Outlet profile

Cato Institute

U.S. libertarian

Owned byIndependent nonprofit think tank, governed by its own board of directors (not owned by any company or political party)

FundingDonations from individuals, foundations, and corporations — including historical Koch family foundation gifts, Donors Capital Fund, Bradley Foundation, Fidelity Charitable, and corporate donors like Google and Facebook; no advertising or subscription revenue and no single controlling donor since a 2012 ownership dispute with the Koch brothers was settled

On the administrationmixed

Background

Founded in 1977 (originally as the Charles Koch Foundation, renamed Cato Institute in 1977) by Edward Crane, Murray Rothbard, and Charles Koch, the institute promotes limited government, free markets, individual liberty, and peace. In 2012, a public dispute between Koch Industries and Cato's leadership over control of the institute's board was settled, converting Cato into an independent nonprofit no longer tied to Koch family control. It publishes research, commentary, and legal briefs rather than traditional news, and its scholars frequently testify before Congress and file amicus briefs in major cases. Cato has a long record of opposing tariffs and trade restrictions, supporting more open immigration, and favoring criminal justice and drug policy reform — positions that distinguish it from many conservative or MAGA-aligned groups. In 2025-2026 it played a prominent role challenging Trump's IEEPA tariffs in court, culminating in a Supreme Court ruling against the administration in which Cato's legal arguments were cited. It is generally regarded as a credible, scholarly libertarian voice, though critics on the left note its historical Koch ties and critics on the right see its free-trade and open-immigration views as insufficiently nationalist.

Sources

Profile compiled 2026-10-02; refreshed when ownership, funding, or the administration changes.

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