Donald Trump’s administration would likely consolidate his rule by following the Project 2025 roadmap, a transition plan developed by the Heritage Foundation think tank. According to critics, this nearly nine hundred page text is “authoritarian”, “dystopian,” and a “blueprint for destroying our democracy.”
Project 2025 covers a range of conservative priorities such as restricting access to abortion, rolling back LGBTQ+ rights, halting efforts to address climate change and income inequality, and overhauling federal government workforce.
Despite disowning the document by Trump himself, Project 2025 was led by past Trump administration officials like Paul Dans and Russell Vought. Many of these organizations would be highly powerful in Washington if Republicans reassert control over the White House. The recent surge in interest about the document began with liberal opposition to it especially after Joe Biden performed poorly in the debate and after US Supreme Court strengthened presidential immunity.
The four key policy goals of Project 2025 include making the family central to American life again; dismantling bureaucracy; defending national borders and sovereignty; securing individual freedoms. Nevertheless, some critics believe that this accord may affect democracy negatively leading to political violence. Democrats are also raising concerns that Kevin Roberts’ speech on another possible ‘American Revolution’ indicated that President Trump wanted a ‘violent revolution.’
Below are some of the key recommendations provided for in Project 2025:
Structure of government
Another aspect emphasized by this proposal is government structure as it recommends introducing what is referred to as “unitary executive theory” which puts all federal agencies including justice department under direct authority of president. This streamlines decision-making process enhancing effective implementation of policies across various sectors.
In addition, it suggests allowing many federal employees lose their job security so as people can be appointed based on political grounds.It also describes FBI as bloated, arrogant increasingly lawless organization.
Social issues and abortion
This section provides departmental guidelines for health services with regard to abortion and other social issues in the Project 2025 policy book. One of the proposals is that the Food and Drug Administration should reverse its long-standing approval of mifepristone- a commonly used abortion pill that has been on the market for over twenty years.
Moreover, they recommend more stringent regulation around mifepristone. This means reducing time frame when medication can be taken to seven weeks instead of current window period that is 10 weeks.
The document also takes up one of the most controversial social issues, namely whether transgender people should serve in the military or not. During his first term President Trump barred transgender individuals from serving in the armed forces. That policy was reversed by Biden; however, Project 2025 recommends bringing it back.
Immigration
The plan contains a blueprint for increasing funding for construction of a wall along United State-Mexico border which was one of key promises made by Trump during his 2016 presidential campaign.
The immigration enforcement apparatus must be restructured in addition to the border wall as suggested by Project 2025. This involves abolishing the Department of Homeland Security and combining its roles with other units dealing with immigration enforcement across various agencies.
Furthermore, the document contains other proposals aimed at strengthening immigration policies. Among them is the scrapping of some visa categories meant for victims of crime and human trafficking as well as an increase in fees levied on immigrants.
And Climate Change
The Republican platform suggests a sharp turnabout in America’s climate change and energy policy. It also calls for deep cuts to government support of research and development in renewable energy. Instead, it tells the incoming administration “to stop the war on oil and natural gas” which indicates a shift away from clean-energy initiatives.
Under this plan, carbon emissions reductions would become less important than rising energy production levels or attaining national energy independence.
