The Heritage Foundation is a prominent American conservative think tank and public policy organization based in Washington, D.C. It was founded in the early 1970s with the aim of formulating and promoting conservative public policies across a range of issues, grounded in principles like free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense. Over the decades, it has produced policy research, briefs, and testimony used by lawmakers, journalists, and advocacy groups to inform debates on economic policy, national security, health care, education, and other domestic and foreign policy topics.