What is Project 2025?
Project 2025 is an extensive 922-page document comprising numerous policies aimed at guiding the next conservative administration.
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While Trump was not directly involved in creating the policy proposals, over 20 members of his administration and allies, under the leadership of the conservative think tank, The Heritage Foundation, contributed to the extensive 922-page document known as Project 2025, as reported by ABC News.
Democrats May Fall Under the Hammer of Trump
It’s no secret Trump has been highly critical of the State of California in his presidential campaign, having said to fellow members of the GOP that “the place is falling” due to its democratic leaders.
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This has left many progressive politicians in the state in fear that a second Trump administration could potentially harm the principles and policies many of the Democrats in the state have fought to implement.
Project 2025 Dismisses Association With Trump
Despite the fear of Democrats, Project 2025 officials have also diminished any link with Trump or any politician, writing that their proposed policies don’t “Speak for any candidate or campaign.”
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Progressive politicians have noted that Trump’s own campaign plan, Agenda47, aligns with various aspects of Project 2025, raising concerns about the potential impact of his policies.
The Worries of Democrats
Democrats and progressive leaders are deeply concerned about the policies listed in Project 2025. They argue that these policies, which aim to reduce abortion rights, increase the use of fossil fuels, and move away from electric vehicles, could have dire consequences for the US.
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The conservative policy proposals also aim to crack down on immigration and ramp up security at the border, which leaders in California argue will drastically affect the lives of millions of immigrants and hurt the economy.
Enhancing the Power of the President
On top of this, progressive leaders are worried implementing policies laid out in Project 2025 could essentially overhaul the US government, which would significantly impact the Golden State.
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The conservative think tank proposes enhancing the overall power of the president while dismantling what it referred to as the “administrative state,” and eroding the justice department’s independence.
Project 2025 is More than an Idea, Says Californian Congressman
California congressman Jared Huffman warned that “Project 2025 is more than an idea” and may have severe consequences for the nation.
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“It’s a dystopian plot that’s already in motion to dismantle our democratic institutions, abolish checks and balances, chip away at church-state separation, and impose a far-right agenda that infringes on basic liberties and violates public will,” he said.
Project Freedom
In response to Project 2025, several democratic leaders have banded together and proposed a project of their own, called FREEDOM.
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President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have warned the public that if Trump is reelected, the implementation of Project 2025 could have dire consequences for the nation. They suggest the conservative blueprint will end federal housing assistance and slash social welfare programs, amongst other things.
Trump Dismisses Project 2025
Donald Trump has confirmed on several occasions that he had nothing to do with the formation of the policies listed in Project 2025 and has even distanced himself from the ideas.
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At a rally in June, he said, “They are extreme, seriously extreme,” said Trump in a July 20 rally. “I don’t know anything about it. I don’t want to know anything about it.”
A Mandate for Leadership: Project 2025
Despite Trump distancing himself from Project 2025, political leaders, including Huffman, have used it against the former president in an attempt to discredit his campaign.
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Other progressive leaders don’t believe that many of the policies laid out in Project 2025’s “Mandate for Leadership” will ever come to fruition.
The Feasibility of Project 2025’s Policies
Christopher Thornberg of the Los Angeles-based research and consulting firm Beacon Economics shared his opinion on the feasibility of implementing some of the controversial policies.
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“I don’t think they are capable of pulling off a lot of the things they want to pull off,” he said.
The Future of California Under a Conservative President
Thornberg admits that a crackdown on immigration is inevitable if Trump earns a second tenure as POTUS. However, the deportation of millions of people seems unlikely due to the high costs.
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In response to the other policies proposed in Project 2025 that could affect California, Thornberg argues, “This state is good at finding ways around the policies. The size of the economy makes it easier to do that.”