Mar 18 2025 7 mins 1
As I delved into the intricacies of Project 2025, a blueprint crafted by the Heritage Foundation for a potential second Donald Trump presidency, I was struck by the sheer scope and ambition of its proposals. This 900-page document is more than just a policy guide; it is a comprehensive plan to reshape the very fabric of American governance.
At its core, Project 2025 aims to centralize power in the White House, leveraging the unitary executive theory to expand presidential control over the federal government. This vision is championed by conservative legal scholars and has been embraced by the Supreme Court in recent years. As Kevin Roberts, a key figure in the project, put it, "all federal employees should answer to the president," reflecting a desire to eliminate the independence of agencies like the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)[1].
One of the most contentious aspects of Project 2025 is its proposal to reinstate Schedule F, an executive order issued by Trump in October 2020 that was later rescinded by President Biden. Schedule F would strip career government employees of their employment protections, allowing the president to fire and replace them with loyalists and ideologues. This move would fundamentally alter the civil service system, which has been merit-based since the Pendleton Act of 1883. As the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Public Policy Director Jacque Simon warned, "If all of their recommendations were implemented, it wouldn’t just eviscerate our statutory collective bargaining rights and pay system but undo the basics of the apolitical, merit-based system we have today"[5].
The implications of Schedule F are far-reaching. It would enable the president to reward cronies and punish enemies, creating an environment ripe for corruption and abuse of power. Independent agencies, which currently provide crucial oversight and accountability, would be rendered ineffective. This could lead to a chilling effect where government employees are discouraged from speaking out, and agencies might be incentivized to suppress the truth and spread misinformation[2].
Project 2025 also outlines drastic changes to various federal agencies. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), created in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, would be eliminated, and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) would be privatized. This move would revert the country to a pre-9/11 era, potentially compromising national security efforts and intelligence sharing. The Department of Education would be dismantled, with oversight and federal funding for education handed over to the states, a change that could severely impact Title I funding for high-poverty schools and exacerbate existing teacher shortages[5][3].
The Department of Justice, under Project 2025, would undergo significant reforms. The DOJ would be tasked with combating "affirmative discrimination" or "anti-white racism," and its Civil Rights Division would prosecute state and local governments, institutions of higher education, and private employers with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) or affirmative action programs. Gene Hamilton, a former Trump DOJ official, argued that advancing the interests of certain segments of American society comes at the expense of others and violates federal law. This approach would fundamentally alter the DOJ's role in protecting civil rights, instead aligning it with a conservative agenda[1].
In the realm of public education, Project 2025's proposals are equally alarming. The plan would eliminate Title I funding, which has been critical for high-poverty schools since 1965, and replace it with no-strings-attached block grants to states. This change could lead to significant budget strains for already underfunded schools, undermining academic outcomes for millions of vulnerable students. Additionally, the project advocates for weakening regulations on charter schools and promoting federal voucher laws, which could siphon funds from public schools and destabilize state budgets[3].
The project's stance on healthcare is also contentious. It proposes cutting Medicare and Medicaid, and reversing many of the healthcare policies implemented by President Joe Biden. This would strip away healthcare coverage for pre-existing conditions, a move that has been widely criticized by Democrats and healthcare advocates. Vice-President Kamala Harris has been vocal about these plans, stating that Project 2025 is a "plan to return America to a dark past"[3][4].
Project 2025 also delves into environmental and social policies. It recommends reducing environmental regulations to favor fossil fuels and proposes making the National Institutes of Health (NIH) less independent, including defunding its stem cell research. The project suggests criminalizing pornography, removing legal protections against anti-LGBT discrimination, and ending DEI programs. It even proposes enacting laws supported by the Christian right, such as criminalizing the sending and receiving of abortion and birth control medications and eliminating coverage of emergency contraception[1].
Despite Trump's attempts to distance himself from Project 2025, the connections between the project and his administration are clear. Many of the project's architects and supporters are former Trump officials, and several Trump campaign officials have maintained contact with the project. After Trump's 2024 election victory, he nominated several of the plan's architects and supporters to positions in his second administration. An analysis by *Time* found that nearly two-thirds of Trump's executive actions in his second term "mirror or partially mirror" proposals from Project 2025[1].
The public's reaction to Project 2025 has been overwhelmingly negative. Polls indicate that the more Americans learn about the project, the more they oppose it. A Navigator poll found that 53% of Americans, including 37% of non-MAGA Republicans, oppose the project, while only 12% support it. The opposition stems from concerns about the plan's impact on healthcare, education, and the overall erosion of democratic institutions[3].
As I reflect on the breadth and depth of Project 2025, it becomes clear that this initiative represents a seismic shift in how the federal government operates. The project's proponents see it as a last opportunity to "save our republic" by aligning it with a far-right agenda. However, critics argue that it would dismantle the administrative state, undermine national security, and strip away fundamental rights and freedoms.
