Project 2025’s impact on employment policy and practice is controversial but undeniable

Published in 2023 by conservative think tank the Heritage Foundation, Project 2025 espouses a number of policy changes throughout the government. An unapologetic conservative political manifesto, it calls for profound limitations on the ways government has been functioning for most of the past century. The clearly stated objective of the manifesto is to reduce the federal government by consolidating power in favor of the executive to better establish conservative policies. Although formally disclaimed by President Trump, he has adopted many of the project’s proposals and appointed many of its authors. 

The 930-page program is ambitious and comprehensive, including virtually every government operation. What follows here will briefly focus on how the project’s proposals have altered policies and practices affecting the workforce, public and private. The larger story, which is too great to be told here, is its stunning success at altering the course of the government. The general principles of (1) reducing the size of the government and (2) eliminating all efforts in every department and agency to promote what it calls “illegal” diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) provide a road map to understanding many of the administration’s actions, from the elimination of USAID to the defunding of the NIH, the CDC, NOAA, and FEMA. Although many of these actions remain controversial, no one can deny Project 2025’s impact. 

Department of Labor/EEOC attack on DEI