If you browse the Internet or watch TV, you’ve probably heard of Project 2025, the blueprint for a second Trump presidency, mapped out by a coalition of 100 conservative think tanks, spearheaded (publicly at least) by the Heritage Foundation. The project is a roadmap for a second Trump administration, building on their past efforts during the Reagan and first Trump administrations. Leading the Way: The Story of Ed Feulner and the Heritage Foundation tells the story of how Ed Feulner has transformed policymaking in Washington and has led The Heritage Foundation into becoming the most influential conservative think tank in the nation.
Key Points:
- Comprehensive Plan: The Project 2025 manifesto is 900 pages, detailing extensive plans for various federal agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
- Alignment of Agendas: The manifesto highlights the interconnected agendas of groups opposing climate action, trans rights, racial justice, labor rights, and reproductive rights, all supported by a common network of backers.
Notable Contributors
- Mandy Gunasekara: Author of the EPA chapter, currently a visiting fellow at the Heritage Foundation, and senior policy analyst for the Independent Women’s Forum. She has a history with the Trump EPA and has been a significant figure in climate policy rollbacks.
EPA Blueprint Highlights
- Climate Program Cuts: Eliminate programs focused on climate and environmental justice.
- Regulatory Limits: Restrict EPA’s ability to regulate under the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act.
- Scientific Integrity: Push for “Secret Science” reforms, targeting long-term studies linking air pollution to health issues.
- Funding Reductions: Cut EPA funding for university research and initiatives supporting energy transition and climate research.
- Political Control: Increase political appointees’ control over scientific and regulatory decisions within the EPA.
Detailed Proposals
- Air Pollution Regulations: Gunasekara, with influence from Steve Milloy, proposes reforms to weaken air pollution regulations. The goal is to align with industry interests and reduce regulatory burdens.
- Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Proposals to prevent any future EPA efforts to regulate greenhouse gas emissions by restricting rulemaking authority and eliminating the use of climate models and the social cost of carbon.
- Political Oversight: Increase political appointees’ control over EPA operations, ensuring alignment with the administration’s agenda.
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Environmental Justice Stance
- Reverse Racism Claims: The manifesto argues that environmental justice initiatives discriminate against white people and should be based on “neutral constitutional principles.”
Intersection with Broader Agendas
- Funding and Litigation: Many organizations involved in Project 2025 are also behind legal efforts to challenge diversity and inclusion initiatives, seeing them as discriminatory against white individuals.
Current Climate and Environmental News
- UN Critique: The UN criticizes companies’ reliance on carbon credits for climate targets.
- Political Stances: Analysis of climate policies among potential running mates for Kamala Harris.
- Conservative Climate Efforts: NPR highlights conservative groups pushing for climate action within the GOP.
- Just Stop Oil Sentences: The UN condemns lengthy sentences for non-violent climate activists.
- Lithium Mining Impact: Examination of how the Inflation Reduction Act is supporting lithium mining, stressing water supplies.
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Project 2025 provides a detailed and comprehensive blueprint for a potential second Trump administration, with significant implications for climate policy, regulatory practices, and environmental justice. The alignment of conservative agendas across various social and political issues underscores the interconnected nature of these battles and the influential network supporting them.
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