Trump’s Project 2025: Controversial Conservative Blueprint

Former President Donald Trump’s candidacy has stirred significant debate, partly due to Project 2025. This plan, crafted by the Heritage Foundation in collaboration with over 100 conservative groups, outlines a sweeping agenda for a potential second Trump term. The blueprint addresses everything from staffing the administration with like-minded individuals to dismantling federal agencies and eliminating “wokeness” in government. Despite Trump’s efforts to distance himself from the initiative, the plan was developed with contributions from former Trump staffers and allies.

Project 2025, spearheaded by the Heritage Foundation, is designed to serve as a roadmap for a conservative administration under Trump. It features a LinkedIn-style database for potential presidential hires, executive branch training programs, and an unreleased “playbook” detailing actions for Trump’s first 180 days in office. Although Trump has publicly distanced himself from Project 2025, claiming he has “nothing to do with them” and finds some ideas “ridiculous,” the project includes contributions from numerous former Trump administration officials. Trump has previously praised the Heritage Foundation’s policy work, adding to speculation about his connection to the plan.

The plan proposes replacing many career civil servants with political appointees who align ideologically with the president. It includes an executive order aimed at placing political appointees in key positions, which Trump had implemented towards the end of his first term but was later overturned by President Biden. Project 2025 suggests a streamlined federal government, advocating the elimination of several agencies such as the Department of Education and the Department of Homeland Security. Remaining functions would be either merged into other agencies or privatized.

The proposal rejects gender identity beyond biological sex, advocating for the reinstatement of the military ban on transgender individuals, restrictions on how educators refer to students, and limitations on federal funding for gender-affirming care. The plan aims to remove diversity, equity, and inclusion programs from federal agencies and universities. It supports traditional family structures and seeks to limit anti-discrimination laws to exclude sexual orientation and gender identity.

Project 2025 calls for withdrawing from the Paris Climate Agreement, restructuring the Department of Energy to emphasize fossil fuels, and reducing the focus on climate sustainability in federal agencies. While not explicitly banning abortion, the plan proposes measures to restrict access, such as revoking approval of abortion drugs, using the Comstock Act to block abortion-related mail, and reporting all abortions to the federal government. It promotes “school choice” by directing public funds to private or religious schools, banning critical race theory in federally funded schools, and enabling parents to sue schools over controversial teachings or religious disclosures.

The proposal seeks to end student loan relief programs, including public service loan forgiveness and income-driven repayment plans. It advocates for banning TikTok, reforming Section 230 (which protects tech companies from content-related lawsuits), and supporting state laws that penalize social media platforms for viewpoint-based suspensions. Project 2025 calls for a comprehensive overhaul of the DOJ and FBI, focusing on violent crime and aligning investigations with presidential priorities, while removing oversight of misinformation and politically motivated actions.

The plan suggests replacing current tax rates with a flat 15% rate for incomes under the Social Security wage base and a 30% rate for higher earners, while also lowering the corporate tax rate to 18%. It proposes major reforms to the Federal Reserve, including potentially eliminating government control over monetary policy or returning to the gold standard. The proposal emphasizes opposition to China and recommends withdrawing from international organizations that do not align with U.S. interests. While not seeking to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, Project 2025 aims to cut Medicaid, impose work requirements for coverage, and reform Medicare to prioritize Medicare Advantage.

Experts caution that implementing Project 2025’s policies could profoundly alter federal governance. Concerns include the potential for an executive branch to challenge judicial and legislative decisions, raising questions about checks and balances. The initiative is led by Heritage Foundation director Paul Gans, alongside former Trump White House personnel Spencer Chretien and Troup Hemenway. Other contributors include Stephen Miller’s America First Legal, Alliance Defending Freedom, Liberty University, Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, and Turning Point USA. The 900-page policy agenda includes chapters by notable Trump allies like Dr. Ben Carson and Peter Navarro.

Should Trump win the presidency, he is not obligated to follow Project 2025’s proposals. However, given his history of aligning with similar agendas, he may adopt some of its recommendations. The Heritage Foundation’s previous proposal for Trump’s first term saw a substantial adoption of its suggestions. Project 2025 does not address Social Security, a long-standing GOP priority for reform. Notably, it also proposes banning pornography, claiming it is linked to harmful ideologies and should be criminalized. The Heritage Foundation has a history of creating policy roadmaps for Republican administrations, dating back to Reagan. Project 2025, published in 2023, gained renewed attention following Trump’s disavowal and has become a key talking point for Democrats.