Project 2025 has stirred quite the political storm. Organized by the conservative think tank, The Heritage Foundation, and supported by over 100 additional conservative groups, this 922-page proposal is setting the stage for what a future Republican president could aim to achieve. As the presidential race heats up, Democrats are ringing alarm bells, warning of its potential dangers. But what exactly is in this plan, and why is it so controversial?
Let’s break it down.
A Blueprint for the Future
Project 2025 is not officially linked to any candidate or specific campaign. The Heritage Foundation insists that it’s more of a blueprint, offering policy ideas for whoever wins the presidency from the Republican side. But one thing is clear — the plan is ambitious. It’s been said to aim toward “institutionalizing Trumpism,” even though former President Donald Trump himself has claimed no connection with the project.
There’s still some speculation about how much this could tie into a potential Trump second term. Many of his advisers and appointees have had hands in shaping the document. Critics argue that Project 2025 could be a preview of what a second Trump presidency (or any Trump-aligned conservative) might look like.
Disbanding Federal Agencies
One of the boldest aspects of Project 2025 lies in its plan to restructure and even eliminate certain federal departments. The Department of Education, for example, is on the chopping block. Conservative voices have long criticized federal control over education, favoring more local authority.
Another agency that the plan suggests doing away with? The Department of Homeland Security. This could drastically shift how the United States handles issues like national security and immigration.
Healthcare: An Anti-Abortion Stance
In healthcare, Project 2025 goes all-in against reproductive rights. One major suggestion? Withdrawing the abortion pill mifepristone from the market and stopping any attempts to allow it to be mailed to patients. This positions the plan in direct opposition to efforts that have expanded access to safe and legal abortion in recent years.
The plan also promotes what it calls a “biblically based” approach to marriage and family policy. It advocates that the Department of Health and Human Services define marriage and family according to these religiously-influenced social views. Expect fierce pushback from civil liberties groups over this.
Climate Change & Energy Policies
When it comes to climate change, Project 2025 rejects many of the current federal policies in place. It pushes for massive cuts in funding for renewable energy research, while doubling down on support for traditional energy sectors like oil and natural gas. The plan calls for eliminating what it refers to as the “war on oil” — a phrase many conservatives use to describe regulations aimed at curbing fossil fuel use and boosting greener alternatives.
This would mark a clear departure from the current administration’s focus on tackling climate change through clean energy investments.
A New Approach to Economics
Project 2025 also doesn’t shy away from significant changes on the economic front. The proposals suggest cutting corporate income tax rates, as well as dropping rates for high-income investors. In addition, the plan outlines a rollback of welfare programs like food stamps and proposes the cancellation of federal student loan forgiveness programs.
On paper, these moves could be seen as efforts to boost business and reduce federal spending. Critics, however, would argue this could deepen income inequality and hurt lower-income Americans.
Tackling Diversity Programs
Another core component of Project 2025 involves slashing diversity initiatives. The plan advocates for eliminating terms like “sexual orientation,” “gender equality,” and “reproductive health” from federal law and regulations. It also seeks to roll back programs around equity and inclusion, which have become focal points in many industries and government initiatives over the last few years.
Proponents see this as a necessary step to combat what they consider excessive political correctness and identity politics. Opponents see it as homophobic, transphobic, and a direct reversal of hard-earned civil rights protections.
Immigration: Tougher Policies on the Border
Immigration has always been a divisive issue in the U.S., and Project 2025 has a tough stance on it. The plan calls for increased funding to complete the U.S.-Mexico border wall and proposes charging asylum seekers higher fees for the processing of their claims. In addition, unaccompanied minors would be deported immediately rather than being allowed to stay while their cases are heard.
Other immigration-related proposals include a freeze on funding for non-governmental organizations that assist illegal immigrants and a focus on speeding up deportations.
Trump and Project 2025: Friends or Foes?
Even though Project 2025 clearly incorporates policies that would align with Trump’s previous actions, he claims to have no ties to the plan. In public statements, Trump has said that he “knows nothing about it.” Additionally, he’s gone as far as to call some of the ideas in the plan “ridiculous and abysmal.”
Despite this distancing, it’s hard to ignore that some of the goals mentioned in Project 2025 overlap with Trump’s official policies in his “Agenda 47” plan, as well as broader Republican National Committee platforms. As of now, how Project 2025 could play out if Trump or another conservative wins the presidency remains unclear, but it could wield significant influence.
Political Fallout
Democrats aren’t ignoring the threat they believe Project 2025 poses. They’ve used this plan as a rallying point, warning voters that this is an “attack on personal freedoms” and an extreme takeover of U.S. government systems. The 2025 vision presented by the Heritage Foundation is shaping up to be a key tactic for Democrats to campaign against GOP members in the upcoming elections.
The Road Forward
Project 2025 is more than just a list of conservative ideals — it’s a detailed strategy for drastically reshaping how the federal government operates. Whether or not voters agree with the big picture outlined in the plan will depend on how much they align with this stark vision of a reined-in federal government, a rollback in diversity programs, and conservative social and economic reforms.
The next presidential election could be pivotal in determining whether or not these ideas get an opportunity to move from paper to policy.
