Project 2025: What It Means for America and the Future of Trump’s Policies

As the dust settles after the 2024 election, one term that has sparked both concern and debate is Project 2025—a conservative agenda created by the Heritage Foundation, with a blueprint for reshaping the federal government. For many, the emergence of this project means the potential for sweeping changes that will directly affect every American, from their social safety nets to the very structure of the government. But what does this project really entail, and what will Americans get when they vote for Donald Trump in 2024? As the plans of Project 2025 return to the spotlight, it’s critical to take a hard look at its details and understand its full implications.

What is Project 2025?

Project 2025 is essentially a comprehensive plan crafted by a coalition of over 110 conservative groups, most notably the Heritage Foundation. At its core, it proposes radical reforms to the U.S. government, pushing for major cuts to social programs, a restructuring of the judicial system, and significant reductions in federal regulations. It includes over 900 pages of policy recommendations, many of which would upend decades of federal governance. The project is, at its core, an expansion of executive power designed to reshape the government in ways that many view as deeply conservative and controversial.

The idea behind Project 2025 is rooted in the legacy of Ronald Reagan’s administration, which embraced similar conservative policies and led to the reshaping of the federal bureaucracy. But now, with Trump aiming to return to office with a Republican-majority Congress, the goals of this project seem poised to become more than just theoretical—they could become law.

 

What Does Project 2025 Propose?

The project covers a range of policies, but its most contentious proposals focus on cutting social programs like Social Security, restricting abortion access, and rolling back environmental protections.

1. Social Security and Medicare: One of the most significant issues that Project 2025 touches on is Social Security. Despite Trump’s campaign promise not to cut Social Security, Project 2025's framework includes suggestions for reducing entitlement programs to tackle the funding crisis that the U.S. faces with regard to aging populations. The plan advocates reducing government spending, and proposals such as eliminating taxes on Social Security benefits could worsen funding shortfalls, pushing these crucial programs to the brink of collapse. Many Americans, particularly seniors, depend on these benefits, and any effort to reduce them will likely have profound effects on their lives (Kass).
2. Justice Department Overhaul: Project 2025 also pushes for a radical overhaul of the Justice Department, with calls to increase the number of political appointees and grant the executive branch more influence over the FBI. This would, in theory, allow Trump to use government agencies to target political enemies more effectively, creating a troubling precedent for the use of federal power (Dale).
3. Environmental Deregulation: Another core focus is on environmental policy, where Project 2025 advocates for a major rollback of environmental protections. This includes weakening the Clean Air Act and reducing the government’s role in managing climate change. Given that Trump has frequently dismissed climate change as a priority, this aligns with his past actions, such as rolling back numerous environmental regulations during his first term (Dale).
4. Abortion and Family Planning: Project 2025's stance on abortion is another flashpoint. The plan supports the reversal of the FDA’s approval of abortion drugs and calls for more severe restrictions on abortion access at the federal level, pushing the envelope even further after the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade (Dale). If implemented, these measures would severely limit reproductive rights for millions of Americans.
5. The Federal Workforce: The project also proposes drastic cuts to the federal workforce, including eliminating entire departments, such as the Department of Education. This would mark a significant shift away from federal investment in public education, further solidifying the conservative agenda of dismantling government services (Dale).

Trump and the Disconnect with Project 2025

During the 2024 election campaign, Trump distanced himself from the specifics of Project 2025, claiming he had “nothing to do with it” (Benen). This is somewhat ironic given that many of the plan’s key architects have deep ties to his previous administration. Key figures in the development of Project 2025 include Stephen Miller and Peter Navarro, two of Trump’s most loyal advisors. Despite his public disavowals, Trump’s ties to the project run deep, and the reality is that many of its proposals align closely with the direction he has publicly outlined for his second term (Dale).

What Did Voters Really Choose?

When voters cast their ballots for Trump in 2024, they were not just voting for a return to the past—they were, in many ways, endorsing the vision laid out by Project 2025. This isn’t a typical campaign platform; it’s a conservative manifesto that aims to restructure the very foundations of American governance.

Supporters of Trump and Project 2025 argue that these changes are necessary for restoring American values and addressing what they see as the failures of government. However, critics warn that these plans could further divide the nation, strip away hard-won rights, and lead to a more authoritarian government that doesn’t reflect the will of the people (Benen).

What’s at Stake for Americans?

The stakes are incredibly high. Project 2025 isn’t just a set of abstract policies; these proposals could fundamentally alter how Americans experience their daily lives, from healthcare to education, from civil rights to the environment. It’s a vision that many view as deeply dangerous—one that would consolidate power in the hands of a few and diminish the role of the federal government in supporting the most vulnerable.

As Trump prepares for his second term, it’s worth asking: Will Americans get the government they voted for, or will they find themselves caught in a sweeping transformation that leaves them with more questions than answers?

In the wake of the 2024 election, Project 2025’s influence is likely to be felt across all aspects of American society. The question remains: Are Americans ready for the changes it proposes? And perhaps more importantly, will the country be better for them?

Cited Sources:

Dale, Daniel. "Trump’s ‘Project 2025’ Plans to Reshape the Federal Government if He Wins in 2024." USA Today, 6 Nov. 2024, www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/11/06/trump-project-2025-election-heritage-foundation/76088013007/.

Kass, John. "What a Donald Trump Win Means for the Social Security Funding Crisis—and the No-Cuts Pledge." Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2023, https://www.newsweek.com/what-donald-trump-win-means-social-security-funding-crisis-no-cuts-pledge-1978310.

Maddow, Rachel. "Rachel Maddow Blog." MSNBC, 7 Nov. 2024, https://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/amp/shows/maddow/blog/rcna179099.