The Council for National Policy (CNP) is a highly secretive, conservative nonprofit organization in the United States that has exerted significant influence on right-wing political movements. Founded in 1981 by evangelical leaders, business executives, and conservative activists, it serves as a networking hub for influential figures in politics, media, and religious organizations who share a conservative ideology, often focused on issues like free-market capitalism, traditional family values, and religious freedom.
CNP operates out of the public eye and holds closed-door meetings several times a year. Its membership has included prominent figures from the Republican Party, oil barons like the Koch brothers, media outlets like Fox News, religious leaders, and wealthy donors who support far-right causes. Past members have included individuals like Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, Steve Bannon, and others who have influenced American conservative politics, particularly around campaigns against abortion, LGBTQ+ rights, and gun control.
The organization has been involved in shaping policy, electoral strategies, and the overall conservative agenda. It has also been linked to efforts to amplify Christian nationalist rhetoric, oppose Critical Race Theory (CRT), and support restrictive voting laws. Because of its secretive nature, the CNP has drawn criticism for its lack of transparency and the degree of its influence on both policy and elections.
Overall, the Council for National Policy plays a significant role in shaping the U.S. conservative movement and its policies, often behind the scenes, while advocating for a deeply religious and socially conservative vision for the country.
CNP Strategy
The Council for National Policy (CNP) exerts influence on local politics through a strategic network of conservative leaders, activists, and organizations, often employing astroturf groups (organizations that appear grassroots but are actually funded and directed by larger, well-financed interests) to promote its agenda. This multi-layered approach allows CNP to shape policy and elections from the ground up, especially at the school board, city council, and state legislative levels. Here’s how it works:
1. Training and Mobilization of Conservative Activists
CNP provides ‘training’ to conservative activists, political candidates, and local leaders through its network of national affiliated organizations, like the Leadership Institute (Li), the State Policy Network (SPN) and Family Research Council (FRC). These trainings focus on campaign strategies, organizing faux grassroots movements, and advocating for issues central to CNP’s goals—such as opposing LGBTQ+ rights, reproductive rights, and the teaching of Critical Race Theory (CRT) in schools.
2. Funding and Strategic Support
The CNP connects local candidates with wealthy conservative donors, helping fund campaigns and provide logistical support. By steering money toward carefully selected candidates who align with their religious and political values, CNP ensures that these candidates can mount serious campaigns, often outspending their less-connected opponents.
3. Use of Astroturf Organizations
Astroturf groups are critical to the CNP’s strategy of creating the illusion of broad grassroots support for its policy objectives. These organizations often appear to be local, community-driven movements but are in fact funded or controlled by larger conservative entities, including those connected to the CNP. Examples include:
– Moms for Liberty: Presented as a grassroots parents’ organization, this group has been closely tied to right-wing efforts to influence school board elections, ban books, and oppose the teaching of gender and race topics in schools. CNP-related figures may provide funding, strategy, and media coverage to boost these efforts.
– Parents Defending Education (PDE): An organization that pushes conservative education policies, PDE has been linked to CNP circles, with its campaigns often echoing CNP’s broader goals of limiting public school curriculum on social justice issues.
– Heritage Action for America: The political arm of the Heritage Foundation, a CNP-linked think tank, this group often deploys field offices and activists to push for conservative reforms at the state and local level under the guise of citizen movements.
– Moms For America (MFA): founded in 2004 by CNP member Kimberly Fletcher, is a conservative organization with nationwide chapters opposing “woke indoctrination” and advocating for parental rights, traditional values, and patriotism. MFA has been linked to organizing efforts surrounding the January 6 insurrection, with leadership involved in rally planning and coordination. The Southern Poverty Law Center identified MFA as an extremist group in 2023 for harassing teachers and pushing legislation to “whitewash history.” MFA also promotes right-wing policies through its action arm, Moms for America Action.
This is a small example of CNP affiliates. Our CNP orgs page will be documenting and listing all found organizations with ties to the CNP. .
4. Shaping Local Education and School Boards
CNP has prioritized school boards as battlegrounds for its cultural agenda. By supporting candidates who oppose LGBTQ+ inclusion, comprehensive sex education, and discussions about systemic racism, the CNP aims to reshape public education according to its conservative, Christian-nationalist values. School boards in districts across the country have seen the influence of CNP-backed candidates, particularly through the work of astroturf organizations like Moms for Liberty and No Left Turn in Education. These groups often stir up local outrage over issues like book bans, trans rights, and CRT to rally support for their endorsed candidates.
5. Media and Messaging
CNP coordinates messaging by working with conservative media outlets, pundits, and social media campaigns to amplify the issues they want to highlight. By controlling the narrative around so-called “culture war” topics—like the rights of trans students, CRT, or religious freedom—they can shape public opinion at the local level. Often, local candidates or activists appear to be part of independent movements. For example, David Hernandez, an LA based GOP activist, hosts a Salem Media radio program which features may Southern Californian political figures. Salem Media happens to be one of the most prominent CNP media broadcasting companies. This is how messaging, funding, and organizational support come from CNP-affiliated think tanks, religious groups, or political action committees (PACs)
6. Legal Support and Policy Influence
CNP-associated groups provide ‘legal support’ for challenges to local policies they oppose, such as lawsuits over mask mandates or school curriculum decisions. Organizations like the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), a CNP-linked legal powerhouse, often step in to represent conservative interests in these cases. By influencing local laws and regulations, CNP advances its national agenda through strategic litigation.
7. Voter Mobilization and Election Integrity Campaigns
CNP plays a role in mobilizing voters on key issues by promoting election integrity campaigns, which are often disguised as efforts to prevent voter fraud but may serve to suppress votes among demographics likely to oppose their candidates. These campaigns are amplified through conservative media channels, astroturf organizations, and community outreach efforts. Groups like ‘True the Vote’, a CNP-linked organization, are known for such activities. Similar actions were taken by TPUSA founder and CNP member Charlie Kirk, who organized the ‘Stop the Steal’ protest in Washington DC promoting the conspiracy theory that there was widespread election fraud in 2020.
8. Secretive Endorsements and Coordination
Much of CNP’s local influence operates behind the scenes. The organization’s ‘closed-door meetings’ allow for coordination between donors, political strategists, and candidates without public scrutiny. Through these gatherings, CNP is able to exert its influence on local elections, including school board races, city councils, and county officials, often endorsing candidates privately or through affiliated astroturf groups without making their involvement overtly known.
Impact of CNP’s Local Influence
– Polarization: By inserting extreme conservative views into local politics, CNP contributes to increasing polarization, often pitting communities against each other on highly charged issues like LGBTQ+ rights or racial equity.
– Policy Changes: In areas where CNP-backed candidates win office, there is often a swift move to roll back policies on gender inclusion, diversity, and public health, reflecting the broader conservative agenda.
– Nationalization of Local Issues: Through its network of astroturf organizations, CNP has nationalized local school board and city council elections, turning once nonpartisan races into battlegrounds for larger cultural and ideological battles.
This strategy of using astroturf organizations, media coordination, and dark money allows the CNP to shape local politics in ways that advance its national conservative agenda while maintaining a facade of grassroots activism.