The director of Project 2025, a conservative plan for a possible second Donald Trump term—resigned amid sharp criticism emanating from different quarters, including the former president himself. Paul Dans, who had been a past adviser to President Trump, headed up the project that bore the stated mission to help form conservative goals should Republicans again take back the White House.
The work will go on to construct a conservative personnel network, despite the resignation. The plan that has evolved into the 900-page playbook of Project 2025’s vision for the transformation of the government and American life has raised warnings from Democrats.
Trump has gone so far as to publicly blast some of the ideas put forth in Project 2025, trying to distance himself from it. Dans’ departure was confirmed by the president of the Heritage Foundation, the think tank behind Project 2025. But that won’t stop the push to staff a Trump administration with loyal conservatives.
Vice President Kamala Harris has latched onto Project 2025 as a talking point for her campaign, blasting its contents and claiming the document raises questions about Trump’s agenda. While Project 2025 does take up two of Trump’s signature issues—immigration and bureaucracy reform—it also contains a host of problematic ideas the president has never directly advanced.
Among them are proposals to ban pornography, limit access to certain contraceptives, and abolish the agency that oversees the National Weather Service. Many former administration officials were involved in its creation, and Trump has tried to distance himself from the project.
One of the chief men behind Project 2025, Dans, was already working with Trump and expressed his interest in continuing to work under him. He mentioned that Project 2025 would have come into being if only Trump had been re-elected. Despite all this row, the supporters, like Dans, are still keen on going ahead with the project under Trump’s stewardship.
In summary, Project 2025 is the conservative blueprint for a Trump second term. Mired in controversy and critique, it is an attempt to drastically reform the government and refashion American society along conservative lines. Its director may be gone, but the work to implement its goals never stops.