Ethics and Public Policy Center

U.S. religious conservative / right

Background

EPPC was founded in 1976 by Ernest W. Lefever, a Protestant minister, originally to champion anti-communism and bring Judeo-Christian ethics to bear on Cold War policy debates. Lefever led the organization until 1989 and continued contributing until his death in 2009. Over subsequent decades EPPC shifted its focus toward domestic social conservative causes, including opposition to abortion, same-sex marriage, and, more recently, gender transition policies for minors. It has been sustained throughout its history by a network of major conservative foundations, including Bradley, Scaife, Olin, and Smith Richardson. Ryan T. Anderson, author of the anti-transgender-policy book 'When Harry Became Sally,' became EPPC president in February 2021 after leaving the Heritage Foundation; his appointment marked a sharper focus on gender-ideology and religious-liberty issues. In 2025, President Trump appointed Anderson to a federal Religious Liberty Commission, illustrating close alignment between EPPC and the current administration. EPPC's Administrative State Accountability Project has actively submitted public comments urging the Trump administration to rescind Biden-era regulations on abortion and gender policy, positioning the organization as a policy ally rather than an independent critic of the White House.

Sources

1. Ethics and Public Policy Center — Wikipedia
2. The Ethics and Public Policy Center (EPPC) — InfluenceWatch
3. Ethics and Public Policy Center — SourceWatch
4. EPPC Scholars Submit Comment Urging Administration to Rescind Harmful Regulations
5. Ethics and Public Policy Center (EPPC) — Official Site

Profile compiled 2026-07-27; refreshed when ownership, funding, or the administration changes.

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