Trump Might Cause ‘the Death of Think Tanks as We Know Them’ by Josh Rogin, Washington Post
For decades, Washington think tanks have been holding pens for senior government officials waiting for their next appointments and avenues of influence for sponsors of their research. Donald Trump’s incoming administration is bent on breaking that model.
Trump’s appointments have so far have been heavy on business executives and former military leaders. Transition sources tell me the next series of nominations — deputy-level officials at top agencies — will also largely come from business rather than the think tank or policy communities. For example, neither the American Enterprise Institute’s John Bolton nor the Council on Foreign Relations’ Richard Haass is likely to be chosen for deputy secretary of state, while hedge fund manager David McCormick is on the shortlist. Philip Bilden, a private equity investment firm executive with no government experience, is expected to be named secretary of the Navy.
The president-elect favors people who have been successful in the private sector and amassed personal wealth over those who have achieved prominence in academic or policy fields. Those close to him, including chief strategist Stephen K. Bannon and senior adviser Jared Kushner, see think tanks as part of a Washington culture that has failed to implement good governance, while becoming beholden to donors…
Comments
This is long over due, so many think tanks embrace group think and bias their opinions towards a particular political agenda that they are think tanks in name only. As for being intellectual, it easy to wear that mask when you're not required to implement and test your theories. We would often be better off listening to our men and women on point.
This has come as a rude shock to those who have invested tremendous time and effort into kissing the rings of this cadre of self-annointed intellectual elites in hopes of riding their skirts into lower hanging positions as well. I hope Mr Trump does not totally exclude this group, but the shake up is long overdue.