As Americans learn more about Project 2025, they become more opposed, poll finds

Most Americans are unfamiliar with Project 2025 — a conservative plan to overhaul the executive branch — but, upon learning about it, a majority become opposed, according to new polling.

The project, spearheaded by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, provides a blueprint for the next president to “take back” the government from “grip of the radical Left.”

It proposes a number of policies, many of which are controversial, including dismantling federal agencies, cracking down on abortion access and outlawing pornography.

While it is led by officials from former President Donald Trump’s administration, Trump has recently denied any affiliation with it.

What the poll found

In the latest poll from Navigator Research, a progressive research group, 7 in 10 respondents said they did not know enough about Project 2025 to have an opinion. And nearly 4 in 5 said they had never heard anything about it.

But opposition quickly grew after respondents were given more information.

The poll, conducted between June 20 and 24, sampled a nationally representative pool of 1,000 registered voters.

First, respondents were presented with two statements about the project.

One, in support, said Project 2025 “represents the next conservative Republican president’s last chance to save the republic, rescuing the country from the grip of the radical left through the right governing agenda and the right leadership.”

The other statement, in opposition, said, “Project 2025 is an extreme Republican plan that will give the president new and unchecked powers over federal agencies, eliminate abortion access, and roll back action on climate change, LGBTQ+ rights, and other areas.”

Upon seeing these statements, nearly half of respondents, 49%, said they opposed the project, while 31% said they supported it.

Afterwards, respondents were shown 19 of the project’s policy proposals, leading 63% to say they opposed it and 24% to say they supported it.

After reading the two statements and policy proposals, nearly half of respondents, 49%, said they were concerned Project 2025 “would threaten American rights and freedoms.” That figure includes a majority of Democrats (63%) and independents (56%).

More about Project 2025

Project 2025 essentially provides a roadmap for the next president to dramatically reshape the executive branch according to conservative ideology.

It takes a multi-pronged approach, offering up a policy agenda, a playbook for the first 180 days, a roster of potential hires and training tools.

“It is not enough for conservatives to win elections,” the project website states. “If we are going to rescue the country from the grip of the radical Left, we need both a governing agenda and the right people in place, ready to carry this agenda out on day one of the next conservative administration.”

In a 900-page book titled “Mandate for Leadership,” the group outlines numerous policy proposals across a wide variety of issues.

One such proposal calls for restricting access to mifepristone, a commonly used abortion pill, according to CBS News. Another calls for the government to “maintain a biblically based, social science-reinforced definition of marriage and family.”

The book, which is authored, in part, by former Trump administration officials, also proposes mass deportations, constructing a border wall, and dismantling the Department of Homeland Security, according to the outlet.

On July 5, Trump distanced himself from the project, writing in a post on Truth Social, “I know nothing about Project 2025.”

“I have no idea who is behind it,” he added. “I disagree with some of the things they’re saying and some of the things they’re saying are absolutely ridiculous and abysmal. Anything they do, I wish them luck, but I have nothing to do with them.”

President Joe Biden’s re-election campaign, meanwhile, has sought to highlight links between Trump and Project 2025.

“Project 2025 is the plan by Donald Trump’s MAGA Republican allies to give Trump more power over your daily life, gut democratic checks and balances, and consolidate power in the Oval Office if he wins,” the Biden campaign website states. “Trump’s campaign advisors and close allies wrote it – and are doing everything they can to elect him so he can execute their playbook immediately.”

This story was originally published July 10, 2024 at 4:22 PM with the headline "As Americans learn more about Project 2025, they become more opposed, poll finds."