Looking ahead, the implementation of Project 2025's proposals will depend on various factors, including legislative support and judicial oversight. As the country navigates these potential changes, it is crucial for Americans to remain informed and engaged. The future of American governance hangs in the balance, and the decisions made in the coming months will have lasting implications for generations to come.
At its core, Project 2025 aims to centralize power in the White House, leveraging the unitary executive theory to expand presidential control over the federal government. This vision is championed by conservative legal scholars and has been embraced by the Supreme Court in recent years. As Kevin Roberts, a key figure in the project, put it, "all federal employees should answer to the president," reflecting a desire to eliminate the independence of agencies like the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)[1].
One of the most contentious aspects of Project 2025 is its proposal to reinstate Schedule F, an executive order issued by Trump in October 2020 that was later rescinded by President Biden. Schedule F would strip career government employees of their employment protections, allowing the president to fire and replace them with loyalists and ideologues. This move would fundamentally alter the civil service system, which has been merit-based since the Pendleton Act of 1883. As the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Public Policy Director Jacque Simon warned, "If all of their recommendations were implemented, it wouldn’t just eviscerate our statutory collective bargaining rights and pay system but undo the basics of the apolitical, merit-based system we have today"[5].
The implications of Schedule F are far-reaching. It would enable the president to reward cronies and punish enemies, creating an environment ripe for corruption and abuse of power. Independent agencies, which currently provide crucial oversight and accountability, would be rendered ineffective. This could lead to a chilling effect where government employees are discouraged from speaking out, and agencies might be incentivized to suppress the truth and spread misinformation[2].
Project 2025 also outlines drastic changes to various federal agencies. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), created in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, would be eliminated, and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) would be privatized. This move would revert the country to a pre-9/11 era, potentially compromising national security efforts and intelligence sharing. The Department of Education would be dismantled, with oversight and federal funding for education handed over to the states, a change that could severely impact Title I funding for high-poverty schools and exacerbate existing teacher shortages[5][3].
The Department of Justice, under Project 2025, would undergo significant reforms. The DOJ would be tasked with combating "affirmative discrimination" or "anti-white racism," and its Civil Rights Division would prosecute state and local governments, institutions of higher education, and private employers with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) or affirmative action programs. Gene Hamilton, a former Trump DOJ official, argued that advancing the interests of certain segments of American society comes at the expense of others and violates federal law. This approach would fundamentally alter the DOJ's role in protecting civil rights, instead aligning it with a conservative agenda[1].
In the realm of public education, Project 2025's proposals are equally alarming. The plan would eliminate Title I funding, which has been critical for high-poverty schools since 1965, and replace it with no-strings-attached block grants to states. This change could lead to significant budget strains for already underfunded schools, undermining academic outcomes for millions of vulnerable students. Additionally, the project advocates for weakening regulations on charter schools and promoting federal voucher laws, which could siphon funds from public schools and destabilize state budgets[3].
The project's stance on healthcare is also contentious. It proposes cutting Medicare and Medicaid, and reversing many of the healthcare policies implemented by President Joe Biden. This would strip away healthcare coverage for pre-existing conditions, a move that has been widely criticized by Democrats and healthcare advocates. Vice-President Kamala Harris has been vocal about these plans, stating that Project 2025 is a "plan to return America to a dark past"[3][4].
Project 2025 also delves into environmental and social policies. It recommends reducing environmental regulations to favor fossil fuels and proposes making the National Institutes of Health (NIH) less independent, including defunding its stem cell research. The project suggests criminalizing pornography, removing legal protections against anti-LGBT discrimination, and ending DEI programs. It even proposes enacting laws supported by the Christian right, such as criminalizing the sending and receiving of abortion and birth control medications and eliminating coverage of emergency contraception[1].
Despite Trump's attempts to distance himself from Project 2025, the connections between the project and his administration are clear. Many of the project's architects and supporters are former Trump officials, and several Trump campaign officials have maintained contact with the project. After Trump's 2024 election victory, he nominated several of the plan's architects and supporters to positions in his second administration. An analysis by *Time* found that nearly two-thirds of Trump's executive actions in his second term "mirror or partially mirror" proposals from Project 2025[1].
The public's reaction to Project 2025 has been overwhelmingly negative. Polls indicate that the more Americans learn about the project, the more they oppose it. A Navigator poll found that 53% of Americans, including 37% of non-MAGA Republicans, oppose the project, while only 12% support it. The opposition stems from concerns about the plan's impact on healthcare, education, and the overall erosion of democratic institutions[3].
As I reflect on the breadth and depth of Project 2025, it becomes clear that this initiative represents a seismic shift in how the federal government operates. The project's proponents see it as a last opportunity to "save our republic" by aligning it with a far-right agenda. However, critics argue that it would dismantle the administrative state, undermine national security, and strip away fundamental rights and freedoms.
Looking ahead, the implementation of Project 2025's proposals will depend on various factors, including legislative support and judicial oversight. As the country navigates these potential changes, it is crucial for Americans to remain informed and engaged. The future of American governance hangs in the balance, and the decisions made in the coming months will have lasting implications for generations to come.
