History of Project 2025 in Timeline
Project 2025, a conservative initiative spearheaded by The Heritage Foundation, outlines policy proposals for a potential Republican presidential victory in 2024. The project has garnered significant attention for its controversial approach, advocating for the reclassification of numerous civil service positions into political appointments, aiming to replace career officials with individuals aligned with conservative ideologies. Drawing upon a maximalist interpretation of the unitary executive theory, the project posits that the president holds absolute authority over the executive branch. Critics have denounced Project 2025, labeling it an authoritarian and Christian nationalist agenda that could erode democratic norms and principles, potentially transforming the United States into an autocratic state. Legal scholars and some conservatives have expressed concerns that the project's proposals would undermine the rule of law, the separation of powers, and fundamental individual rights and freedoms.
1964: Civil Rights Act of 1964
The Civil Rights Act of 1964, cited by Project 2025, outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
1965: Elementary and Secondary Education Act Passed
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act, passed in 1965, established Title I funding to support low-income students. Project 2025 recommended phasing out this federal funding, proposing that states assume responsibility for funding education.
1970: Family Planning Services and Population Research Act of 1970 Enacted
The Family Planning Services and Population Research Act of 1970 (Title X) was enacted to provide reproductive healthcare services. Project 2025 proposed in 2025 to rescind some of its provisions.
1981: Heritage Foundation Begins Publishing "Mandate for Leadership" Series
In 1981, the Heritage Foundation started publishing its "Mandate for Leadership" series, timed to coincide with each presidential election cycle. Referred to as a "policy bible," the Mandate reflects the organization's conservative policy recommendations.
2001: Unitary Executive Theory Gains Traction After 9/11
Following the September 11th terrorist attacks, the concept of unitary executive theory experiences a revival and gains popularity within the Republican Party.
2009: EPA Declares Carbon Dioxide Emissions Harmful
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) declared carbon dioxide emissions as harmful to human health in 2009. This decision laid the groundwork for potential government regulations on greenhouse gas emissions.
2010: Affordable Care Act and Project 2025
Project 2025, in 2025, aimed to roll back elements of the Affordable Care Act of 2010, specifically targeting the requirement for insurance coverage of the morning-after pill Ella.
2016: Trump Pledges to Examine Pornography's Impact
During his 2016 presidential campaign, Donald Trump pledged to investigate the public health impact of internet pornography but did not fulfill this promise.
2017: Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Passed
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was enacted in 2017. Project 2025 proposed extending these tax cuts, suggesting a simplification of the individual income tax brackets to 15% and 30% and lowering the corporate tax rate to 18%.
2017: United States Withdraws from Paris Agreement
The United States, under then-President Trump, announced its withdrawal from the Paris Agreement in 2017. Mandy Gunasekara, a key figure in Project 2025 and former EPA chief of staff, played a significant role in this decision. The move aimed to reduce the regulatory burden on American businesses and prioritize national interests over global climate goals.
2018: Trump Claims Authority to Fire Mueller
Trump asserts his belief in his ability to fire Special Counsel Robert Mueller, echoing his claims about expansive presidential powers rooted in unitary executive theory.
2019: Trump Invokes Article Two for Presidential Power
Donald Trump asserts that Article Two of the U.S. Constitution gives him the "right to do whatever as president." This claim reflects the unitary executive theory, gaining traction within the Republican Party, particularly after the 9/11 attacks.
January 2020: Alex Azar Nicknames HHS the "Department of Life"
In January 2020, Alex Azar, then HHS Secretary under the Trump administration, nicknamed the department the "Department of Life," reflecting the administration's anti-abortion stance.
October 2020: Trump Establishes Schedule F Job Classification
President Trump signs an executive order creating Schedule F, a job classification allowing for easier removal of federal employees. This move is seen as part of a broader effort to exert greater control over the federal workforce.
2020: Project 2025 and the Census Citizenship Question
Project 2025 advocated for the reinstatement of a controversial question about citizenship in the decennial U.S. census. The Trump administration's previous attempt to include this question in the 2020 census was rejected by the Supreme Court. The court deemed the administration's justification for the question, which centered around preventing racial and language discrimination under the Voting Rights Act, to be a pretext.
2020: Project 2025 Cites Resistance to Trump's Agenda as Motivation for Change
In 2020, Project 2025 identified resistance to former President Trump's agenda as a key motivator for its establishment. The project cited instances like the opposition to Trump's Muslim travel ban and efforts to overturn the 2020 election as examples of the need for more conservative influence within the government.
January 2021: Biden Rescinds Schedule F
President Biden reverses Trump's executive order, effectively rescinding the Schedule F job classification. This action is seen as a step towards restoring traditional civil service protections.
