Project 2025: Inside the Controversial Playbook for a Right-Wing Presidential Administration
Project 2025, a playbook and policy agenda for a potential right-wing presidential administration, has been the subject of intense scrutiny and criticism. Despite losing its director and facing backlash from both Democratic groups and former President Donald Trump, the project’s plan to train a cadre of political appointees to combat the so-called deep state bureaucracy on behalf of a future conservative administration remains on track.
One key component of Project 2025 is the Presidential Administration Academy, which features dozens of never-before-published training videos. These videos, totaling over 14 hours of content, offer guidance on various aspects of governance, from navigating government processes to outmaneuvering bureaucrats. The content ranges from routine advice for incoming appointees to strategies for implementing conservative policies and reshaping the federal government.
In one video, Bethany Kozma, a former deputy chief of staff at the U.S. Agency for International Development in the Trump administration, downplays the seriousness of climate change and suggests that efforts to combat it are a guise for population control. She advocates for eradicating climate change references from government discourse if a conservative president is elected.
Another speaker, Katie Sullivan, a former acting assistant attorney general at the Department of Justice under Trump, criticizes executive actions by President Joe Biden aimed at advancing gender equality. She calls for the removal of gender adviser positions and equity plans from government websites, highlighting the project’s conservative stance on social issues.
Despite attempts by Trump to distance himself from Project 2025, the project’s ties to his administration are evident. The majority of speakers in the training videos have worked for Trump in various capacities, underscoring the project’s alignment with his political agenda. The videos, recorded before the resignation of Project 2025’s leader, provide insights into the project’s goals and strategies for future conservative appointees.
The training videos also address regulatory and policy changes that appointees should anticipate in a Republican administration. Speakers emphasize the need for appointees to be prepared for challenges from the left and offer advice on navigating government processes, working with the media, and avoiding pitfalls that plagued the first Trump presidency.
The project’s experts advocate for expanding key government agencies, such as the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, to rein in federal regulations and counter the administrative state. While this approach may seem at odds with conservative principles of limited government, Project 2025 argues that strategic growth in certain areas is necessary to achieve broader conservative goals.
Overall, Project 2025 offers a glimpse into a potential Trump government-in-waiting, with speakers providing advice on how future appointees can advance conservative policies and navigate the challenges of working in a hostile political environment. The project’s training videos serve as a roadmap for conservative appointees to implement a bold agenda and counter opposition from the left.
In conclusion, Project 2025 sheds light on the inner workings of a potential right-wing presidential administration and provides valuable insights into the strategies and tactics that conservative appointees may employ in the future. The project’s training videos offer a comprehensive guide for navigating the complexities of government and advancing a conservative agenda in the face of opposition.