JD Vance’s Ties to Controversial Heritage Report Stir Debate

Senator JD Vance, R-Ohio, has recently drawn attention due to his involvement with a Heritage Foundation report that takes a strong stance on cultural issues like abortion, fertility rates, and in vitro fertilization (IVF). This report, linked to the conservative think tank’s “Project 2025” initiative, has become a focal point as the Trump campaign seeks to distance itself from some of the more controversial elements of the agenda.

Vance, who penned the introduction to the Heritage Foundation’s 2017 Index of Culture and Opportunity, also served as the keynote speaker at a related event in July 2017. The report, an annual publication by the Heritage Foundation, evaluates various cultural and economic trends, categorizing them as either on the “right track” or “wrong track.” Among the criticized trends are declining marriage rates, lower fertility rates, and the rise in single-parent households. The report labels the increase in unwed births as a “tragedy” and advocates for marriage as a means to help both parents and children thrive.

The report includes a piece by Jennifer Lahl, founder of the anti-abortion Center for Bioethics and Culture Network, which criticizes women for having children later in life and for focusing on their careers during their most fertile years. Lahl also condemns practices like in vitro fertilization and the use of egg donors or surrogates, arguing that these technologies can harm both the children born from such pregnancies and the women involved. The report further calls for making abortion “unthinkable” in the U.S. and celebrates declining sexual activity among teenagers, citing a correlation between a higher number of sexual partners and negative outcomes like reduced marital stability and poorer emotional health.

In addition, the report critiques the reliance on welfare benefits, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and the decline in workforce participation. It advocates for imposing work requirements to receive federal benefits, claims that federal disability benefits incentivize some working-age adults to rely on support programs instead of seeking employment, and argues that public housing programs are misguided. The report even suggests that hunger can serve as a motivator for people capable of working to find employment.

In his introduction to the 2017 index, Vance, who at the time had not yet entered politics and was best known for his memoir “Hillbilly Elegy,” praised the report for bringing together discussions on culture and opportunity under one intellectual framework. He noted that the data presented in the report highlighted a crisis in the American Dream, arguing that factors like the prevalence of single-parent families and declining participation in civic institutions such as churches were undermining upward mobility and social capital, both of which are essential for reaching the middle class. During his keynote address at the Heritage Foundation event, Vance emphasized the importance of recognizing how cultural factors, including fertility, marriage, and abortion rates, impact upward mobility, stating that this was a crucial aspect of the index.

However, Vance’s involvement with the report has sparked controversy. His spokesperson, Luke Schroeder, told The New York Times that while Vance has long supported IVF and does not agree with every opinion expressed in the seven-year-old report, it is important to recognize that the report features a range of unique views from various conservative thinkers. Schroeder also criticized the Times for what he perceived as an attack on Vance based on the views of others.

The Times’ report on Vance’s ties to the Heritage Foundation comes as both he and the organization face scrutiny from the left ahead of the upcoming November election. The Heritage Foundation is behind “Project 2025,” a comprehensive policy blueprint proposing significant changes to the executive branch should former President Donald Trump regain the White House. Although Trump has distanced himself from some of the agenda’s more controversial proposals, such as restricting abortion, dismantling federal agencies, and replacing civil servants with political appointees, reports have highlighted Trump’s historical support for the Heritage Foundation and its policies. Vance’s connection to the group is even more pronounced, as he recently wrote the foreword to a book by Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts. Roberts has publicly expressed his support for Vance, stating that the organization is “really rooting” for him to be named Trump’s running mate.

Despite the controversy, Vance’s views largely align with those expressed in the 2017 report. He has consistently criticized childless Americans, describing them as “miserable” and arguing that they lack the same stake in the country’s future as those with children. Vance has also proposed policies that encourage higher birth rates, such as universal healthcare coverage for childbirth. He has expressed opposition to abortion, though he now supports Trump’s position that the issue should be left to the states. Additionally, Vance has voiced support for policies that incentivize marriage, similar to those implemented in Hungary, and has criticized the concept of no-fault divorce, arguing that more relaxed views on divorce have harmed children and weakened the institution of marriage.

Vance’s stance on labor issues also echoes the Heritage Foundation’s concerns about declining workforce participation, particularly among men. In 2021, Vance remarked that the loss of stable male employment has been “catastrophic” for American families, reinforcing his belief in the importance of traditional gender roles and stable employment as cornerstones of a strong society.