According to multiple reports, the Trump campaign has flexed its muscles, and Project 2025's director, Paul Dans, is stepping down from the Heritage Foundation. It seemed the Trump team has had enough, and they're making it crystal clear that Project 2025 is not their cup of tea.
Dans will pack up and leave Heritage this August, after a nudge from Trump's campaign leaders. The big announcement of his departure came on Tuesday afternoon from Heritage President Kevin Roberts, sparking quite a buzz.
“When we began Project 2025 in April 2022, we set a timeline for the project to conclude its policy drafting after the two party conventions this year, and we are sticking to that timeline,” Roberts wrote.
“Paul, who built the project from scratch and bravely led this endeavor over the past two years, will be departing the team and moving up to the front where the fight remains.”
National Review has the latest information on the stalled high-profile personnel building initiative, which faces mounting opposition from both the left and segments of the right:
Although Dans and other former Trump administration officials have been involved with Project 2025, it is an entirely separate entity from the Trump campaign and the Republican party.
Trump distanced himself from Project 2025 earlier this month after Roberts suggested a second American revolution is underway to defeat the left. Since then, Trump has heightened his criticism of Project 2025, and, at one point, compared it to the “radical left” faction of the Democratic party.
Democrats frequently attack Project 2025 for its plans to overhaul the administrative state and its staunch social conservatism, especially on abortion. The relentless ad campaign Democrats have waged against Project 2025 often links Trump to its agenda and warns of the power Project 2025 would wield if Trump wins another term.
Trump Campaign's Bold Stance
After the announcement, Trump's campaign came out swinging with a fiery statement: “President Trump's campaign has been very clear for over a year that Project 2025 had nothing to do with the campaign, did not speak for the campaign, and should not be associated with the campaign or the President in any way.”
Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita, the senior advisers to Trump's 2024 campaign, didn't mince words either. They warned, “Reports of Project 2025's demise would be greatly welcomed and should serve as notice to anyone or any group trying to misrepresent their influence with President Trump and his campaign – it will not end well for you.”
What Was Project 2025 Anyway?
For those wondering, Project 2025 was Heritage Foundation's ambitious plan to gear up for a potential Republican administration under Trump in 2024. The project aims to reshape the federal government to fit conservative ideals. It was structured around four main pillars:
- Policy Guide: The “Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise” outlined conservative policy recommendations across all federal agencies.
- Personnel Database: Think of it as a “Conservative LinkedIn,” designed to place committed conservatives in key administration roles.
- Training Academy: An educational program to prepare future political appointees.
- Implementation Playbook: A guide to translate policy ideas into actionable plans for the incoming administration.
A Conservative Dream or Authoritarian Nightmare?
Project 2025's goals were bold: restructuring the Department of Justice and Homeland Security, cutting climate research funding and enforcing stricter immigration laws. Critics, however, point to elements they see as a threat to civil liberties and a step towards authoritarianism.
Project 2025 aims to consolidate power within the executive branch significantly. Opponents argue that this could undermine the checks and balances system, potentially leading to an authoritarian style of governance. The plan also proposes replacing many federal civil service employees with political appointees loyal to the president and aims to realign the Department of Justice to reflect conservative priorities. Some fear that this could lead to the department being used for political purposes rather than impartial justice.
Democrats didn't miss a beat either. They've been using Project 2025 in their strategy to paint Trump as endorsing extreme conservative policies, aiming to scare off swing voters.
As for Trump and his team? They're making it loud and clear: they're focused on their own vision for 2024, sans Project 2025.
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Let’s not forget Trump was a Democrat Elite for about 45 years. He has been a Republican far less that. He is still fitting into it. The scary part of Project 2025 for any politician is the “Abortion” pieces. I personally shrink from any policy recommendations that put the power in the Federal Governments hands instead of the hands of the States and its citizen voters. That is the basic reason we are called Republicans; we support the rights and powers granted to the States by the Republic of the United States. The Dept of Education has failed, we have been going down in international rankings on education success, 5 years ago we were 19th and today we are 25th. I could not find in my brief research where we were when the Dept of Education was created but I’m betting it was better than 19th! The Chevron decision will go a long way to resolving the Power of the Administrative state.