Project 2025: Trump's alleged association and where it aims to go next

Released on November 6, 2024, at 7:19 PM Pacific Standard Time.

Elex Michaelson appears on Good Day LA to discuss the implications of Donald Trump's anticipated victory for California.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Over the last year, Project 2025 has remained a prominent element in the presidential race, with Democrats using its extreme right-wing ideas to illustrate what Donald Trump might pursue if he were to win a second term in the White House.

Despite the President-elect's campaign making a strong effort to separate itself from Project 2025—Trump has openly stated that he is unfamiliar with it—the extensive plan put forth by the Heritage Foundation to significantly reduce the federal workforce and break apart federal agencies mirrors his goals closely. The individuals behind Project 2025 are drawn from Trump’s own administration, and senior officials from Heritage have kept Trump’s team informed about the initiative.

It's uncommon for a detailed 900-page policy document to play such a significant role in a political campaign. However, the journey of Project 2025—from its origins at a think tank to its widespread sharing on social media—demonstrates how policy can unexpectedly influence an election year. It poses a challenge not just to Trump as the frontrunner but also to other Republican candidates running for Congress.

Despite everything, Project 2025 remains very much alive. It serves not just as a strategic plan for the upcoming administration but also as a repository of around 20,000 individuals looking for jobs, who could potentially fill positions in a Trump-led White House. Additionally, there is a yet-to-be-released "180-day playbook" that outlines actions a new president could take starting on the first day after the inauguration on January 20, 2025.

Kevin Roberts, the new president of the Heritage Foundation, seems to embrace the challenge, charging forward with enthusiasm.

"Stay confident that we won’t give in," Roberts expressed in an email to supporters this summer. "We will not retreat."

The Story Behind Project 2025

When Project 2025 was launched in April 2023, it aimed to "break down the administrative state" by outlining the staff and strategies that could guide the next conservative president.

Former officials from the Trump administration involved in the project expressed their intention to learn from the errors made during Trump's first term. They aim to make sure that the next Republican president is well-prepared with the right team and policies to implement the goals outlined in their campaign.

Paul Dans, the director of the 2025 Presidential Transition Project, mentioned in a 2023 interview with the Associated Press, "There's a strong motivation to get started immediately."

The idea for the book originated at the Heritage Foundation, a respected conservative think tank based in Washington, D.C. It harks back to an earlier work, the "Mandate for Leadership" from the Reagan administration, which was reportedly so well-received in the White House that copies were placed on desks to help steer the new presidency.

More than 100 conservative organizations, many featuring former members of the Trump administration, united to develop plans for a significant overhaul of the federal government. Their suggestions include increasing the number of political appointees at the Justice Department, moving government employees with law enforcement experience to address illegal immigration, and abolishing the Department of Education.

One of the main suggestions aims to simplify the process of filling government positions with Trump supporters by changing the classification of around 50,000 employees, allowing them to be dismissed from their roles. This concept is a reintroduction of the Schedule F policy that Trump attempted to establish before he left the presidency. Currently, this idea is a key part of the conservative agenda focused on dismantling what they perceive as the entrenched bureaucracy that obstructs Trump's initiatives.

The launch of Project 2025 coincided with the foundation's 50th anniversary and marked a new beginning for Roberts. Until then, he had primarily been viewed as a supporter of Ron DeSantis, a competitor of Trump, who delivered the keynote speech at the gala that kicked off the presidential primary season.

Roberts stated in the announcement that the conservative movement is uniting to get ready for the upcoming conservative administration. He mentioned that Heritage aims "to make sure the next president has the appropriate policies and team needed to break down the administrative state."

Project 2025: The Viral Sensation Explained

President Joe Biden's team expressed their concerns about Project 2025 well before the State of the Union address in April, sharing their warnings on social media. In June, House Democrats formed a Task Force focused on Project 2025 to voice their issues with it more prominently. Shortly after, comedian John Oliver poked fun at the project on his HBO show.

However, it was during Biden's poor debate performance against Trump in June that Project 2025 gained significant attention.

The presidential debate revealed more through what wasn't discussed than what was. Biden barely touched on Project 2025, disappointing allies who anticipated a more forceful response.

