Christopher Ferguson Rufo (born August 26, 1984) is an American conservative activist, writer, journalist, and documentary filmmaker known for his investigations and campaign against critical race theory (CRT) and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in public institutions. He gained prominence through investigative journalism exposing what he describes as ideological indoctrination in schools, universities, and government entities. Rufo serves as a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, where he directs the initiative on critical race theory, and as a contributing editor at City Journal. He is also a distinguished fellow at Hillsdale College and a board member at New College of Florida. Previously, he was a fellow at organizations including the Discovery Institute, the Claremont Institute, The Heritage Foundation, and the Foundation Against Intolerance and Racism. In 2023, he founded American Studio, a nonprofit dedicated to creating works on American themes. Rufo's activism has influenced policy, inspiring a 2020 executive order by then-President Donald Trump banning certain diversity training in federal agencies and legislation restricting CRT and related concepts in at least 15 states, where he has collaborated with lawmakers. As a filmmaker, he has directed four documentaries, including 'America Lost' for PBS, which explores economic decline in three American cities, as well as works for Netflix and international television. His writing and research focus on cultural and political issues, particularly the spread of progressive ideologies in institutions. Rufo holds a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service (BSFS) from Georgetown University and a Master of Liberal Arts (ALM) from Harvard University Extension School. He is recognized for his role in conservative networks, receiving the 2025 Bradley Prize from the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation for his contributions to public policy and intellectual discourse. Critics have accused Rufo of misrepresenting CRT and fueling cultural wars, while supporters praise his efforts to promote viewpoint diversity and challenge what they see as leftist overreach in education and governance.