[News Terms] Conservatives Drawing the Line Against Trump... Declaration of 'FreedomWorks' Dissolution

On the 8th (local time), FreedomWorks, which declared its dissolution, is a leading conservative organization that leads the Tea Party movement, a grassroots conservative campaign in the United States. Following the Tea Party ideology advocating for "small government" and "low taxes," it encourages grassroots movements on fiscal and social policies.

Photo by Freedom Works official website

Originating from Citizens for a Sound Economy (CSE), founded in 1984 by billionaire brothers Charles and David Koch, the organization was reborn as FreedomWorks in 2004 after merging with Americans for Prosperity and Empower America. FreedomWorks is said to have derived its name from a U.S. military proverb, "Freedom is good policy and good politics."

FreedomWorks, which adopts the Tea Party ideology as its slogan, is introduced on its website as "an organization that builds, operates, and educates the largest network advocating for small government, low taxes, free markets, individual liberty, and the principles of the rule of law." Accordingly, its activities have focused on promoting and educating conservative policies. It has been particularly active in government tax and fiscal policies. On September 12, 2009, FreedomWorks was the leading organization in the taxpayer movement that held large-scale protests against President Barack Obama's healthcare reform.

In 2013, it was embroiled in controversy for producing a satirical video mocking former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's alleged fake sexual encounter. The video was scheduled to be screened at the FreePac conference but was discarded after staff who saw it first opposed it.

Meanwhile, the FreedomWorks board of directors decided to dissolve the organization on the same day, citing an "ideological upheaval in the Trump era." Adam Brandon, chairman of FreedomWorks, stated, "There has been a significant gap between FreedomWorks' liberal principles and the populism that spread during former President Donald Trump's administration."