2021: Vought Champions Christian Nationalism
In 2021, Russell Vought, a contributor to Project 2025, penned an opinion piece advocating for Christian nationalism's role in government. He argued for a system that upholds the separation of church and state while asserting the influence of Christianity on governance and society.
2021: Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Passed
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law was enacted in 2021.
2022: Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts Establishes Project 2025
In 2022, Heritage Foundation president Kevin Roberts established Project 2025. This initiative, designed to bolster conservative influence within the government, aimed to ensure that the 2024 Republican presidential nominee would have the necessary support to implement their agenda.
2022: Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization Overturns Roe v. Wade
In 2022, the Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization overturned Roe v. Wade, eliminating the constitutional right to abortion and leaving the issue to individual states.
2022: Project 2025 is Established by The Heritage Foundation
Project 2025 was established in 2022 by The Heritage Foundation as a collection of conservative policy proposals. The project, intended to influence the direction of the US federal government, aimed to be ready for implementation in the event of a Republican victory in the 2024 presidential election.
April 2023: Heritage Foundation Releases 920-Page "Mandate" with Contributions from Conservatives
In April 2023, the Heritage Foundation released a comprehensive 920-page "Mandate," a culmination of contributions from numerous conservatives, many of whom were former Trump administration officials. Notably, nearly half of the organizations involved had received funding from groups associated with Leonard Leo, a prominent conservative donor known for his role in shaping Trump's judicial appointments.
May 2023: Bacon and McEntee Join Project 2025
James Bacon and John McEntee, known for their work on a questionnaire during Trump's presidency to assess government employees' loyalty, join Project 2025 in May 2023. Their involvement raises concerns about the project's potential to target individuals based on their political beliefs.
November 2023: Report: Insurrection Act Deployment a Priority for Trump in 2025
The Washington Post reports that a second Trump administration would prioritize deploying the military domestically for law enforcement purposes under the Insurrection Act. Jeffrey Clark, a Trump ally, is said to lead this aspect of the plan. The plan also reportedly aims to target those deemed disloyal to Trump. However, Heritage denies such plans within Project 2025.
November 2023: Stephen Miller's Role in Project 2025 and Proposed Immigration Enforcement
Stephen Miller, a prominent figure in shaping immigration policy during the Trump administration, emerged as a key player in Project 2025 by November 2023. He envisioned a large-scale operation, comparing it to the Panama Canal project, to deport undocumented immigrants, involving the National Guard in red states being deputized as immigration enforcement and potentially deployed to blue states.
November 2023: Trump Proposes Federally Funded "American Academy"
In November 2023, Trump put forward a proposal to establish a federally funded "American Academy." This online institution would offer free degrees and courses devoid of any content deemed as "wokeness or jihadism." The funding mechanism involved taxing the endowments of major universities, which Trump accused of promoting radical ideologies.
December 2023: Trump Responds to Concerns about Project 2025 and Abuse of Power
During a televised town hall in December 2023, Fox News host Sean Hannity questions Trump about concerns regarding potential abuse of presidential power for retribution. Trump's response, "except for day one," before shifting topics, raises further concerns.
2023: Recruitment for Future Government Positions
Leaders of Project 2025 initiated their recruitment efforts for potential candidates to fill government positions in the event of a Republican victory at the 2023 Iowa State Fair. This early start highlights their proactive approach in preparing for a potential change in administration.
2023: Michael Hirsh Casts Doubt on the Feasibility of Project 2025's Agenda
In 2023, Michael Hirsh expressed skepticism about the likelihood of Project 2025's agenda being implemented. He cited criticism from conservative scholars and government experts who found the plans to overhaul the federal bureaucracy to be unrealistic and potentially detrimental, leading to incompetence and chaos.
2023: Jeff Sharlet Publishes "The Undertow: Scenes from a Slow Civil War"
In 2023, Dartmouth College professor Jeff Sharlet published "The Undertow: Scenes from a Slow Civil War."
2023: Biden Administration Grants Oil and Gas Drilling Permits
By 2023, the Biden administration had already issued more permits for oil and gas drilling than the previous administration, a move that Project 2025 aimed to counteract.
2023: Brynn Tannehill Highlights Anti-Transgender Attacks
Brynn Tannehill, writing for Dame magazine in 2023, drew attention to the increasing attacks on transgender individuals and rights.
February 2024: Project 2025 Gains Momentum
By February 2024, Project 2025 had garnered support from over 100 partner organizations, mostly conservative think tanks, along with universities and The American Conservative magazine. This marked significant growth in influence and reach for the project.
