Early Trump actions, Project 2025 'have a lot in common,' former chief says
The former leader of Project 2025 says the initial actions from the Trump administration aligns pretty closely with the conservative Heritage Foundation’s vision for the president’s return to the White House.
Paul Dans, who led the project until he resigned as leader in July amid backlash to many of the proposals, told Politico in an interview published Sunday that he’s very pleased with President Trump's agenda so far.
“I’m saying that directionally, they have a lot in common, but so do great minds,” Dans said. “We had hoped, those of us who worked putting together Project 2025, that the next conservative president would seize the day, but Trump is seizing every minute of every hour.”
Project 2025 was a key point of attack for Democrats on Trump throughout the 2024 presidential campaign, with liberals tying him to the project as many former Trump staffers were involved in crafting it. Trump repeatedly denied any involvement in the project and said he didn’t know much about it.
The project comprised conservative organizations and Trump allies and featured a 900-page outline on a wide range of policies for the potential second Trump administration.
An analysis from Time magazine found almost two-thirds of the initial executive orders that Trump issued in his first days back in office at least somewhat mirrored proposals from Project 2025, and reports have noted similarities in scaling back the federal workforce, going after diversity, equity and inclusion programs and moving to ban gender-affirming care for minors, all of which Trump discussed on the campaign trail.
Dans told Politico that Trump told the truth when he said he wasn’t involved in the project, as it was completed independent of him and for the conservative movement to say what they believe in.
He said the agenda of Project 2025 goes back beyond Trump, to the foundation of the Progressive Era ushered in by former Presidents Woodrow Wilson and Franklin Roosevelt.
“The entire artifice of the federal government had been built over the last 100 years in essentially a very anti-democratic manner,” he said.
Dans said Project 2025 was caught in a “maelstrom of misinformation” as the left decided to go “all in” on attacking it, leading to his resignation. But when asked if the Trump administration was falling short or diverging from his original vision for the project, Dans said “It’s actually way beyond my wildest dreams.”
Topics
-
Project 2025: You can’t say Trump didn’t warn us
Project 2025, a 922-page blueprint for a second Trump administration prepared by the Heritage Foundation, has been implemented by Trump's administration, including firing 30,000 federal employees, ...The Hill - 6d -
The key Project 2025 authors now staffing the Trump administration
Trump has invited some of the most prominent contributors to the Project 2025 playbook into his administration.NBC News - 5d -
OpenAI urges Trump administration to remove guardrails for the industry
OpenAI on Thursday submitted its proposal for the U.S. government's coming "AI Action Plan," to be submitted to President Trump by July 2025.CNBC - 4d -
2025 Fantasy Football: Early projections for Justin Fields, Najee Harris and other Monday free agent movers
Early projections for free agent moversCBS Sports - 6d -
Trump rolls back over a dozen Biden-era executive orders, actions
President Trump rolled back on Friday over a dozen former executive orders and directives signed by former President Biden focused on gender, labor policies and industry regulations. Trump signed ...The Hill - 2d -
Former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin says 'people are overreacting a bit' to Trump's policies
Former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Wednesday he believes “people are overreacting a bit” to the policy changes from the current Trump administration.NBC News - 5d -
Former Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull says leaders must stand up to bullies after being lashed by Donald Trump
US president’s late-night social media post came after Turnbull criticised Trump’s leadership as ‘chaotic’. Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred LIVE: latest news and updates Get our breaking news email ...The Guardian - Mar. 10 -
‘All the birds returned’: How a Chinese project led the way in water and soil conservation
The Loess plateau was the most eroded place on Earth until China took action and reversed decades of damage from grazing and farming. It was one of China’s most ambitious environmental endeavours ...The Guardian - 3d -
Former Obama-era Education secretary says Trump cuts are "morally and educationally bankrupt"
The Trump administration is cutting the Education Department's workforce in half. Arne Duncan, who served as secretary of education under former President Barack Obama, joins "The Daily Report" to ...CBS News - 4d
More from The Hill
-
Georgetown announces reduced tuition, career services for fired federal workers
Georgetown University is launching a program to offer tuition assistance and career services for federal workers impacted by President Trump's push to shrink the government workforce.The Hill - 36m -
West Virginia governor says he'll take legal action against NCAA over tournament snub
West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey (R) on Monday said he will take legal action against the NCAA over West Virginia University’s (WVU) snub from the March Madness tournament. “I've asked Attorney ...The Hill - 53m -
DHS says deported Brown University doctor attended funeral of 'brutal terrorist'
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said Monday on the social platform X the deported assistant professor from Brown University’s medical school attended the funeral of a terrorist in ...The Hill - 1h -
Clyburn says he thought Senate Dems were 'on board' with opposing funding bill: 'What happened?'
Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) said he doesn’t know what happened late last week that resulted in Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and nine other Senate Democrats voting to advance the ...The Hill - 1h -
White House on French politician suggesting US return Statue of Liberty: 'Absolutely not'
The White House on Monday pushed back on a French politician who called for the United States to return the Statue of Liberty to France, jabbing the "low-level" French lawmaker. “Absolutely not,” ...The Hill - 1h
More in Politics
-
Georgetown announces reduced tuition, career services for fired federal workers
Georgetown University is launching a program to offer tuition assistance and career services for federal workers impacted by President Trump's push to shrink the government workforce.The Hill - 36m -
West Virginia governor says he'll take legal action against NCAA over tournament snub
West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey (R) on Monday said he will take legal action against the NCAA over West Virginia University’s (WVU) snub from the March Madness tournament. “I've asked Attorney ...The Hill - 53m -
DHS says deported Brown University doctor attended funeral of 'brutal terrorist'
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said Monday on the social platform X the deported assistant professor from Brown University’s medical school attended the funeral of a terrorist in ...The Hill - 1h -
Clyburn says he thought Senate Dems were 'on board' with opposing funding bill: 'What happened?'
Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) said he doesn’t know what happened late last week that resulted in Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and nine other Senate Democrats voting to advance the ...The Hill - 1h -
White House on French politician suggesting US return Statue of Liberty: 'Absolutely not'
The White House on Monday pushed back on a French politician who called for the United States to return the Statue of Liberty to France, jabbing the "low-level" French lawmaker. “Absolutely not,” ...The Hill - 1h