Heritage Has Won Victories Benefiting All Americans

For almost 50 years, The Heritage Foundation has advanced the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense. We’ve led the way for reforms in every policy area—from taxes and regulation to crime and national defense.

With more than 100 policy experts, Heritage has the talent to be able to solve complex policy issues, with simple and effective conservative solutions. We communicate these solutions to tens of millions of Americans through our website, The Daily Signal, and social media. Heritage experts appear on television and radio dozens of times each week, publish hundreds of policy research reports annually, and host hundreds of meetings a year with grassroots leaders and local and national officials.

>>> Learn more about The Heritage Foundation’s recent impact on public policy

Our work has paid off time and again with major policy victories since we first opened our doors in 1973. In the decades since, Heritage has expanded our reach beyond Washington and among new audiences across America. Today, Heritage is the most influential think tank in the world—an achievement recognized by the University of Pennsylvania’s Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program. 

Some of Heritage’s most notable achievements include:

• The Reagan administration’s implementing nearly two-thirds of the 2,000 policy recommendations from our first ever “Mandate for Leadership.”

• Inspiring President Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative and pushing American withdrawal from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, both of which paved the way to defend America from missile attacks.

• The historic 1996 welfare reform legislation that decreased child poverty and significantly increased employment.

• The expansion of school choice via education savings accounts to five states and the introduction of legislation to a dozen more.

• Success at preventing amnesty in multiple immigration bills, including major legislation in 2007 and 2018. 

• Guiding the Trump administration in revitalizing the U.S. military—with our modernization plans being adopted by the Marines and the Army, and 67% of our recommendations being included in the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act. 

• The Trump administration’s embrace of 64% of Heritage policy prescriptions through its annual budget, regulatory guidance, or other actions.

• Three Heritage alumni serving in President Donald Trump’s Cabinet as secretary of defense, secretary of transportation, and director of the Office of Management and Budget.

• Implementation of recommendations from our National Coronavirus Recovery Commission’s in 35 states to help save lives and livelihoods in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The entire Heritage enterprise—The Heritage Foundation, Heritage Action for America, and The Daily Signal—works on behalf of the American people to defend our liberties and our founding principles.

Below you can find the latest examples of how Heritage members continue to help secure a brighter future for generations of Americans to come.