Cultural Commentary and Policy Advocacy by Christopher F. Rufo

Christopher F. Rufo is a conservative activist, policy strategist, and filmmaker credited with bringing critical race theory (CRT) from academic circles into the center of U.S. political debate. As a Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute and contributing editor for City Journal, Rufo has advised policymakers on legislation restricting CRT-based instruction and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in public institutions. He is also a documentary filmmaker, with works such as America Lost examining economic decline in U.S. communities.

Raised in Sacramento, California, Rufo attended Georgetown University and later studied at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government before embarking on a career in film and policy. His early work as a fellow at the Discovery Institute centered on urban policy and cultural criticism. Rufo’s research and advocacy played a role in the drafting of an executive order by President Trump in 2020 banning certain diversity training in federal agencies. He has since expanded his activism to education reform boards, including serving as a trustee for New College of Florida. Rufo’s blend of media production and political strategy has made him a central figure in America’s ongoing debates over culture and education.