Remember during the 2024 campaign when Project 2025 was basically the "Voldemort" of the Trump team? They wouldn’t say its name. Trump himself claimed he hadn't read it, didn't know the people behind it, and found the whole thing "absolutely ridiculous." Fast forward to now, in early 2026, and that tune has changed. Honestly, the distance between the campaign trail and the White House has never felt wider.
What changed? Basically, everything. We are now a full year into the second Trump administration, and the "disavowal" phase is officially over. President Trump is no longer acting like the 900-page Heritage Foundation blueprint is some mystery novel he found in a bargain bin. In fact, he’s actively embracing it.
The Shift From Denial to Delivery
It’s kinda fascinating to look at the timeline. Back in late 2025, during those intense government shutdown negotiations, the mask really started to slip. Trump began openly mentioning guys like Russ Vought—one of the main architects of the "Mandate for Leadership"—as key players in his budget strategy. You might remember the Truth Social post where he literally called Vought "of Project 2025 fame" while discussing which federal agencies to gut.
It wasn't just talk, though. The data is starting to pour in. A CNN analysis found that in his very first week, over two-thirds of his executive actions were straight-up mirrors of the Project 2025 playbook. By January 2026, reports from the Center for Western Priorities suggest he’s already implemented about 80 percent of the plan’s recommendations regarding public lands and energy.
What This Looks Like on the Ground
If you’re wondering why this matters to your daily life, look at the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" (OBBBA). That’s the legislative mouthful the GOP-led Congress passed in mid-2025. It wasn't just a tax law; it was a vehicle for massive policy shifts.
For example, the project called for defunding Planned Parenthood. Check. That was bundled into the OBBBA for a one-year provision. The project wanted the Department of Education gone. While they haven’t quite killed the whole building yet, they’ve basically hollowed it out, shifting the power to the states and slashing the budget so thin it’s barely functional.
Then there’s the "Schedule F" stuff. This was the big, scary part of Project 2025 that talked about reclassifying civil servants so they could be fired more easily.
Guess what? It happened.
Since taking office, the administration has been cleaning house. The Partnership for Public Service estimates that over 212,000 federal workers have been cut or "incentivized" to leave as of December 2025. This isn't just "trimming the fat." It’s a systemic replacement of non-partisan experts with people who are, well, a bit more aligned with the MAGA vision.
Reproductive Rights and the Project 2025 Playbook
This is where the rhetoric gets really heavy. During the election, Trump tried to play the "middle ground" on abortion, saying it was a state issue. But once he got back into the Oval Office, he started pulling the federal levers described in the Heritage Foundation’s plan.
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- EMTALA Guidance: In June 2025, the administration rescinded the Biden-era guidance that required hospitals to provide emergency abortions.
- Mifepristone: They’ve initiated steps that could lead to severe restrictions on the abortion pill nationwide.
- Title X Funding: In April 2025, they abruptly pulled funding for 22 family planning grants, citing violations of new executive orders against DEI programs.
It’s a pattern. You deny the plan to win the vote, then you use the plan to run the country. It's a strategy as old as time, but the scale here is pretty unprecedented.
Why Talk About it Now?
So, why is Trump finally ready to talk about Project 2025 openly? Because he doesn't have to hide it anymore. The "immunity" ruling from the Supreme Court has given the executive branch a massive shield. He’s realized that the plan isn't just a policy guide; it's a blueprint for consolidating power in a way that makes it very hard for the next person to undo.
Even in the military, the shift is jarring. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth wasted no time in January 2025 rescinding travel stipends for service members seeking reproductive care. They also ended all DEI offices within the first 100 days.
The Economic Ripple Effects
We can't ignore the wallet. The Brookings Institution just dropped a report this week (January 2026) showing that net migration to the U.S. might actually be negative for the first time in half a century. Why? Because the administration leaned hard into the restrictive immigration policies laid out in—you guessed it—Project 2025.
This has led to a labor shortage in specific sectors like construction and hospitality. While the administration argues this is "protecting American jobs," Brookings estimates it could dampen GDP growth by quite a bit. It’s a trade-off. A very loud, very visible trade-off.
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Actionable Insights for the Current Climate
If you’re trying to navigate this new landscape, you’ve got to be proactive. The federal government is changing shape in real-time.
1. Watch the Courts, Not Just the White House
Many of these changes are being challenged in court right now. Keep an eye on cases like National Urban League v. Trump. These legal battles will determine if the "permanent" cuts the administration wants are actually legal under the Constitution.
2. State-Level Protections
With the federal government pulling back on things like environmental protection and reproductive health, the action is moving to the state level. If you live in a "blue" or "purple" state, your local legislature is likely your only line of defense or support right now.
3. Employment Strategy
If you're one of the thousands of federal employees affected by the "right-sizing" of agencies, looking into the private sector or state-level government roles is your best bet. The administration has made it clear that "loyalty" is a new metric for federal service.
The bottom line is that the "Project 2025" label doesn't scare the White House anymore. They’ve moved past the branding and into the execution. Whether you love the new direction or hate it, one thing is certain: the era of pretending this plan didn't exist is officially over.