February 2024: Onishi Notes Growing Influence of New Apostolic Reformation
In February 2024, Brad Onishi, who studies religion and extremism, observed the increasing influence of the New Apostolic Reformation within Project 2025. This was evident through the partnership between Lance Wallnau, a prominent figure in the movement, and Charlie Kirk, a member of Project 2025. Onishi also pointed out Speaker of the House Mike Johnson's ties to the movement.
April 2024: Heritage Foundation Releases Document Defending Project 2025 from Criticism
In April 2024, the Heritage Foundation issued a 13-page document titled "5 Reasons Leftists HATE Project 2025." This document defended the project's objectives and countered criticisms.
April 2024: Project 2025 and Plans for Increased Deportation
In April 2024, Heritage revealed Project 2025's policy to target immigration, with plans to arrest, detain, and deport individuals found in violation of immigration laws across the U.S. This aligned with Donald Trump's stated intention to implement large-scale deportation if re-elected.
May 2024: Vought's Role in Shaping the Republican Platform
In May 2024, Russell Vought, a prominent figure associated with Project 2025, was appointed as the policy director for the Republican National Committee platform committee. This appointment gave him a significant role in shaping the party's policy direction.
May 2024: Heritage Foundation Funds Project Sovereignty 2025
In May 2024, the Heritage Foundation provides a grant to the American Accountability Foundation for Project Sovereignty 2025. The project aims to identify and target federal employees perceived as hostile to a potential future Trump administration.
May 2024: Scholar Ruth Ben-Ghiat Characterizes Project 2025 as a Plan for Authoritarian Takeover
In May 2024, Ruth Ben-Ghiat, a scholar of fascism and authoritarianism, labeled Project 2025 an "authoritarian takeover" plan disguised under a neutral name. She argued that its goal to dismantle federal departments and agencies was to undermine democratic governance and replace it with autocratic rule supported by politically aligned personnel.
June 2024: Kiron Skinner Testifies on Project 2025 and State Department
Kiron Skinner, author of the State Department section of Project 2025, is interviewed by Peter Bergen. She expresses her view that many State Department employees are too left-leaning and should be replaced with individuals more aligned with a conservative president. However, she cannot provide concrete examples of State Department employees obstructing Trump's policies when questioned.
June 2024: Targeting Critics and "Conspirators"
In June 2024, Steve Bannon, a former Trump aide, publicly named specific current and former FBI and DOJ officials who would be targeted for alleged crimes and treason, even if they fled the country. This followed reports that a potential second Trump administration would seek to target and jail critics in government and media.
June 2024: Project 2025's Stance on NATO and Defense Spending
In June 2024, Project 2025 advocated for the U.S. to limit its nuclear protection to NATO members and for these countries to take greater responsibility for their own defense against potential Russian aggression. This stance coincided with observations that several NATO members were not meeting the recommended 2% GDP spending on defense.
June 2024: Congressman Jared Huffman Forms Task Force to Counter Project 2025
Democratic congressman Jared Huffman established The Stop Project 2025 Task Force in June 2024, aiming to proactively address the potential impact of Project 2025.
June 2024: American Accountability Foundation Investigates Federal Employees
By June 2024, the American Accountability Foundation, a conservative group, is researching high-ranking federal employees seen as potential opponents to Trump's agenda. This initiative, Project Sovereignty 2025, receives funding from the Heritage Foundation and intends to publish the names of these individuals.
June 27, 2024: Biden Campaign Launches Website Criticizing Project 2025 Ahead of Presidential Debate
On June 27, 2024, President Joe Biden's campaign launched a website critical of Project 2025 hours before the first presidential debate with Donald Trump.
2024: Trump Runs for President, Citing Unitary Executive Theory
Donald Trump, the leading contender for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, reiterates his stance from 2019, asserting that Article Two of the Constitution grants him expansive presidential powers, aligning with the unitary executive theory.
2024: Concerns About Politicization of Federal Workforce
Experts express concern over Project 2025's potential to politicize the federal workforce. Schedule F's possible reinstatement threatens the jobs of many career civil servants, undermining the merit-based system. The Republican Party's increasing view of civil servants as threats or resources to control raises alarm bells about potential harm to administrative functioning and democratic norms.
2024: Project 2025 and the 2024 Election
Concerns were raised in 2024 that Project 2025's potential impact on the 2024 election could have significant consequences for American democracy.
2024: Heritage Foundation Aims to Expand Personnel Database
The Heritage Foundation, a key player in Project 2025, plans to significantly expand its personnel database by the end of 2024. This move raises concerns about the project's scope and potential impact on the federal workforce.
2024: Study Shows Mixed Impact of 2017 Tax Cuts
In 2024, a comprehensive study revealed the mixed impact of the 2017 tax cuts. While the study acknowledged that the tax cuts did stimulate investments both domestically and internationally, it highlighted the trade-off of an increased national debt as a result of these cuts.
