If you are astonished daily and what is unfolding in our federal government, you’ll want to take a deeper dive on Project 2025, which is driving these actions.
Project 2025 is a conservative political initiative aimed at restructuring the U.S. federal government to align more closely with right-wing policies. Launched in April 2023 by conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation, the project seeks to consolidate executive power under the president, based on a specific interpretation of the unitary executive theory.
The initiative outlines plans to replace merit-based federal civil service workers with individuals loyal to former President Donald Trump. It proposes significant changes, including reducing taxes on corporations and capital gains, instituting a flat income tax, cutting Medicare and Medicaid, and reversing policies implemented by President Joe Biden. Additionally, Project 2025 advocates for reducing environmental regulations to favor fossil fuels, restructuring the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to decrease its independence, defunding stem cell research, criminalizing pornography, removing legal protections against anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination, and eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. The plan also recommends the arrest, detention, and mass deportation of undocumented immigrants, as well as deploying the military for domestic law enforcement.
While The Heritage Foundation spearheads Project 2025, it collaborates with numerous conservative organizations to build a network of allies. The project has garnered attention for its comprehensive approach to reshaping federal governance and policy implementation in line with conservative ideologies.
Project 2025 is deeply concerning because it will undermine the rule of law, blur the separation of powers, and erode our civil liberties. These proposals, if fully enacted, will steer the U.S. toward autocracy and erode democratic principles.
Democracy Forward, a nonprofit legal services and public policy research organization, has become a significant resource on these issues. A valued peer organization, Democracy Forward uses the law to build collective power and advance a vibrant democracy for all people.