Despite recently distancing himself from it, Donald Trump’s connections to a lengthy document reflect significant aspects of conservative ideology in America. His running mate, JD Vance, is also linked to the Heritage Foundation, the organization behind this expansive proposal.
The Heritage Foundation, a prominent conservative think tank, has formulated a plan known as Project 2025. This initiative aims to prepare for the next conservative administration to assume power precisely at noon on January 20, 2025.
The extensive “Mandate for Leadership,” totaling 922 pages, was released in early 2023 and is available online. It outlines a strategy for a comprehensive restructuring of the U.S. federal government, crafted by over 100 contributors.
While the document’s length may deter some from reading it all, certain elements have garnered considerable attention. Key demands from Project 2025 include:
a) Prohibiting pornography,
b) Dissolving the U.S. Departments of Education and Homeland Security,
c) Rejecting abortion as a medical procedure, and
d) Eliminating climate safeguards.
Project 2025 comprises four main components: a database of conservative-leaning employees, a training program called the “Presidential Administration Academy,” a playbook for the first 180 days of a new president’s term, and the comprehensive manifesto outlining recommended changes to government agencies.
The proposal emphasizes an aggressive utilization of the executive branch’s powers, suggesting the reinstatement of “Schedule F,” an executive order from Trump’s presidency that was later revoked by Biden. This order would enable the dismissal of civil servants deemed disloyal to the president, theoretically impacting potentially thousands of employees.
A long-term goal for conservatives highlighted in the plan is the abolition of the U.S. Department of Education. The document also recommends dismantling the Department of Homeland Security, which it criticizes for being influenced by “leftist” ideologies after its creation post-9/11.
The plan states that “pornography should be outlawed,” pushing for legal repercussions against its producers and distributors. It presents transgender care for minors as “child abuse” and equates “transgender ideology” with pornography.
Additionally, it calls for reversing the approval of the abortion pill mifepristone and suggests exempting men’s contraceptive methods and morning-after pills from the coverage mandated by the Affordable Care Act. Although not advocating for an absolute national abortion ban, many of the recommendations would significantly limit access.
On environmental issues, the plan proposes increasing natural gas and oil production while rolling back attempts to address climate change and dismantling related environmental laws. It maligns the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as a contributor to “climate change alarmism,” calling for its dismantlement.
In immigration policy, it suggests mass deportations and deploying active military personnel to secure the border. Furthermore, it recommends removing terms related to sexual orientation, gender identity, diversity, equity, and inclusion from federal regulations and legislation.
With the current trajectory of U.S. politics, questions arise about how these decisions might affect countries like Fiji. As the U.S. considers reversing climate initiatives and dismantling environmental protections, concerns grow about whether the U.S. remains deserving of global attention.