Former President Donald Trump, a beacon of hope for many conservatives, had a clear mission: to drain the swamp. This meant purging the federal government of special interests and rogue bureaucrats obstructing the presidential mandate. However, the vision for a streamlined government doesn’t stop with Trump. Other Republican stalwarts, like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, have even more audacious plans, such as dissolving the IRS and several U.S. Departments, including Education, Commerce, and Energy.
This drive for reform is not just about eliminating agencies. It’s about a comprehensive transformation of the federal bureaucracy. Enter Project 2025, a meticulously crafted roadmap to reshape the national landscape. This initiative, detailed in the sweeping “Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise,” is a clarion call for conservatives to seize the last chance to preserve our republic’s core values.
Under the guidance of Associate Director Spencer Chretien, Project 2025 is nearing its goal of rallying almost 20,000 potential federal employees. These individuals, deeply rooted in conservative ideology, are prepared to relocate to Washington and mold the government in line with modern conservative principles. Chretien emphasizes, “We aim to dismantle the deep state, ensuring that the government remains of the people, by the people, for the people.”
However, the path to reform isn’t without challenges. Some legal experts argue that the president’s power to enact such sweeping changes is limited. However, history shows that managing the federal government has always been complex. From the days of President George Washington, who once wrote about the intricacies of appointment nominations, to the present, the challenge of staffing and managing the government has been a constant.
Over the years, the federal bureaucracy has grown exponentially. By 2022, over 2 million individuals were employed by the federal government, spread across more than 400 agencies. This vast administrative machine, critics argue, has become so large that it operates almost as a separate branch of government. Past presidents, like Andrew Jackson and Richard Nixon, have grappled with this behemoth, trying to ensure that their policies are implemented effectively.
Project 2025, backed by The Heritage Foundation, seeks to address this challenge head-on. The vision is clear: a 180-day agenda with specific transition plans, ready for execution on day one of the next administration. The goal? A leaner, more accountable government that truly reflects the will of the American people.
The Heritage Foundation has a track record of influencing policy. President Ronald Reagan and President Trump incorporated significant portions of the Foundation’s recommendations into their administrations. The current iteration of the plan emphasizes the need for a more accountable government, suggesting measures like reinstating “Schedule F,” which would classify many federal workers as “at-will” employees.
While critics argue that such measures could lead to a politicized bureaucracy, proponents of Project 2025 believe that it’s about ensuring that the government serves the people, not the other way around. The plan also calls for re-evaluating the 1935 decision in Humphrey’s Executor v. United States, which ensures the independence of certain federal agencies.
The debate over the extent of executive power will continue, but what’s clear is that conservatives have a vision for the future. Whether it’s President Trump, Governor DeSantis, or another Republican leader, the first day of the next presidential term, January 20, 2025, promises to be a landmark day for conservative America.