2024: Roberts' Views on American Society
In 2024, Roberts shared his perspective on the state of American society, emphasizing the significance of family, religious devotion, and spirituality as cornerstones of a fulfilling life. He expressed concerns about economic struggles faced by families, the opioid crisis, and what he perceives as the negative influence of transgender ideology and pornography on children in educational settings. Additionally, he voiced anxieties regarding crime rates in the United States.
2024: Project 2025 Prepares for Potential Republican Victory in the Presidential Election
In 2024, Project 2025 was actively preparing for a potential Republican victory in the upcoming presidential election. The project, with its detailed plan for government overhaul, aimed to be ready to implement its proposals should a Republican president take office.
2024: Project 2025 Navigates Relationship with Trump Campaign and Other Conservative Initiatives
In 2024, Project 2025 had to navigate a complex relationship with the Trump campaign and other conservative initiatives. Despite sharing similar goals, the project's explicit policy suggestions and personnel database caused friction with the Trump campaign, which preferred to avoid detailed policy pronouncements that could be used against them.
2024: Project 2025 Gains Attention in Relation to Donald Trump's 2024 Campaign
In 2024, Project 2025 garnered significant attention due to its alignment with potential policies of Donald Trump's 2024 presidential campaign. Despite the project's inability to officially endorse a candidate, its close ties to Trump and detailed policy proposals led many to perceive it as a potential blueprint for a second Trump term.
2024: Trump's Campaign Speeches Align with Project 2025
Throughout his 2024 campaign, Donald Trump's speeches often echoed various elements of Project 2025, such as the promotion of Christian nationalism. Despite legal limitations preventing explicit endorsement from the project, Trump's rhetoric often aligned with its core principles.
2024: Project 2025 Aims to Provide Resources and Framework for the 2024 Republican Nominee
In 2024, Project 2025 focused on providing a robust framework and resources for the Republican presidential nominee. This included a personnel database and a defined ideological blueprint to guide the nominee's actions if elected.
January 20, 2025: Project 2025 Proposes Removal of State Department Leaders
Project 2025 outlines a plan to dismiss all Department of State employees in leadership positions by the end of the day on January 20, 2025. The proposal also suggests replacing these leaders with individuals in "acting" roles, bypassing the need for Senate confirmation.
2025: Republican Climate Advocates Express Disagreement with Project 2025's Climate Policy
In 2025, several Republican climate advocates voiced their opposition to Project 2025's stance on climate policy, emphasizing the importance of addressing climate change and supporting initiatives like the Inflation Reduction Act. They highlighted the growing acceptance of human-caused climate change, particularly among younger Republicans.
2025: Project 2025 Proposes Economic Reforms
Project 2025 unveiled its proposals for economic reform in 2025. The project advocated for a significant shift in monetary policy, criticizing the Federal Reserve's role in the business cycle.
2025: Project 2025 Recommends Changes to Education Funding and Programs
Project 2025, in 2025, called for significant changes to education funding and programs. They proposed phasing out Title I funding for low-income students, transitioning responsibility to states, and replacing it with a voucher system allowing parents to use public funds for private or religious schools.
2025: Project 2025 and Plans for Increased Deportation
Project 2025, in 2025, aligned with Donald Trump's aim to initiate a large-scale deportation operation if he were to be re-elected. The project reflected a stricter approach toward immigration enforcement.
2025: Project 2025 Advocates for Banning Pornography
Project 2025, in 2025, advocated for a complete ban on pornography, arguing it was not protected by the First Amendment and should be treated similarly to addictive drugs.
2025: Project 2025 Launched
Project 2025, aiming to significantly alter environmental regulations, was launched. One of its goals was to overturn a 2009 EPA finding that declared carbon dioxide emissions harmful to human health, thereby challenging the federal government's authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions.
2025: Project 2025's Proposal Developed with Input from Former Trump Officials Despite Campaign's Claims
Project 2025's 1,000-page proposal, released in 2025, was created with input from numerous former Trump administration officials. These individuals were anticipated to hold key positions in a potential future Trump administration, contradicting the campaign's assertions that outside groups did not speak for the former president.
2025: Former Trump Administration Officials, Including Stephen Miller, Involved in Project 2025
Project 2025 involved several former Trump administration officials in 2025, including former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and Stephen Miller, a senior adviser to Trump who has been labeled a white nationalist.
2025: Project 2025 Recommends Expanded Law Enforcement Authority in Washington, D.C.
Project 2025 proposed in 2025 to authorize the Secret Service's Uniformed Division to enforce the law beyond the White House vicinity in Washington, D.C., citing concerns about crime.
