By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Following Donald Trump’s election victory, Republican allies openly celebrated the implementation of “Project 2025,” a conservative policy package crafted by The Heritage Foundation. This plan, initially downplayed by Trump during his campaign, includes a broad expansion of executive powers, a de facto national abortion ban, and harsh measures against undocumented migrants. Despite Trump’s previous distancing from the project, his close ties to its architects and the alignment of its goals with his administration suggest a strong link between the two. With the election concluded, Republicans are now comfortable acknowledging Project 2025 as the blueprint for Trump’s second term.
Read the original article here
Donald Trump has won the election, and Republicans are now comfortable openly admitting that Project 2025 was the plan all along. The draconian policy package prepared by The Heritage Foundation in preparation for a second Trump administration was so extremist that in the final months of the campaign, the former president took great pains to publicly distance himself from the project. Its contents, which include a broad expansion of executive powers, a de facto national abortion ban, increased restrictions on contraception, brutal policies against undocumented migrants, and the elimination of several federal agencies (including the Department of Education), didn’t sit well with prospective voters.
Trump feigned ignorance of the plan, despite his close ties to those involved in crafting it, while Democrats did all they could to warn about the conservative blueprint for a second Trump term. Sure enough, less than 24 hours after the election was called for Trump, his allies, advisers, and prominent supporters were celebrating the now-open road to Project 2025’s implementation.
On Wednesday, former Trump adviser Steve Bannon – who just weeks ago completed a four-month prison sentence on a contempt of Congress conviction – lauded Christian Nationalist Matt Walsh, a commentator at The Daily Wire, on his War Room broadcast. Walsh had written on X, formerly Twitter: “Now that the election is over I think we can finally say that yeah actually Project 2025 is the agenda. Lol” Bannon responded by praising Walsh, instructing his staff to promote the post on his social media.
Right-wing podcast Benny Johnson also gloated about the project. “It is my honor to inform you all that Project 2025 was real the whole time,” he wrote. In a separate post, Tarrant County GOP Chair Bo French wrote, “So can we admit now that we are going to implement Project 2025?”
Regardless of whether Trump explicitly endorses Project 2025 as a guide for his second administration, the overlap in its proposals, staff, and goals means the two are inextricably linked. Republicans just don’t have to pretend anymore.
The Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 has since been supplanted by an initiative put forth by the America First Policy Institute. They were successful in gaining Trump’s favor during this election cycle in a behind the scenes power struggle with Heritage Foundation and have their own agenda similar to Project 2025 but under a new name.
One of the policies in Project 2025 is removing the ability to get a military retirement paycheck and VA disability money simultaneously, which is something nearly every military person ends up getting. This is just one example of the many policies included in Project 2025 that will have a significant impact on Americans, especially those who rely on government programs and services.
The potential consequences of implementing Project 2025 are far-reaching and deeply troubling. The plan is likely to lead to a significant increase in poverty and homelessness, as well as a decline in access to healthcare, education, and other essential services. It is also likely to have a negative impact on the environment and climate change, as well as on civil liberties and democracy.
The celebration of Project 2025 by Republicans is a stark reminder of the extreme ideological shift that has taken place in American politics. It is a sign that the GOP is no longer interested in governing in a way that is beneficial to all Americans. Instead, they are focused on enacting a radical agenda that will benefit a small number of wealthy individuals and corporations at the expense of the vast majority of Americans.
In the face of this extremist agenda, it is more important than ever for Americans to come together and fight for the values that have always defined our country. We must resist the forces of division and hate and work together to build a more just and equitable society for all.