Paul Dans, the director of the Heritage Foundation’s controversial 2025 Project, resigns following scrutiny of the conservative plan.
Kevin Roberts, the president of the Heritage Foundation, confirmed that Dans had announced he was stepping down.
“When we launched Project 2025 in April 2022, we set a timeline for the project to conclude its policy writing after the bipartisan conventions this year, and we are sticking to that timeline,” Roberts posted on X.
“Paul, who built the project from the ground up and has courageously led this enterprise over the past two years, will be leaving the team and moving to the front lines where the fight remains,” he wrote.
However, it doesn’t look like Project 2025 is about to end, as Roberts also affirmed that they will “continue their efforts to build a personnel apparatus for policymakers at all levels.”
Paul Dans, director of the 2025 Project at the Heritage Foundation, speaks at the National Religious Broadcasters Convention on February 22, 2024, in Nashville, Tennessee.
George Walker IV/AP, FILE
The 2025 Project, organized by the Heritage Foundation but supported by more than 100 groups and written by several of Donald Trump’s allies, is a 922-page document outlining conservative policy priorities.
It includes expanding presidential power, abolishing the Department of Education, removing the abortion pill mifepristone from the market, cutting federal funding for clean energy research, restricting welfare programs and much more.
The initiative has been a point of contention in the 2024 campaign, with Democrats campaigning fiercely against what they called “dangerous” proposals.
Trump has sought to distance himself from Project 2025, saying he knows “nothing” about it and has “no idea” who is behind it. But several current and former advisers and appointees of the former president have written or supported the project, including Christopher Miller and Ben Carson.
The Trump campaign celebrated the news of Dans’ departure from the presidential transition initiative.
“Reports of the demise of Project 2025 would be greatly welcomed and should serve as a warning to anyone or any group trying to misrepresent their influence with President Trump and his campaign – it will not end well for you,” campaign managers Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita wrote in a statement.
On Tuesday, Harris’ campaign quickly tried to cast a chill on the idea that there was a difference between Trump’s potential policies for a second term and the Project 2025 platform, pointing to the close ties he has with members affiliated with the group.
“Project 2025 is on the ballot because Donald Trump is on the ballot. It is his agenda, written by his allies, that Donald Trump wants to impose on our country,” Julie Chavez Rodriguez, Harris’ presidential campaign manager, said in a statement.