2025: Project 2025 Seeks to Limit Federal Role in School Civil Rights
Project 2025 proposed in 2025 that the federal government's role in enforcing civil rights in schools be significantly scaled back. They aimed to shift these responsibilities to the Department of Justice, limiting its enforcement to litigation rather than proactive investigations.
2025: Project 2025 and the Establishment of a Personnel Database
Project 2025 outlines plans to create a personnel database aligned with Donald Trump's ideology. The project aims to screen potential recruits based on their adherence to its agenda, raising concerns about ideological bias in government hiring.
2025: Project 2025 Outlines Proposed Changes to U.S. Military Policies
Project 2025, in 2025, called for the abolishment of DEI programs in the Pentagon and the reinstatement of service members discharged for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine. The plan also opposed considering climate change as a national security threat.
2025: Project 2025 Criticized for Promoting Christian Nationalism and Undermining Racial Equality
Project 2025 faced criticism in 2025 for allegedly appropriating civil rights for white Christians, which was seen as an attempt to delegitimize racial equality and enshrine Christian nationalism in domestic policy. Critics, including those concerned about the separation of church and state, saw this as part of a broader strategy by far-right figures to achieve autocracy through counterrevolution.
2025: Project 2025 Draws Criticism for Aiming to Remove LGBTQ+ Protections and Outlaw Pornography
Project 2025 faced backlash from LGBTQ+ advocates and writers in 2025 for its proposals to eliminate LGBTQ+ protections and ban pornography, which it labeled as promoting "transgender ideology" and the "sexualization of children." Critics saw this as part of a broader attack on transgender rights and an attempt to erase LGBTQ+ individuals from public life.
2025: Project 2025's Focus on National Interest in Foreign Policy
Project 2025 emphasized prioritizing national interests in foreign policy decisions in 2025, advocating for neither a strictly interventionist nor isolationist approach.
2025: Project 2025's Proposed Reforms for the Department of Justice and FBI
Project 2025, in 2025, called for significant reforms within the Department of Justice, claiming it had become bloated, politically biased, and untrustworthy due to its investigation into alleged Trump-Russia collusion. It aimed to place the department under tighter White House control and make the FBI director directly accountable to the president.
2025: Project 2025's Proposed Changes to USAID and Foreign Aid
Project 2025, in 2025, proposed significant changes to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), aiming to curtail its operations due to perceived promotion of abortion, climate extremism, gender radicalism, and critical race theory. It suggested defunding specific UN agencies and prioritizing foreign aid for fossil fuel interests over climate change mitigation in poorer nations.
2025: Project 2025 Identifies China as a Primary Threat and Proposes Countermeasures
Project 2025, in 2025, declared China as the leading threat to U.S. national security, expressing concerns about its influence and recommending actions such as banning TikTok and Confucius Institutes, restricting investments, and addressing intellectual property theft.
2025: Project 2025's Concerns about Social Media and Mental Health
Project 2025, in 2025, expressed concerns about the impact of social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok on the mental health and social connections of young Americans. It argued for federal intervention to address the perceived addictive nature of these platforms.
2025: Project 2025 Aims to Shift Research Priorities
Project 2025, in 2025, proposed a significant shift in research priorities, advocating that taxpayer-funded research should align with conservative principles. For example, they sought to reduce funding for climate change research, reflecting their stance on the issue.
2025: Project 2025's Proposed Reconsideration of White House Press Corps Accommodations
Project 2025, in 2025, proposed reevaluating the accommodations provided to journalists who are part of the White House Press Corps, hinting at potential changes in the relationship between the administration and the media.
2025: Project 2025 Seeks to Restrict Access to Abortion Pills and Promote Alternative Contraception Methods
Project 2025, in 2025, sought to restrict access to abortion pills, promote fertility awareness-based contraception, require states to report detailed abortion data, and restore religious exemptions to contraceptive coverage under the Affordable Care Act.
2025: Project 2025 Targets Education Reform
Project 2025, in 2025, unveiled its plans for a significant overhaul of the U.S. education system. The project advocated for a drastic reduction in the federal government's role in education, promoting increased school choice and parental rights.
2025: Project 2025 Presents Divergent Views on Foreign Trade
Project 2025, launched in 2025, expressed conflicting viewpoints on foreign trade policies. Some members, like Peter Navarro, advocated for increased tariffs to address trade imbalances with the European Union, China, and India. Others, such as Kent Lassman from the Competitive Enterprise Institute, supported reducing tariffs to lower costs for consumers and promoting more free trade agreements.
