Policy Plan Once Denied by Trump Now Shapes His Administration
During his campaign, the former President denied any connection to the conservative policy plan known as "Project 2025." However, it seems that this very plan is now playing a significant role in his administration's strategies and decisions. This plan became a major controversy during the election, but it didn't stop him from winning.
Remarkably, this plan is now being put into action in various areas, such as stricter immigration policies and restructuring the Department of Education.
Project 2025: A Controversial Blueprint
The initial worries about Project 2025 started to surface in the spring of 2024. The concerns grew when a renowned actress brought attention to it at an award function. She appealed to the audience to be vigilant as she believed that the plan was targeting the most defenseless in the society.
Despite the uproar, the former President dismissed the plan as "ridiculous" and claimed to be unaware of its origins. It's worth noting that some of the key individuals involved in the creation of the Project 2025 were part of his initial administration.
The outcry didn't subside, leading to a counterattack on the allies who crafted the plan. A senior advisor to the campaign criticized the creators of Project 2025 during the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
Implementing Project 2025
Shortly after his victory, the former President appointed an architect of Project 2025 to a critical position in the Office of Management and Budget. More contributors from the plan soon joined the administration. The President then started introducing orders to reshape the government, many of which were outlined in Project 2025.
Among these changes was the declaration that the official policy of the U.S. government would henceforth recognize only two genders, male and female. Other measures included ending diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, strict immigration enforcement, and initiating steps to overhaul the federal workforce.
The attorney general of California remarked that Project 2025 shaped the former President's first year back in office. Democratic attorneys general from across the country examined Project 2025 and prepared responses to anticipated actions.
He also joined legal actions that successfully blocked attempts to require states to join the immigration crackdown, freeze domestic federal funding, and cut staff at agencies like the Department of Education.
White House Response
The White House brushed aside worries about Project 2025, labeling them as baseless theories from insiders. A spokeswoman from the White House stated that the President was merely implementing his campaign promises, which were voted for by the American people. She added that the focus was on reducing gas prices, boosting economic growth, and securing the border.
The Controversy Continues
A presidential historian and former White House aide suggested that the controversy around Project 2025 might have been amplified by the former President's denial of it during his campaign. He compared Project 2025 to the policy proposals presented by think tanks to incoming presidents for decades.
He referred to the policy and personnel ideas of the Hoover Institution that influenced the George W. Bush administration and the impact of the Center for American Progress on the Obama administration.
In his view, had the former President accepted and endorsed Project 2025, it would have been perceived as standard procedure. However, by criticizing and disowning it, the policy plan became more controversial.
Ultimately, the former President did embrace Project 2025 during a government shutdown. He bragged about his meeting with one of its architects and threatened to dismantle federal agencies.