"What is project 2025 and how will it affect america?"--Paloma bastos, 6thGrade
Basic Information
Project 2025, or the Mandate for Leadership is a 900-page policy “wishlist” for former president Donald Trump if he gets re-elected, written by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative political organization. But many people don't know what it means for us Americans. Although Trump has denied on social media and the debate in Pennsylvania that he has anything to do with “Project 2025,” many people disagree.
Many people are worried about the proposals Project 2025 has to offer and what will happen if Donald Trump gets re-elected. But some don't know these alarming proposals and how they’ll affect us as a country. An article by BBC News claims “The Project 2025 document sets out four main policy aims: restore the family as the centerpiece of American life; dismantle the administrative state; defend the nation's sovereignty and borders; and secure God-given individual rights to live freely.”
Some Proposals Included In Project 2025
As you know there are over 900 policies in Project 2025, though no one can list all of them there are some major ones included such as:
Mass Deportation
Project 2025 claims they’ll deport the undocumented folks who have been living here for years, which will destroy our economy as we depend on the 8,260 immigrants per day who fill the important jobs most Americans can’t do. Even though Trump claims the immigrants are “taking our jobs,” no American would volunteer to take those jobs, let alone have the experience. Most of us probably heard Donald Trump talking about deporting immigrants, saying they’ll start in Springfield as well as his claims that immigrants are “eating the dogs and cats.” This mass deportation is probably the easiest thing Trump can accomplish without Congress.
Limiting Voting Access
Project 2025 will abuse the executive power to interfere with the voting process and our voting rights, taking away fair representation in our elections and pretty much criminalizing the voting process by taking away the DHS (Department of Homeland Security) Ability to fight against fake information online and threats to secure elections.
Making Abortion Access Impossible
Project 2025 will not ban abortion nationwide since the document says no such thing and Trump has said he would sign no such law. It would be tough to sign a law like that. Still, Project 2025 will pretty much severely limit abortion access a very important need for some young teens and A LOT of women. By reversing the FDA’s approval of certain drugs used for abortion such as Mifepristone. Project 2025 will pretty much be giving the Comstock Act of 1873 a revival which will prohibit the dissemination of birth control through the mail or across state lines.
Healthcare
Project 2025 is going to mess with healthcare prices. We all know healthcare is expensive, even with Obamacare. If you don’t know what Obama healthcare is it’s affordable health insurance is available to more people. However, Trump claims he has something more “affordable” than Obamacare. Trump plans to raise the price of prescription drugs even more than they already are. He will also attempt to remove Medicare’s new ability to negotiate the price of prescription drugs.
Project 2025 And Donald Trump
Earlier under basic information some things were talking about how former president Donald Trump and Project 2025 are connected. Trump has said in many of his speeches that he has nothing to do with Project 2025 whatsoever. He has posted on his social media saying "I have no idea who is behind it.” “I disagree with some of the things they're saying and some of the things they’re saying are absolutely ridiculous and abysmal."
However, “The Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts also previously worked on President Trump’s transition team in 2016, and has described his organization’s role as “institutionalizing Trumpism,” says an article by ACLU. A report from CNN found at least 140 people who worked on Project 2025 worked in the Trump administration. He still denies and claims he “Knows nothing” about Project 2025 although, he has direct ties to Project 2025.
What Project 2025 Is Offering And How/Why It’ll Affect Us
Ava Rukavina is a senior at OSA and is in the AP Government class. She says “I think Project 2025 could be harmful for a lot of Americans…I'm not a fan of the strict policies on immigration or their views on how religion should be merged with government and society.” Project 2025 will reflect an extreme Christian nationalist ideology in America.
The Heritage Foundation claims “We will not stop offering ideas to reverse America’s decline” even though these proposals could most likely be the beginning of America's decline if they happen and will result in taking away a majority of our rights and will force/Merge religion with government and on us Americans, which is worrying to people like Rukavina.
Schools will also be affected in many ways. ALCU also says Project 2025 will, “Censor academic discussions about race, gender, and systemic oppression, in violation of the First Amendment, and promis[es] to cut federal funding for schools with curricula that touch on these subjects”. This will affect OSA and many more across the country.
Although these proposals seem threatening and problematic, a majority of Americans think most proposals won't go through because they’ll be “political suicide” Or just unconstitutional.
Jack Blangy, a high school government teacher at OSA says “ I personally disagree with most of, but not all of the proposals in Project 2025…” Although most people such as Mr. Blangy disagree and are worried about Project 2025, Mr. Blangy thinks many of the proposals violate the constitution or may be otherwise illegal. Most people also have similar opinions because of the threatening laws that can cost people their lives here in America.
Conclusion
As you can see, Project 2025 is a long list of policies (900+ pages) created by the Heritage Foundation for former president Donald Trump if he gets reelected. Project 2025 will put our rights such as abortion and our voting rights as Americans in danger.
