Center for American Security

Policy Priorities

Tax Relief for America’s Middle Class
Incentivize Job Creation for American Workers
Promote Wage Growth
Incentivize Onshoring
Ensure Access to Capital

The twin American victories in the Second World War and the Cold War established our country as “the last, best hope for man on Earth.” Freedom’s cause in every part of the globe depends upon a strong America. With our country secure, we can, with greater confidence, advance American security abroad. American security is exemplified by a strong military, fair trade deals, alliances that are equitable, aggressors who are isolated, and those who harm us, destroyed. The America First Policy Institute (AFPI) examines American security abroad as a prerequisite for peace at home: always putting American interests first. This includes removing ourselves from endless, unnecessary wars in order to rebuild the homeland, while also understanding our indispensable role in maintaining a world at peace.

The America First Policy Institute’s Center for American Security champions Americans rather than a theoretical “America” imagined by the Washington national security establishment. The exercise of American power requires clear justification, and an America First approach ensures that American power is used in the interest of Americans. To advance that goal, the Center looks to ensure that there will be rigorous advancement of policies which will serve as an authentically American alternative to Washington’s increasingly obsolescent foreign and defense policy orthodoxy.

The phrase America First refers to an approach rooted in an awareness of America’s unique role in the world, and its unmatched ability to do best for others when its people are strong, safe, and prosperous. It means that any commitments of American lives or dollars abroad must come with concrete benefits to the American people. Every investment of American resources needs to reap a substantial security benefit.

Team

Lt. General (Ret.) Keith Kellogg

FORMER: Co-Chair, Center for American Security

The Honorable Robert Wilkie

Co-Chair, Center for American Security

Fred Fleitz

Vice Chair, Center for American Security

Jacob Olidort, Ph.D.

Director, Center for American Security

Adam Savit

Director, China Policy Initiative

Gloria McDonald

FORMER: Senior Policy Analyst, Center for American Security

Ken Timmerman

Senior Fellow, Center for American Security

Morgan Murphy

Senior Fellow, Center for American Security

Ethan Tan

Policy Analyst

Latest

Op-Ed | April 9, 2025

Gaza Is the Gateway for the Trump Administration to Restart the Abraham Accords

Little has been heard about the future of Gaza since Egypt on March 4 rolled out its plan, following on President Trump’s announcement a month earlier, to transform Gaza into a “riviera.” Conveniently for Egypt, Hamas’s obstinance in the hostage negotiations and Israel’s current military activities in the area have stolen the spotlight.

Op-Ed | March 31, 2025

The Art of the Iran Deal

President Trump has in recent months repeatedly emphasized two points regarding Iran: first, that he would not allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon and, second, that he would prefer to achieve this through a deal rather than “bombing the hell out of it.” Earlier this month he sent the Supreme Leader a letter inviting him to direct negotiations.

Op-Ed | March 25, 2025

Hamas’s Next ‘Hell to Pay’ Choices

In early March, President Trump met with a delegation of freed Israeli hostages who were in Hamas captivity. That night he doubled down on his threat to Hamas, writing on Truth Social, “Make a SMART decision. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW, OR THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY LATER!”

Congressional Testimony | February 25, 2025

Opportunities Amid Geopolitical Difficulties: A Look at Global Threats in 2025

Last week, we learned about an Israeli mother, Shiri Bibas, and her two boys, Ariel and Kfir, who would be five and two years old today. They were murdered in cold blood by Hamas monsters. An autopsy of the bodies of the boys, the youngest of whom was just shy of 10 months old at the time, revealed indications of torture with bare hands.

Commentary | January 30, 2025

Next Steps for President Donald Trump’s Executive Order

Next Steps for President Donald Trump’s Executive Order, “Holding Former Government Officials Accountable for Election Interference and Improper Disclosure of Sensitive Governmental Information.”