What is Project 2025? The conservative document, explained
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The 2025 Presidential Transition Project, more commonly known as 'Project 2025' has stirred controversy in recent weeks.
Following the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump on July 13, and the start of the 2024 Republican National Convention just days later, the political playbook of Project 2025 adds yet another layer of discourse surrounding the GOP.
Trump has since claimed to know nothing about Project 2025 and "disagree with some of the things they’re saying, and some of the things they’re saying are absolutely ridiculous and abysmal," he wrote in a July 5 post on Truth Social. "Anything they do, I wish them luck, but I have nothing to do with them.”
Here's what we know about Project 2025.
What is Project 2025?
Project 2025 is a plan created by The Heritage Foundation to usher in the country's next conservative president, but whether or not that includes Trump is uncertain.
The conservative blueprint has policy recommendations that are divided into four pillars, according to a Heritage Foundation article: a policy agenda, a personnel database known as the "Conservative LinkedIn," Presidential Administration Academy training, and a playbook for the first 180 days of the next Administration in an effort that the organization claims will "pave the way for an effective conservative Administration."
What are the key highlights of Project 2025?
Some of the main proposals of the 900-page initiative drew concern among political groups, and as of now, there aren't many conservatives who have openly supported the idea. Per USA TODAY, here are some takeaways from Project 2025:
Gut federal agencies, including the FBI
Eliminate the Department of Education
Require public high school students to take a military entrance assessment
Ban on abortion drugs nationwide
Overtake policies like the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare)
Who created Project 2025?
The Heritage Foundation, with the help of other conservative groups, introduced the roadmap and is the organization that created Project 2025. The people behind Project 2025 include Paul Dans and Spencer Chretien, who worked under the Trump administration and serve as directors of the effort. Dans was Trump's former chief of staff at the Office of Personnel Management, while Chretien was the former special assistant to Trump and associate director of Presidential Personnel.
When was Project 2025 released?
Project 2025 was published in April 2023, according to USA TODAY. A conservative commentary piece by the Associate Director Spencer Chretien outlined the initiative in January 2023, stating that "It’s past time to lay the groundwork for a White House more friendly to the right."
What have Democrats said about Project 2025
The plan faced a wave of criticism by President Joe Biden, who said in a video posted to X that "Project 2025 will destroy America." Democrats, such as Representative Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas), have also called it a "playbook for authoritarianism." The 920-page plan was created by The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. Several key figures involved in Project 2025 also worked in Trump's first administration.
Why is Project 2025 important?
This blueprint has become a major talking point among left- and right-wing supporters. Regarding the goal of Project 2025, The Heritage Foundation said that "With the right conservative policy recommendations and properly vetted and trained personnel to implement them, we will take back our government." Project 2025 is a wish list for conservative policies, that, if successful, could sway the opinions of voters this November, USA TODAY reported.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: What is Project 2025? What we know about the conservative blueprint
