President Donald Trump recently mentioned Project 2025 in the context of meeting with Russ Vought, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director and a key figure behind the Project 2025 initiative. Trump described this meeting as an opportunity to determine which federal agencies might be reduced or cut during the ongoing government shutdown, framing it as a chance to eliminate "dead, waste and fraud" in the government. However, Trump has also previously distanced himself from Project 2025, calling parts of it "ridiculous and abysmal" and at times claiming he had no connection to or knowledge of the plan during his campaign. Despite this distancing, many of Trump's early executive actions in his current term align closely with the conservative agenda outlined in Project 2025.
Project 2025 is a conservative plan created by organizations including former Trump administration officials, aiming to transform or significantly overhaul the federal government. Critics label it authoritarian and a threat to democratic norms, while supporters see it as a blueprint for deep conservative reform. Several Trump appointees in his current administration were involved in Project 2025's development, and the project has served as a guide for many policies implemented early in Trump's second term.
In summary, Trump has acknowledged Project 2025 as part of the conservative framework guiding some of his administration's actions but has tried to downplay or deny direct involvement, while simultaneously using its proponents to influence government restructuring efforts during the shutdown.
