Project 2025 Takes Center Stage at DNC as Republicans Try to Distance Themselves

Project 2025, a 900-page conservative presidential transition document, was front and center on Night 1 of the Democratic National Convention, with Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow stating:

"This is Project 2025. Over the next four nights, you are going to hear a lot about what is in this 900-page document. Why? Because this is the Republican blueprint for a second Trump term."

Vice President Kamala Harris (https://www.c-span.org/video/?537284-1/vice-president-harris-campaigns-milwaukee) has warned Americans about "Trump's Project 2025" despite former President Donald Trump denying involvement.

"Donald Trump wants to take our country backward. He and his extreme Project 2025 agenda will weaken the middle class. Like, we know we got to take this seriously, and can you believe they put that thing in writing?" - Harris, July 23, Milwaukee.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (https://www.c-span.org/video/?537544-1/vice-president-harris-governor-walz-campaign-phoenix), Harris' running mate, echoed this sentiment on Aug. 9 in Glendale, Arizona:

"Don't believe (Trump) when he's playing dumb about this Project 2025. He knows exactly what it'll do."

Trump's campaign has tried to distance itself from the project, led by the Heritage Foundation with input from over 100 conservative groups. It calls for executive branch overhauls, including disbanding the Commerce and Education departments, reflecting long-standing conservative principles and the recent culture war.

Project 2025's abortion and reproductive rights stance:

• The plan doesn't call for a nationwide abortion ban, but its recommendations could limit access and some contraceptives.
• Project 2025 recommends the FDA reverse its approval of mifepristone, used in medication abortions, and implement new rules to limit its use.
• It also recommends enforcing the 1873 Comstock Act, which could be interpreted to ban mailing abortion medication and equipment.
• Trump has stated he wouldn't ban mifepristone and that states should decide abortion regulations, but has not addressed the Comstock Act's potential impact.

Social Security and Medicare:

• Harris claimed Project 2025 intends to cut Social Security and Medicare, but the document makes no mention of Social Security cuts.
• Project 2025 proposes changes to Medicare, like making Medicare Advantage the default enrollment option.
• Trump has stated he will not cut Medicare, and his campaign website says no "penny" should be cut from Social Security.

Education:

• The Harris campaign accurately stated Project 2025 aims to eliminate the Education Department, reflecting Republican and Trump promises to devolve education policy to the states.

Overtime Pay:

• The Harris campaign claimed Project 2025 would allow employers to stop paying overtime, but the plan doesn't explicitly ban it.
• It does propose changes to some OSHA regulations and overtime rules, which experts say could result in some workers losing overtime protections.
• Project 2025 recommends returning to the Trump-era overtime threshold in some regions, which could affect workers' rights to overtime wages.

Project 2025, while winding down, includes input from high-ranking Trump administration officials. A recent recording of author Russell Vought, former OMB director, stated Trump is "very supportive" but is distancing himself due to Democratic attacks. Trump denied knowledge of the project on Truth Social.

This article has been rewritten with a critical eye toward power structures and a commitment to truth and transparency.