At the 2024 BET Awards, actress Taraji P. Henson made a powerful call to action, urging attendees to educate themselves about Project 2025 and to vote. This radical blueprint for a potential second Trump administration is spearheaded by the right-wing Heritage Foundation. As it gains notoriety, Project 2025 has sparked much debate and controversy. Let’s dive into the origins of Project 2025, the key figures involved, the radical proposals it contains, and former President Donald Trump’s attempts to distance himself from the initiative.

The Origins of Project 2025

Project 2025 is a comprehensive policy agenda developed by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank known for its influence on Republican politics. The project outlines sweeping changes that could be implemented in a potential second Trump administration. The plan includes proposals such as withdrawing approval for the abortion pill, banning pornography, slashing corporate taxes, abolishing the Department of Education, and replacing thousands of experienced federal workers with political appointees. It also calls for imposing a “biblically based” definition of marriage and families and placing the Justice Department and other independent agencies under the direct control of the president.

Key Figures Behind Project 2025

The people behind Project 2025 are closely tied to Trump’s first administration. The co-editors, Paul Dans and Steven Groves, both held high-ranking positions under Trump. Dans served as Chief of Staff at the Office of Personnel Management and as a senior advisor at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Groves served as Deputy Press Secretary and Assistant Special Counsel in the White House.

Other notable contributors include Spencer Chretien and Troup Hemenway, both of whom were involved in the Trump administration’s personnel decisions. Chretien was Special Assistant to President Trump and Associate Director of Presidential Personnel, while Hemenway worked on Trump’s 2016 campaign and transition team.

The Controversial Proposals

The 922-page policy agenda of Project 2025 includes 30 chapters authored by 34 contributors, 25 of whom served in the Trump administration. The proposals are radical and have stirred significant controversy. For instance, Russ Vought, former Director of the Office of Management and Budget under Trump, authored a chapter calling for the abolishment of the Gender Policy Council and the rerouting of billions from the Pentagon to fund Trump’s border wall.

Gene Hamilton, a top aide to former Attorney General Jeff Sessions, wrote the chapter on the Department of Justice. Hamilton, known for drafting Trump’s child separation policy, advocates for deploying active-duty military to the southern border and eliminating the Department of Justice’s independence from the White House. He also proposes using the Office of Civil Rights to prosecute entities with diversity initiatives.

Trump’s Attempt to Distance Himself

As Project 2025 gained notoriety, Trump sought to distance himself from the effort. On July 5, Trump posted on Truth Social that he knows “nothing about Project 2025,” has “no idea who is behind it,” and has “nothing to do with them.” However, the close ties between the contributors of Project 2025 and Trump’s first administration cast doubt on these claims. Of the 38 people responsible for writing and editing Project 2025, 31 were appointed or nominated to positions in his administration and transition, representing over 81% of the project’s contributors.

It’s also worth noting that (Former President Trump) 45’s name appears in Project 2025 312 times.

Heritage Foundation’s Influence on Trump

The Heritage Foundation has a history of influencing Trump’s policies. Before the 2016 election, the organization created the “Mandate for Leadership,” which contained 334 policy recommendations. A year into Trump’s term, the Heritage Foundation announced that 64% of these recommendations were either included in Trump’s budget, implemented through regulatory guidance, or under consideration.

In October 2017, Trump praised the Heritage Foundation at an event, crediting the organization with helping him confirm Justice Neil Gorsuch and advance other priorities like large tax cuts. This history suggests that Trump may not easily ignore Project 2025’s recommendations, despite his recent attempts to distance himself.

Potential Implications of Project 2025

The implementation of Project 2025’s proposals could have far-reaching implications for the United States. The plan’s radical changes in social policy, federal governance, and international aid could significantly alter the landscape of American politics and society. The project’s emphasis on conservative, biblically based values and the centralization of power in the executive branch are particularly concerning for those who value the separation of church and state and the independence of federal agencies.

Conclusion

Project 2025 represents a radical vision for a second Trump administration, developed by individuals closely tied to his first term. Despite Trump’s attempts to distance himself, the project’s contributors and their controversial proposals suggest that it could significantly in fluence his policy agenda if he returns to office. As Taraji P. Henson urged at an award show, it is crucial for citizens to educate themselves about Project 2025 and its potential implications, and to make their voices heard at the ballot box.

Update: Project 2025 searches now surpassing Taylor Swift and NFL football since we made the original post about NOAA here.

BONUS: Should the Heritage Foundation be Tax-Exempt?

Fun fact: The Heritage Foundation is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.

Fun fact: They are not allowed to directly/indirectly participate in political campaigns.

Fun fact: IRS form 13909 exists. Do with that information what you like commented one Twitter/X user.