2025: Project 2025 Targets Economic Development Administration
Project 2025, launched in 2025, proposed either abolishing or repurposing the Economic Development Administration (EDA) within the Department of Commerce. They argued that the EDA should instead focus on supporting rural communities negatively affected by the Biden administration's policies on domestic energy production.
2025: Project 2025 Proposes Centralizing Executive Power
Project 2025, launched in 2025, put forth a proposal to bring the entire Executive Branch of the U.S. federal government under direct presidential control. This plan aimed to eliminate the independence of agencies like the Department of Justice, the FBI, the Federal Communications Commission, and the Federal Trade Commission, arguing for a stronger, more centralized executive authority based on the unitary executive theory.
2025: Project 2025 and a Hawkish Stance on China
Project 2025, particularly the State Department chapter authored by Kiron Skinner, took a critical view of China in 2025, viewing it as a major threat and advocating against any conciliatory actions. The project's preface criticized past U.S. engagement with China, alleging it benefited the Communist Party while harming American industry.
2025: Heritage Foundation Defends Project 2025, Reiterates its Objectives
Responding to criticism in 2025, the Heritage Foundation defended Project 2025 and reaffirmed its goals.
2025: Stephen Miller's Continued Involvement in Project 2025
Stephen Miller, known for his role in shaping immigration policy during Trump's previous presidency, remained a significant figure in Project 2025 in 2025, highlighting the project's focus on immigration enforcement.
2025: Biden Campaign Criticizes Project 2025
The campaign of President Joe Biden launched a website in 2025, expressing criticism towards Project 2025.
2025: Project Sovereignty 2025 Raises Concerns about Targeting Individuals
The emergence of Project Sovereignty 2025 in the context of Project 2025 raises serious concerns about the potential targeting and intimidation of federal employees based on their perceived political beliefs.
2025: Onishi's Observation of Religious Influence on Project 2025
Throughout 2025, former Christian nationalist turned researcher Brad Onishi noted the growing influence of the New Apostolic Reformation, a charismatic Christian movement, within Project 2025. He highlighted Lance Wallnau's, a proponent of the movement, collaboration with Charlie Kirk, a Project 2025 member. Onishi also pointed out the direct links between Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and the New Apostolic Reformation, further emphasizing the movement's reach within the project.
2025: Project 2025's Focus on Family and Children Criticized as Dog Whistle by Scholar
Jeff Sharlet, after years of studying Trump supporters, argued in 2025 that Project 2025's emphasis on "restoring the family" and "protecting children" was a coded message resonating with white nationalist ideology. He linked this messaging to the New Apostolic Reformation, an evangelical movement aligned with Trump.
2025: Project 2025 Raises Alarm Bells about Potential Authoritarianism
Critics express deep concern that Project 2025, if implemented, could pave the way for authoritarian rule by dismantling checks and balances within the U.S. government. They fear that it undermines the rule of law and could lead to widespread insecurity and instability.
2025: Concerns About Project 2025 and Potential Authoritarianism
In 2025, concerns arose regarding Project 2025, with figures like Spencer Ackerman, John Nichols, and Chauncey DeVega expressing worry that it could be used to solidify Trump's power and potentially lead to the persecution of political opponents, undermining American democracy.
2025: Trump's Campaign Rhetoric Reflects Project 2025 Themes
During his 2025 campaign, Donald Trump's speeches often aligned with the core principles of Project 2025, despite legal constraints preventing the project from directly endorsing him. His pronouncements about indicting political rivals, dismissing officials, and targeting perceived enemies within the government resonated with the project's aims.
2025: Project 2025 Recommends Federal Government to Reduce Emphasis on Abortion and High-Risk Sexual Behaviors in Teen Pregnancy Prevention
In 2025, Project 2025 advised the federal government to shift away from what it perceives as promotion of abortion and high-risk sexual behaviors among teenagers. It also sought to limit the Department of Health and Human Services's role in shaping sex education, viewing it as an attempt to monopolize the field.
2025: Leadership and Four Pillars of Project 2025
In 2025, Paul Dans, former chief of staff at the Office of Personnel Management during the Trump administration, took the helm as director of Project 2025. The project, as Dans explained, centered around four key principles: restoring a constitutional republic, ensuring American prosperity, safeguarding American security, and achieving peace through strength.
2025: Project 2025: A Potential Threat to Democracy?
In 2025, David Corn characterized Project 2025 as a right-wing endeavor aiming to erode the constitutional checks and balances, potentially paving the way for autocracy if coupled with a Republican victory in the 2024 election.
2025: Guthrie Graves-Fitzsimmons Critiques Project 2025 for Embracing Christian Nationalism
Guthrie Graves-Fitzsimmons, author of "Just Faith: Reclaiming Progressive Christianity," criticized Project 2025 in 2025 for promoting Christian nationalism. He particularly took issue with Roger Severino's chapter on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which opposed the Respect for Marriage Act, a law protecting same-sex and interracial marriage.
