Non-profit

Citizens for Renewing America

Website:

citizensrenewingamerica.com/

Location:

Washington, DC

Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(4)

Formation:

2021

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Citizens for Renewing America is the conservative-leaning advocacy group founded by Russell Vought, former budget director for President Donald Trump. 1

The group published a handbook for parents and lawmakers opposed to teaching critical race theory in schools. 2 Following the publication, Twitter briefly suspended the organization from its service. 3

Background

Citizens for Renewing America is the advocacy arm of the Center for Renewing America, a conservative think tank founded by Russel Vought, the former director of the Office of Management and Budget during the Trump administration. The organization was founded in 2021 after President Donald Trump left office. 4 5

The key policy issues for Citizens for Renewing America are taking on big tech, opposing the teaching of critical race theory in schools, supporting election integrity, advocating for secure borders, “ending endless wars,” opposing big government and supporting “healthy communities.” 6

Critical Race Theory

Citizens for Renewing America created a 33-page book as an “A to Z guide” to stop the teaching of critical race theory in schools. 7 The handbook, titled Combatting Critical Race Theory In Your Community, is meant to be a resource for both parents and for state legislators. 8

At one point, Twitter suspended the accounts of Center for Renewing America and Citizens for Renewing America. The liberal group Media Matters for America published a piece critical of the booklet. 9 Vought said Twitter informed the organizations the accounts were shut down because of “enforcement bots,” but didn’t elaborate. “This occurred soon after we launched an important anti-CRT tool kit and a radical left outlet put forward wild conspiracy theories about it,” Vought wrote on Twitter. 10

Vought joined lawmakers at a rally in Raleigh, North Carolina, in May 2021 opposing teaching critical race theory in state schools. 11

Leadership

Russ Vought is the founder and president of the Center for Renewing America and Citizens for Renewing America. Vought was previously director and deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget under President Donald Trump. 12 Before working for the Trump administration, Vought was the vice president of Heritage Action for America. He was previously the policy director for the House Republican Conference under then-Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) and was the executive director of the Republican Study Committee. 13

Wade Miller is the executive director of Citizens for Renewing America. Miller, an Iraq War veteran in the U.S. Marines, previously worked for Heritage Action for America and was the political director for Senator Ted Cruz’s (R-TX) 2018 re-election campaign. 14

References

  1. [1] Leach, Matt. “Former Trump official Russ Vought leads effort to train anti-CRT parents.” Fox News. June 8, 2021. Accessed June 12, 2021. https://www.foxnews.com/us/critical-race-theory-guide-conservative-think-tank
  2. [1] Leach, Matt. “Former Trump official Russ Vought leads effort to train anti-CRT parents.” Fox News. June 8, 2021. Accessed June 12, 2021. https://www.foxnews.com/us/critical-race-theory-guide-conservative-think-tank
  3. Russel Vought. Twitter. June 11, 2021. Accessed June 18, 2021. https://twitter.com/russvought/status/1403370547346612225
  4. [1] Leach, Matt. “Former Trump official Russ Vought leads effort to train anti-CRT parents.” Fox News. June 8, 2021. Accessed June 12, 2021. https://www.foxnews.com/us/critical-race-theory-guide-conservative-think-tank
  5. Allison, Bill. “Trump acolytes craft parallel GOP universe so Trumpism lives on.” Detroit News. May 29, 2021. Accessed June 12, 2021. https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2021/05/29/trump-acolytes-craft-parallel-gop-universe-so-trumpism-lives-on/5253631001/
  6. “Policy Issues.” Center for Renewing America. Accessed June 12, 2021. https://citizensrenewingamerica.com/issues/
  7. [1] Leach, Matt. “Former Trump official Russ Vought leads effort to train anti-CRT parents.” Fox News. June 8, 2021. Accessed June 12, 2021. https://www.foxnews.com/us/critical-race-theory-guide-conservative-think-tank
  8. Pandolfo, Chris. “Conservative group empowers parents with knowledge to organize and confront critical race theory in schools.” TheBlaze. June 08, 2021. Accessed June 12, 2021. https://www.theblaze.com/news/conservative-group-empowers-parents-critical-race-theory
  9. Sargent, Kayla. “INSANE! Twitter Censors Anti-Critical Race Theory Account.” Newsbusters. June 11, 2021. Accessed June 18, 2021. https://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/free-speech/kayla-sargent/2021/06/11/insane-twitter-censors-anti-critical-race-theory-account
  10. Russel Vought. Twitter. June 11, 2021. Accessed June 18, 2021. https://twitter.com/russvought/status/1403370547346612225
  11. Dillon, A.P. “Bill countering Critical Race Theory passed by House Education Committee.” The North State Journal. May 11, 2021. Accessed June 18, 2021. https://nsjonline.com/article/2021/05/bill-countering-critical-race-theory-passed-by-house-education-committee/
  12. “Our Staff.” Center for American Renewal.” Accessed June 12, 2021. https://americarenewing.com/about/
  13. “Our Staff.” Center for American Renewal.” Accessed June 12, 2021. https://americarenewing.com/about/
  14. “Our Staff.” Center for American Renewal.” Accessed June 12, 2021. https://americarenewing.com/about
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Citizens for Renewing America


Washington, DC