Description
The Freedom Caucus, also known as the House Freedom Caucus, is a congressional caucus consisting of Republican members of the United States House of Representatives.
It is generally considered to be the most conservative and furthest-right bloc within the House Republican Conference. The caucus was formed in January 2015 by a group of conservatives and Tea Party movement members, with the aim of pushing the Republican leadership to the right. Its first chairperson, Jim Jordan, described the caucus as a "smaller, more cohesive, more agile and more active" group of conservative representatives.
The caucus is positioned right-wing to far-right on the political spectrum. The group takes hardline conservative positions and favors social conservatism and small government, along with right-wing populist beliefs such as opposition to immigration reform. The group sought dozens of times to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Established as an ultra-conservative alternative to the Republican Study Committee, the group initially emphasized fiscal conservatism and concerns about House rules, favoring budget cuts and a decentralization of power within the House of Representatives. Later, the Freedom Caucus shifted its emphasis to loyalty to Donald Trump and became what Politico described as "more populist and nationalist, but less bound by policy principles." The caucus has included some members who are libertarians. The caucus supports House candidates through its PAC, the House Freedom Fund. The caucus also has official affiliated caucuses in state legislatures through the State Freedom Caucus Network.