During that weekend, a single post on X about Project 2025 gained significant attention, racking up close to 20 million views based on reports from the Democratic campaign. Actress Taraji P. Henson, who had a conversation with Vice President Kamala Harris during the BET Awards, cautioned viewers during prime time: "The Project 2025 plan is serious. Do your research!" Additionally, many young TikTok creators took to their cameras to express their concerns about the potential dangers that Project 2025 could pose to their civil and reproductive rights, leading to a surge of viral videos.

"This is truly a situation where everyday people are rising up," remarked Joe Radosevich from the Center for American Progress. "They looked at what was presented as the framework of the election and outright dismissed it."

Following the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision, which removed constitutional protections for abortion, Democrats and their supporters sought to emphasize how the upcoming presidential election could influence people's lives moving forward, rather than merely presenting voters with a decision based on candidates' personas.

Radosevich mentioned that people were seeking a discussion focused on policies, rather than an election that was solely based on feelings or general impressions.

As of the end of June, the Harris campaign reported that the number of Google searches for "Project 2025" exceeded those for Taylor Swift and the NFL.

When a massive replica of the Project 2025 book was brought out for mockery at the Democratic National Convention, it wasn’t only celebrities and progressive attendees poking fun at it. Conservatives also started pointing fingers at Heritage and Project 2025, arguing that they were detrimental to Trump’s chances in the election.

Trump Slams Project 2025 In Fiery Rant

Trump's campaign did not support Project 2025 and even distanced itself from it, despite having individuals and policies that were well-known during his presidency.

Various conservative organizations closely aligned with Trump are also getting ready for another term in the White House. Trump’s campaign team has consistently advised the Heritage Foundation to dial back its messaging and avoid presenting Project 2025 as an official part of Trump’s campaign.

However, Roberts seemed unfazed, despite facing criticism in July for his comments following the Supreme Court's decision that granted the president significant protection from prosecution related to the January 6 insurrection. He remarked that the nation was experiencing a "second American Revolution," which, he added, could remain peaceful if the left permits it to be.

A few days later, Trump strongly voiced his opposition to Project 2025.

"I have no knowledge of Project 2025," Trump shared on his social media platform. "I'm not familiar with who is involved. I don't agree with certain points they're making, and some of their statements are completely absurd and terrible. I wish them luck in whatever they pursue, but I am not connected to them at all."

At that time, Trump was unveiling his policy agenda as he prepared for the Republican National Convention. This platform was partially crafted by one of his former team members, the conservative Russ Vought, who also played a role in Project 2025 and its detailed 180-day plan.

Heritage ended its partnership with Dans, the lead architect of Project 2025, who stepped down at the end of the month. This decision seemed to make Trump’s team happy.

In a joint statement, Trump campaign managers Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita commented, "If Project 2025 were to be declared dead, it would be a welcome announcement. It should alert anyone or any organization attempting to exaggerate their influence over President Trump and his campaign that things won't turn out well for them."

What Lies Ahead For Project 2025?

As the battles for control of Congress become increasingly competitive, with just one seat potentially deciding which party takes charge of the House or Senate, Democratic-affiliated outside organizations are leveraging Project 2025 to tie Republicans to its more extreme policy ideas.

The House Accountability Project has launched small websites focusing on over a dozen House Republicans facing tough elections. These sites connect their previous votes on topics like abortion and government funding to the proposals outlined in Project 2025.

"Danny Turkel, spokesperson for the House Accountability War Room, stated, 'The House Republicans are currently advocating for the policies outlined in Project 2025. They are actively bringing these ideas into Congress.'"

The House Republican campaign committee claims that its candidates are unrelated to Project 2025, asserting that the accusations against them are fabricated by Democrats to divert focus from their own approaches to border issues and inflation.

"They created a fictitious incident based on something that House Republicans hadn't even reviewed," stated Will Reinert, spokesperson for the National Republican Congressional Committee.

He referred to the accusations as a "desperate falsehood," suggesting that the Democratic members of the House are realizing that their opportunities to regain control are shrinking.