Donald Trump’s recent attempt to distance himself from Project 2025, following controversial remarks by one of its leaders, has raised eyebrows given the extensive connections between Trump and the project. On Truth Social, Trump claimed to “know nothing about Project 2025” and to have “no idea who is behind it.” This disavowal came after Kevin Roberts, president of the Heritage Foundation, made a provocative statement about a “second American revolution.”
Project 2025 is an initiative by the Heritage Foundation aimed at unifying the conservative movement around policies for a future right-wing presidency. The plan, which seeks to overhaul the federal government, includes a detailed manifesto and the recruitment of potential staffers for a second Trump administration. Despite Trump’s public disavowal, the alignment between his platform, Agenda 47, and Project 2025 is striking.
Both Trump and Project 2025 share a vision for a conservative future in the U.S. Their policy goals overlap significantly, with Project 2025 often providing more detailed plans for implementing Trump’s ideas. For instance, Project 2025 aims to dismantle the civil service, placing more federal roles under presidential control, a concept Trump attempted with “Schedule F” in 2020.
The project also advocates for mass deportations of undocumented immigrants and stringent immigration rules, mirroring Trump’s stance and the Republican National Committee’s platform. Both Trump and Project 2025 support abolishing the federal education department, a long-standing conservative goal, and share objectives to limit LGBTQ+ rights and diversity initiatives in schools.
Trump’s rhetoric against Democrat-run cities, particularly Washington D.C., aligns with Project 2025’s strategies for enforcing immigration policies more forcefully. Since its announcement in 2023, Project 2025 has faced skepticism about Trump’s commitment to its proposals. While the project’s stance on issues like abortion may go further than Trump’s recent positions, it largely reflects a right-wing consensus with more public detail.
The individuals behind Project 2025 are closely linked to Trump. The manifesto’s authors, editors, and contributors include many former Trump officials and allies. Kevin Roberts, who has met with Trump multiple times, praised Trump’s potential and leadership. Paul Dans and Steven Groves, who co-edited the project, served in various roles in Trump’s administration. Russ Vought, another key contributor, was Trump’s director of the Office of Management and Budget.
Journalist Judd Legum documented that 31 of the 38 people involved in Project 2025 had roles in Trump’s administration or transition. Democrats have seized on Project 2025 to highlight the potential dangers of a Trump presidency, with the Biden campaign and public figures like Taraji P. Henson drawing attention to its implications.
Despite Trump’s campaign efforts to distance him from the project, Project 2025’s spokesperson reiterated that their work is not tailored for any specific candidate, though they believe Trump will likely implement their recommendations. Trump’s campaign has stated it will not use the project for future political appointees.
Project 2025’s blueprint for a new conservative government includes reshaping the Justice Department to fall directly under presidential control, eliminating its traditional independence. Trump has echoed these sentiments in his speeches, promising to overhaul the DOJ and investigate radical prosecutors. Russ Vought has publicly stated that the Justice Department is not an independent agency and would remove anyone claiming otherwise in a second Trump term.
The project also proposes abolishing the Department of Education, transforming the FBI into a political task force, and reinstating Schedule F to increase political appointees in the civil service. They aim to install around 20,000 loyal civil servants across federal agencies, referred to as “conservative warriors” or an “army” of weaponized conservatives. These changes would be the most radical to American bureaucracy since the civil service’s creation in the 1880s, according to Georgetown University’s Don Moynihan.
Moynihan warned that such changes could increase corruption risks and reduce government quality, opening the door for political power abuses. President Joe Biden has attempted to protect civil servants from such changes, but these protections could be undone by a Trump presidency.
The recent Supreme Court decision granting presidents some immunity from criminal prosecution for official acts could facilitate the implementation of Project 2025’s policies. Constitutional scholars suggest this decision could strengthen the unitary executive theory, which posits that the president has total control over the executive branch. Kevin Roberts praised the ruling, calling it part of a conservative reawakening.
Ultimately, the Supreme Court decision could help justify eliminating the independence of the Justice Department and other agencies. As the 2024 election approaches, the connections between Trump and Project 2025 will likely remain a focal point in the political discourse.
Source: The Guardian, PBS NewsHour, Ms. Magazine
