Donald Trump’s connections to a significant conservative policy document illustrate the ideological landscape of America. Even though Trump has distanced himself from the document recently, his running mate, JD Vance, is affiliated with the Heritage Foundation, the organization behind this important proposal.
The Heritage Foundation has launched “Project 2025,” described as a coordinated effort within the conservative movement to be prepared for the next conservative administration, set to take office at noon on January 20, 2025.
The extensive 922-page manifesto titled “Mandate for Leadership,” released in early 2023, presents a strategy for a comprehensive restructuring of the U.S. federal government. This proposal has contributions from over 100 writers and scholars.
While the sheer length of the plan can be daunting, several key aspects have caught public interest. Notable recommendations from Project 2025 include:
a) Making pornography illegal,
b) Dissolving the Department of Education and the Department of Homeland Security,
c) Classifying abortion as non-medical,
d) Eliminating climate protections.
Project 2025 encompasses four main elements: a conservative employee database, a training program called the “Presidential Administration Academy,” a playbook for the new president’s initial 180 days, and the detailed manifesto outlining agency reforms.
The proposal emphasizes the need for aggressive use of executive authority, suggesting the revival of “Schedule F,” an executive order from Trump that was rescinded by President Biden. This order would facilitate the termination of civil servants deemed disloyal to the president—potentially affecting tens of thousands.
A long-standing goal of conservatives, the plan advocates for dismantling the Department of Education. It also recommends abolishing the Department of Homeland Security, characterizing it as tainted by leftist ideologies and as a product of the post-9/11 era.
Furthermore, the document states that “pornography should be outlawed,” proposing imprisonment for its producers and distributors and threatening tech companies that distribute it with closure.
The plan also controversially categorizes transgender care for minors as “child abuse,” drawing parallels between “transgender ideology” and pornography. It calls for revoking the approval of the abortion drug mifepristone and suggests exempting men’s contraceptive methods and morning-after pills from coverage under the Affordable Care Act.
While the proposal does not push for a complete ban on abortion, many recommendations would severely limit access. Environmentally, it calls for increasing oil and natural gas production while reversing climate laws and protections. It also seeks to dismantle the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, labeling it a negative influence on U.S. prosperity regarding climate alarmism.
In terms of immigration policy, the document suggests mass deportations and deploying military personnel for border security. It advocates for the removal of terms such as sexual orientation, gender identity, and diversity from federal regulations.
As U.S. politics evolve, questions arise about the implications for regions like the Fiji Islands. With a stance likely to reverse climate initiatives, considerations about the significance of U.S. policy on global environmental efforts become pertinent.