After months of distancing himself from Project 2025, former President Donald Trump has now openly aligned with the controversial conservative agenda. The shift comes as his administration uses the ongoing government shutdown to accelerate plans outlined in the document, a sweeping policy blueprint crafted by The Heritage Foundation and many of Trump’s longtime allies.
What Is Project 2025?
For those asking what is Project 2025, it is a 900-page conservative playbook designed to reshape the federal government. Drafted by right-leaning policy experts and former Trump officials, it outlines a massive restructuring plan to slash the federal workforce, centralize power in the presidency, and roll back policies introduced under Democratic administrations.
The blueprint includes proposals to dismantle certain federal agencies, expand executive authority, tighten immigration controls, and cut funding for programs in areas like green energy and transportation. More extreme sections even call for rolling back reproductive rights and restricting access to abortion medication.
Trump’s Shift on Project 2025
During the 2024 campaign, Trump repeatedly denied involvement with the plan, telling reporters he had “nothing to do with Project 2025.” His campaign team at the time criticized the Heritage Foundation for publishing a document full of unpopular proposals that Democrats used to paint a second Trump term as extreme.
But in recent weeks, Trump has reversed course. In a Truth Social post, he revealed he is now working with Russ Vought, one of the architects of the plan, to review federal agencies and recommend which ones to cut. “Russ Vought, he of PROJECT 2025 Fame,” Trump wrote, highlighting his direct involvement with the strategy.
This reversal validates Democratic warnings. Both Joe Biden and Kamala Harris frequently cited Project 2025 during the 2024 campaign, arguing that Trump’s second term would be guided by the playbook.
Using the Shutdown to Push the Agenda
The government shutdown has become a tool for implementing parts of Trump Project 2025. Reports indicate that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), led by Vought, has ordered agencies to prepare for mass firings rather than temporary furloughs of federal workers.
In addition, the administration has canceled $8 billion in green energy projects in Democratic-led states and frozen $18 billion in funding for transportation projects in New York. These actions directly align with priorities outlined in the Project 2025 tracker, which emphasizes curbing what conservatives call wasteful Democratic spending.
The Architects of Project 2025
Although Trump once denied knowing who was behind the document, many of its contributors are now part of his inner circle. They include:
- Russ Vought, Trump’s former budget director, who is shaping agency cuts.
- Stephen Miller, the architect of Trump’s hardline immigration policies.
- John Ratcliffe, the former CIA Director.
- Tom Homan, Trump’s “border czar.”
Even Paul Dans, who previously served as chief of staff at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management and helped lead Project 2025, has praised the administration for putting the blueprint into action.
Why Project 2025 Matters
The significance of Project 2025 goes beyond partisan politics. If implemented fully, it would radically restructure how the U.S. government operates by:
- Concentrating more power in the executive branch.
- Weakening independent federal agencies.
- Cutting large swaths of the civil service workforce.
- Prioritizing conservative policies over bipartisan programs.
Supporters argue these changes are necessary to curb bureaucracy and restore accountability to elected leadership. Critics warn the plan threatens democratic checks and balances, putting too much power in the hands of the president.
Reactions From Both Sides
Democrats say Trump’s embrace of Project 2025 confirms their worst fears. “Donald Trump and his stooges lied through their teeth about Project 2025, and now he’s running the country straight into it,” said Ammar Moussa, a spokesperson for Biden and Harris during their campaigns.
On the other hand, conservatives see the plan as a long-awaited opportunity to reset the federal government. Senator Mike Lee of Utah praised Vought’s vision, saying it will make the president “powerful enough to override bureaucracy.”
The renewed attention to Project 2025 signals that it is no longer just a think tank exercise—it has become the guiding framework for Trump’s administration. With the government shutdown being used to advance its policies, the debate over the future of American governance is intensifying.
For now, the Project 2025 tracker is worth watching closely, as decisions made under its influence could shape U.S. policy for years to come. Whether seen as a roadmap to efficiency or a threat to democracy, Trump Project 2025 is certain to remain at the center of political battles leading into 2026.
Stay updated with breaking business, politics, and startup stories at Startup News.
