American people.”