The Heritage Foundation has named Corey A. DeAngelis a research fellow in its Center for Education Policy, placing him at the heart of the think tank’s push for school choice measures—vouchers, charter expansion and education savings accounts. Heritage praised his body of work on education reform and said he will focus on policies that shift public dollars toward private schooling and on cultural disputes over race and gender in classrooms. Conservative allies welcomed the hire as a boost to Heritage’s policy team; critics immediately questioned the decision.
The appointment quickly reopened scrutiny of DeAngelis’s record. In recent days he acknowledged that images and videos posted online under the name “Seth Rose” showed him in gay adult films created while he was in college. He has described those recordings as mistakes from his youth. Heritage’s public statement confirmed the hire but did not address the older material; independent commentators and advocacy groups have seized on the disclosure to demand further review.
Reactions split sharply. Supporters — including fellow conservative scholars and some donors — emphasized DeAngelis’s research credentials and his track record in state and federal education debates. They framed the controversy as overreach by critics and defended his right to a professional role based on his policy work. Opponents, including LGBTQ organizations such as GLAAD, argued the revelation undercuts his past public rhetoric around LGBTQ issues and raises questions about credibility and judgment. Several advocacy leaders said a figure who has campaigned against LGBTQ-inclusive policies should not be in a position to shape policies that affect queer students’ safety and wellbeing.
Following the disclosure, DeAngelis resigned from a previous senior-fellow position at another conservative education group. He has characterized the fallout as an episode of “cancel culture.” His departure has only intensified discussion about vetting standards at influential policy shops.
This hire isn’t happening in isolation. DeAngelis’s appointment dovetails with broader conservative initiatives—often linked to the so-called Project 2026 blueprint—that seek to reorganize federal agencies, limit certain diversity and inclusion programs, and shift personnel across government and allied institutions. Critics warn that staffing moves at influential think tanks can ripple into administration appointments and legislative priorities, potentially narrowing protections for civil servants and for LGBTQ people. Supporters argue these measures are meant to restore standards and refocus priorities.
Health policy has emerged as a related flashpoint. Leaders associated with Heritage and Project 2026 have pushed for tighter limits on gender-affirming care, proposals that clash with major medical associations that describe such care as evidence-based and necessary for many transgender patients. Opponents view the overlap between education and health proposals as a coordinated effort to reshape policy across multiple arenas; supporters say the changes protect minors and uphold medical rigor.
The situation remains fluid. Reporters and advocacy groups are tracking responses from education organizations, lawmakers and donors; further statements from Heritage, administration officials or other stakeholders could change the contours of the debate. For now, the episode has reignited conversations about credibility, privacy, ideological consistency and how personnel decisions at powerful institutions influence national policy. Published 21/02/2026.