2025: Critics Deem Project 2025's Proposed Federal Bureaucracy Reform as Impractical
Experts criticized Project 2025's plans to reform the federal bureaucracy as impractical in 2025, arguing that it would likely result in a less effective and more dysfunctional government.
2025: Trump's Campaign and Project 2025 Alignment
During his 2025 campaign, Donald Trump's speeches often mirrored aspects of Project 2025, particularly in promoting Christian nationalism. Although legal barriers prevented explicit endorsements from the project, the alignment between Trump's campaign rhetoric and Project 2025's goals was evident.
2025: Trump's Second-Term Plans Align with Project 2025 Outline, Despite Campaign's Denial
Despite the Trump campaign's claims that external groups did not represent the former president, many of Trump's proposed plans for a potential second term aligned with the Project 2025 outline, as pointed out by New York Magazine in 2025.
2025: Project 2025 Advocates for Expanded Use of Capital Punishment
In 2025, Project 2025 advocated for the continued use of capital punishment, particularly for what it deemed "heinous crimes" like pedophilia, until Congress legislated otherwise.
2025: Congressman Warns of Project 2025's Potential Impact, Calls for Preparedness
Congressman Huffman cautioned against the potential rapid implementation of Project 2025 in 2025, emphasizing the need for early preparation to mitigate its effects.
2025: Project 2025 and the Potential Revival of Schedule F
Concerns arise that Project 2025, if implemented, could lead to the reinstatement of Schedule F, potentially jeopardizing the jobs of thousands of federal civil servants.
2025: Academics Warn of Democratic Backsliding with Project 2025
Concerns arise among scholars that Project 2025 signifies executive aggrandizement and a decline in democratic norms. They argue that it weakens democratic institutions and concentrates power in the executive branch, potentially hindering citizen participation and undermining the principles of liberty and representation.
2025: Project 2025 Raises Concerns About Potential Abuse of Power
Concerns arise about the potential use of the Insurrection Act and the targeting of political opponents if Project 2025 is implemented after a potential second Trump inauguration in 2025.
2025: Project 2025's Plans Criticized as a Deceptive Attempt to Undermine Democracy
Ben-Ghiat criticized Project 2025 in 2025, asserting that its objective of dismantling federal departments and agencies was a deceptive tactic to undermine democratic principles and establish an autocratic system.
2025: Vought and Christian Nationalism in Project 2025
As part of Project 2025, Russell Vought, leading the Center for Renewing America, actively promotes integrating principles of Christian nationalism into government and public life, particularly in the context of a potential second Trump term. He believes that Christians face significant challenges and seeks to use his connections to Trump to elevate Christian nationalism if Trump is re-elected.
2025: Project 2025's Stance on Gender Ideology, DEI, and Education
In 2025, Project 2025 advocated for a government that upholds a "biblically based, social-science-reinforced definition of marriage and family," promoting heterosexual marriage exclusively. It sought to remove protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, eliminate DEI initiatives, and potentially penalize federal employees involved in such programs. The project also aimed to restrict teachers' use of transgender students' preferred pronouns without parental consent. These stances reflected a broader conservative pushback against DEI efforts in the early 2020s.
2025: Project 2025 Seeks to Place Loyal Conservatives within the Government
In 2025, Project 2025 aimed to address what it saw as a lack of support for conservative policies within the government. The project highlighted instances where civil servants had resisted Trump's agenda, such as during the Muslim travel ban, attempts to overturn the 2020 election, and the use of force during the George Floyd protests. It emphasized the need for a future president to have a network of loyal conservatives in place.
2025: Project 2025 Aims to Reshape the US Federal Government
In 2025, Project 2025, also known as the Presidential Transition Project, emerged with a plan to significantly alter the US federal government if the Republican Party were to win the 2024 presidential election. This project, a collection of conservative policy proposals from The Heritage Foundation, aimed to replace merit-based federal civil servant jobs with political appointees loyal to the Republican party. It also sought to solidify the unitary executive theory, asserting absolute presidential power over the executive branch.
2025: Project 2025 Proposes Limiting Consent Decrees and Redefining FBI's Role
In 2025, Project 2025 recommended curtailing consent decrees between the DOJ and local police departments. Additionally, the project suggested prioritizing the DEA over the FBI in overlapping jurisdictions.
2025: Advisory Board of Project 2025
In 2025, Project 2025's advisory board was composed of a diverse group of over 80 conservative organizations. The board's composition reflects the project's strong ties to conservative think tanks, universities, and publications like The American Conservative.
