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Trump is just the avatar for chaos today, the blueprint, Project 2025, is for any would be conservative despot willing to go the distance tomorrow and beyond.

Project 2025, also known as the Presidential Transition Project, is a collection of policy proposals aimed at thoroughly reshaping the U.S. federal government in the event of a Republican victory in the 2024 U.S. presidential election. Established in 2022, the project seeks to recruit conservatives to replace existing federal civil servants and advance the objectives of the next Republican president. It envisions widespread changes across the entire government, including economic and social policy, agency roles, and funding allocations.

OVERVIEW

Project 2025, organized by the right-wing think tank The Heritage Foundation, outlines a comprehensive transition plan for the next GOP presidential administration. Here are the key points:

1. Personnel: The plan aims to pack the administration with extreme loyalists to former President Donald Trump. It seeks to reinstate Schedule F, making federal employees fireable at-will, stripping civil service protections.
2. Policy Agenda: Proposals would severely inhibit federal protections around reproductive rights, LGBTQ and civil rights, climate change efforts, and immigration.
3. Coalition: Backed by over 100 organizations and individuals, including Koch network affiliates, and conservative philanthropist Leonard Leo. Project 2025 is also promoted by MAGA-connected media figures like Steve Bannon. These backers play a significant role in supporting the initiative’s goals and shaping its impact on conservative policies and potential future Republican administrations.
4. Training: The Presidential Administration Academy provides online courses for aspiring appointees, preparing them for high-level positions.
   180-Day Playbook: A detailed plan for the first 180 days of the next administration.
5. Loyalty Tests: Project 2025 has set up online trainings and loyalty tests to narrow down potential hires to those who align with Trump’s agenda without question.
6. Backers: The initiative is backed by over 100 organizations and individuals, including those connected to the Koch network and conservative philanthropist Leonard Leo.
7. Promotion: MAGA-connected media figures like Steve Bannon have promoted Project 2025 as the “blueprint” for Trump’s potential second term.

THE VISION

Project 2025 differs from previous transition plans in several ways:

1. Scope and Ambition: Project 2025 aims to reshape the entire federal government, including staffing changes and policy shifts. Previous transition plans typically focused on specific policy areas or agency priorities.
2. Partisan Approach: Project 2025 is explicitly partisan, seeking to advance conservative objectives. Previous transition plans often aimed for continuity and bipartisan cooperation.
3. Controversy: The extreme nature of Project 2025 has sparked controversy and concerns about its impact on civil rights, the environment, and democracy. Previous transitions were generally less contentious.
4. Personnel Changes: Project 2025 emphasizes replacing existing federal employees with loyalists, which is a departure from previous transitions that aimed for continuity and expertise.

• Project 2025 adopts a maximalist version of the unitary executive theory, asserting that the president has absolute power over the executive branch upon inauguration.
• It envisions widespread changes across the entire government, particularly with regard to economic and social policies and the role of federal agencies.

Specific Proposals:

• The plan proposes:
  • Slashing funding for the Department of Justice (DOJ).
  • Dismantling the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
  • Reducing environmental and climate change regulations to favor fossil fuel production.
  • Eliminating the Department of Commerce.
  • Ending the independence of various federal agencies, such as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
  • Instituting tax cuts.
  • Abolishing the Department of Education.
  • Funding basic research only if it aligns with conservative principles.
  • Explicitly rejecting abortion as health care and eliminating the Affordable Care Act’s coverage of emergency contraception.

1. Heritage Foundation’s Role:
   • The Heritage Foundation, leads the development of Project 2025, and draws inspiration from its historical triumph—the launch of the first Mandate for Leadership during Ronald Reagan’s inauguration in 1981.

Successful government transitions are crucial for stable governance and effective policy implementation. Here are some key principles that drive success in government transitions:

1. Start Early: Begin planning before the election. Identify a transition head, assemble a team, and have a plan ready by inauguration.
2. Bold Vision: Set a clear and compelling vision for the transition. Translate campaign promises into specific strategic goals and initiatives.
3. Risk Mitigation: Start addressing risks early on to minimize disruptions during the transition.
4. Organizational Design: Design the organization to deliver on its objectives.
5. Personnel Selection: Professionalize personnel selection and consider talent beyond existing benches.
6. Decision Rights: Establish clear decision rights for policy-making.
7. Personal Goals: Consider personal goals and aspirations of leaders and team members.

TRUMPISM MADE MANIFEST

Supporters of Project 2025, have varying opinions about its goals and implications. Here are some perspectives:

1. Injecting Ideological Coherence:
   • An unspoken aim of Project 2025 is to inject ideological coherence into Trumpism. It seeks to focus not only on the leader but also on the movement behind him, which did not happen during the four years between January 2017 and January 2021. The project aims to address perceived failures and weaknesses of the Trump administration.
2. Turning Trumpism into a Governing Agenda:
   • Many progressives view Project 2025 as an effort to turn the United States into an autocracy, with former President Donald Trump and his MAGA movement at the helm. Critics argue that the right is intent on transforming Trumpism into a governing agenda.
3. Broad Coalition of Conservative Organizations:
   • Project 2025’s advisory board consists of “a broad coalition of over 90 conservative organizations,” including conservative think tanks, universities, and the magazine The American Conservative. As of February 2024, the project has over 100 partner organizations that includes: Trump loyalists, Christian nationalists, anti-abortion activists, opponents of LGBTQ rights, vote suppressors, and anti-regulation corporate interests.

EXAMPLES:

1. Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF):
   • ADF is a known hate group that has been involved in some of the most recent anti-abortion and anti-LGBTQ Supreme Court cases.
   • They are part of Project 2025’s advisory board.
2. Moms for Liberty:
   • Moms for Liberty is another group on Project 2025’s advisory board.
   • They are known for their attacks on Title IX protections for students and state-level efforts to ban books.

DEFENDING AMERICAN DEMOCRACY

Defending against Project 2025, requires vigilance and collective action. Here are some steps to consider:

1. Awareness and Advocacy:
   • Stay Informed: Educate yourself and others about Project 2025’s goals, policies, and potential impact on civil rights, climate, and government protections.
   • Advocate: Join advocacy groups, sign petitions, and engage in discussions to raise awareness about the threat posed by Project 2025.
2. Legal Challenges:
   • Privacy Rights: Project 2025’s implementation could lead to legal challenges. Advocates of privacy rights should argue against advanced technologies (e.g., facial recognition, biometric data collection) that infringe on citizens’ privacy without reasonable expectations.
3. Political Mobilization:
   • Vote: Participate in elections and support candidates who oppose Project 2025’s extreme agenda.
   • Contact Elected Officials: Communicate with your representatives at all levels of government, urging them not to support or allow Project 2025’s implementation.
4. Community Engagement:
   • Community Organizing: Collaborate with like-minded individuals and organizations to build a strong network against Project 2025.
   • Public Awareness: Use social media, community events, and local forums to inform others about the risks and consequences.

Remember that defending against Project 2025 requires collective efforts. By staying informed, advocating, and actively participating, we can protect our rights and democratic values. We’ll be updating this op-ed as new information is made available.

If you have any tips or topics drop a line to thepen@infinitepressure.org.