Project 2025 in Action

Since Donald Trump’s inauguration for his second term on January 20, 2025, the administration’s actions have mirrored the detailed recommendations of Project 2025 - a comprehensive conservative policy blueprint crafted by the Heritage Foundation and its allies. Despite Trump’s repeated public denials of involvement with Project 2025, the reality is that his administration has become the primary vehicle for its implementation. The key architects and contributors to Project 2025, many of whom served in Trump’s first administration, now occupy pivotal roles in his Cabinet and senior advisory positions, ensuring the playbook is put into action across federal agencies.

Executive orders signed in the early weeks of Trump’s second term-ranging from dismantling the Department of Education and ending federal diversity, equity, and inclusion programs to rolling back environmental regulations and imposing harsh immigration restrictions directly reflect Project 2025’s priorities. Analyses show that a significant majority of Trump’s executive actions since January 20 have either fully or partially mirrored the proposals in Project 2025.

While Trump retains the authority to sign these orders and set high-level priorities, the operational direction and detailed policy execution are being driven by the Project 2025 network. Figures such as Russ Vought, John Ratcliffe, and other Project 2025 contributors now head key agencies, translating the blueprint into government action.

Trump’s role is largely complicit: he enables and legitimizes the agenda by appointing its architects and approving their initiatives, but the true direction and substance of policy are set by those who designed and are now executing the Project 2025 playbook.