Conservative think tanks and campaign organizations are scaling back on priorities and staff as they await the verdict on President Donald Trump’s first 100 days. And big money donors, skeptical of Trump’s conservative bona fides, aren’t cashing many checks to fund them.
Conservative special interest groups, policy creators and infrastructure providers tell Heat Street under condition of anonymity, that uncertainty over Trump’s priorities has left them with no choice but to “wait and see” before setting out their priorities for the term.
One organization, tasked with promoting school choice, says their donors are concerned about the outcome of Betsy DeVos’s confirmation hearings. If she comes through, supported by the Trump Administration, it could mean big things for education policymakers—and lots of work for think tank education experts.
But if she fails, donors may reroute the money to 2018 elections, promoting free market Republican candidates, or bolstering Republicans in seats targeted by Democratic challengers emboldened by Trump’s lack of success.
Another, focused on libertarian online activism, says they’ve pared down their staff, laying off non-essential personnel and scaling back contract workers until they know for sure whether they’ll have to shift their focus to marshaling Trump’s core demographics—that don’t necessarily align with theirs.
Big money donors, like the Koch brothers, fear that backlash against Trump’s often controversial agenda could lead to widespread support for leftist policies—and so they’re hanging on to their cash until they find out where it’ll be best used.
Campaign organizations, that should be gearing up for the 2018 midterms, are slow to life, as well. As the Koch brothers met with 550 GOP donors, who have all pledged $100,000 or more to conservative or libertarian causes, talk was focused on promoting candidates who held Trump to account on party principles, and target Trump’s voters for policy education.
Without mentioning Trump by name, according to Buzzfeed, Charles Koch himself noted that the group had their work cut out for them. The country could “go the authoritarian route … or we can move toward a free and open society. So this is our opportunity,” he told a luncheon gathering.
The brothers pledged to spend $300 million in 2018, but not until Trump’s agenda is set, and they’re sure of where he stands on key issues. If he doesn’t align with their priorities—they sat out 2016 largely because Trump’s agenda was far removed from theirs—they’ll focus again on improving the Republican’s Senate situation..with the right people.
“Anyone who stands for freedom, we will support,” a major donor added. “And those who are more populist, not so much. We’ll stay true to our principles.”
