The director of the Project 2025 agenda, a comprehensive policy position agenda meant to guide Republican initiatives for the 2024 election and beyond, stepped down this week. The Heritage Foundation, the seat and institution behind Project 2025, confirmed Paul Dans’s resignation.
Project 2025 and Republican Politics
Project 2025 has been a lightning rod for Republicans this election cycle, with Presidential Nominee Donald Trump distancing himself from the initiative.
Democrat and Progressive Opposition
Democrats and progressives have been pointing to what they see as radical ideological values and policies contained in the would-be agenda for a Republican President-elect moving into 2025.
Paul Dans’s Resignation
Dans stepped down this week after Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts claimed that Project 2025 “completed exactly what it set out to do: bring together over 110 leading conservative organizations to create a unified conservative vision, motivated to devolve power from the unelected administrative state, and returning it to the people.”
Trump’s Stance
Trump has distanced himself from the values represented by the Project, especially as he has tried to appeal to more moderate voters on social issues such as abortion and access to artificial reproductive technologies.
Project 2025 Policy Documents
The policy documents from Project 2025 include a 1,000-page handbook that outlines specific actions to take to achieve a more cohesive and progressive pursuit of conservative government. The actions would take root as soon as a new Administration is inaugurated.
Blueprint for the Transition Period
The intention is to reduce the lag time and set the wheels in motion before day one on the job. There is considerable time between the Presidential election and the January 20th change of Administration. Project 2025 would provide a blueprint as party leaders make their calculated moves for this period.
Trump’s Dismissal of the Project
While over 100 conservative leaders and organizations contributed to the Project, Trump has been relatively dismissive of the agenda, stating that he has not read the documents and does not know anything about it.
Comments at a Michigan Rally
He referenced the authors and contributors as being part of the “severe right” at a rally in Michigan in July and said that some of the ideas were “seriously extreme.”
Campaign’s Stance on Project 2025
Trump campaign officials said that the campaign “has been very clear for over a year that Project 2025 had nothing to do with the campaign, did not speak for the campaign, and should not be associated with the campaign or the President in any way.”
Call for Dissociation
The campaign went a step further, asking the Project to cease allying itself with the Republican Presidential Campaign. Campaign representatives said, “Reports of Project 2025’s demise would be greatly welcomed and should serve as notice to anyone or any group trying to misrepresent their influence with President Trump and his campaign—it will not end well for you.”
Pressure on Dans
It is unknown if the Trump campaign pressured Dans to step down from Project 2025 at the Heritage Foundation.
Heritage Foundation’s Statement
The Heritage Foundation stated that Dans left voluntarily without pressure from the Trump campaign.
Reason for Distance
According to Chris LaCivita, a campaign advisor, the main reason the Trump campaign is eager to distance itself from the Project is that “the issues that are going to win us this campaign are not the issues that they want to talk about.”
Democrat’s Strategy
The Democrats have been able to link Trump to the Project 2025 agenda because many of the former Trump Administration political appointees and staff, including Dans, have been involved with the Project.
Future of Project 2025
While Dans will no longer be heading the Project, Project 2025 will continue to operate at Heritage Foundation under Robert’s leadership. The group will continue to vet potential employees if Republicans win back the White House in November.