2025: Project 2025's Energy and Climate Policy Blueprint
In 2025, Project 2025 unveiled its comprehensive policy blueprint for energy and climate. A key proposal was the repeal of the Inflation Reduction Act, which dedicated US$370 billion toward clean technology. The blueprint also advocated for increased natural gas consumption, despite concerns from climatologists about methane leaks, a potent greenhouse gas. Further recommendations included closing climate-focused offices within the Department of Energy, removing climate change mitigation from the National Security Council's agenda, and urging allied nations to prioritize fossil fuel use.
2025: Project 2025's Proposed Reforms for the National Institutes of Health
In 2025, Project 2025 set its sights on the National Institutes of Health (NIH), alleging corruption and political bias. It proposed reforms to facilitate employee dismissals and eliminate DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) programs.
2025: Project 2025's Stance on Climate Change
In 2025, Project 2025 recommended that a future Republican president go beyond simply overturning President Joe Biden's executive orders on climate change. The project proposed a complete abandonment of strategies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This included repealing regulations, downsizing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and eliminating the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), an organization labeled by the project as a key driver of "climate change alarm."
2025: Project 2025 Proposes Curtailing Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Federal Transit Funding
In 2025, Project 2025 recommended scaling back the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, particularly its funding for decarbonizing transportation. It criticized the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) as wasteful and proposed cutting federal funding for transit agencies, including the Capital Investment Grants (CIG) program. It urged the FTA to conduct "rigorous cost–benefit analysis," even though this is already standard practice for the agency.
2025: Project 2025 Proposes Replacing Reproductive Healthcare Task Force with "Pro-Life" Agency
In 2025, Project 2025 recommended replacing the Biden administration's Reproductive Healthcare Access Task Force with a dedicated "pro-life" agency focused on promoting the health of women and their unborn children.
2025: Project 2025 Proposes Controversial Measures for Law Enforcement and Immigration
In 2025, Project 2025 put forward controversial proposals concerning law enforcement and immigration. One suggestion involved deploying the military for domestic law enforcement via the Insurrection Act of 1807. The project also recommended stricter immigration policies, including the arrest, detention, and deportation of undocumented immigrants residing in the United States.
2025: Project 2025's Proposed Healthcare Reforms
In 2025, Project 2025 aimed to reform the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to promote the traditional nuclear family and limit access to certain healthcare services. This included restricting Medicare's drug pricing negotiation power, denying gender-affirming care for transgender individuals, and proposing Medicaid funding cuts.
2025: Project 2025 Advocates for Stricter Enforcement of Comstock Act to Restrict Abortion Access
In 2025, Project 2025 proposed reviving the Comstock Act of the 1870s, aiming to prohibit the mailing of abortion pills and related medical equipment. This move, according to legal experts and abortion rights advocates, could effectively function as a national abortion ban by severely limiting access to abortion services.
2025: Project 2025 Outlines Anti-Abortion Policy Agenda
In 2025, Project 2025 proposed renaming HHS to the "Department of Life," reflecting its anti-abortion stance. The project advocated for policies to restrict abortion access and promote alternatives, even though the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization ruling had already overturned Roe v. Wade.
2025: Project 2025 and Potential Withholding of FEMA Funds
In 2025, Project 2025 proposed leveraging federal disaster relief funds managed by FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) as a means to enforce federal immigration laws. It suggested withholding these funds from state or local governments that resisted cooperating with federal immigration authorities, such as those declining to share information with law enforcement.
2025: Project 2025 Targets Affirmative Action and DEI Programs
In 2025, Project 2025 proposed a plan to combat "affirmative discrimination" and "anti-white racism" by challenging DEI and affirmative action programs, citing the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
2025: Project 2025 Outlines Sweeping Changes Across Government
In 2025, Project 2025 outlined its vision for widespread changes across the US government. This included proposed cuts to agencies like the DOJ, FBI, and DHS, significant reductions in environmental regulations, and the elimination of the Department of Commerce. The plan also sought to end the independence of agencies such as the FCC and FTC, institute tax cuts, and abolish the Department of Education.
2025: Project 2025 Raises Concerns and Efforts to Distance from Trump Campaign Emerge
In 2025, Project 2025 continued to generate concerns about its potential impact on a potential second Trump presidency. While other conservative groups also had plans for a potential Republican administration, Project 2025 stood out due to its scope and connections to Trump allies. Despite attempts by the Trump campaign to distance itself from specific policy proposals, the project remained a topic of interest and speculation.
2028: Projected Deficit Increase Due to Tax Cut Extension
Projections by the Joint Committee on Taxation and the Congressional Budget Office in 2028 estimated that extending the 2017 tax cuts would lead to a $4 trillion increase in the deficit by 2028.