Project 2025 is a comprehensive conservative initiative aimed at fundamentally restructuring the United States federal government.
Developed by a coalition of conservative think tanks, policy experts and political strategist, it presents a detailed road map for implementing wide ranging changes across all aspects of governance. (Reference: Project 2025 A Blueprint for Change: Author Richard B. Romney, ©2024)
Project 2025 is associated with the leadership of The Heritage Foundation. The Heritage Foundation is a nonprofit organization and states its mission as follows:
“The mission of the Heritage Foundation is to formulate and promote public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense“
In addition to the mission, Heritage Foundation further outlines the following as the organization’s strategic priorities to include: (a.) Providing Solutions: researching, developing and promoting innovative solutions. (b.) Mobilizing Conservatives: uniting the conservative movement to work together and (c.) Training Leaders: preparing future generations who will lead America.
Project 2025 is a 900 plus page document that outlines hundreds of proposed policies and programmatic initiatives. It is important to note that at this point, Project 2025 IS NOT an official government plan. Implementing certain aspects of the plan will depend on changes implemented with the approval of Congress or the Executive branch of government as well as the courts.
Because the changes proposed in the Plan are so sweeping, there are negative and positive discussions about the Plan, what it could mean for Americans and the way we think about and live into our government. These impacts will influence not only how the federal government operates but also how State and Local government implement many programs and policies that rely on federal dollars.
There are also many summaries, overviews, and analysis of the original 900 page plus Project 2025 document written by various authors other than Heritage Foundation staff. Therefore, you may find that the perspective on a particular description/narrative of Project 2025 may depend on the political perspective of the writer.
Detroit People’s Platform has reviewed several Project 2025 related documents. Our purpose in this writing is to highlight aspects of the agenda we believe will have negative impacts for majority Black Detroiters, especially low-income households with children. Some of these parts of the agenda are cited below.
Changes in Health Care Policies and some federal benefits
Proposed rollbacks in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) also known as Obama Care and Medicaid. The result may be less government support to cover the cost of health insurance with increased out of pocket cost for private sector health care. More individuals and families may go without health care coverage because they simply cannot afford it. Social security and Medicare benefits may be under revision including management by private investors in the place of the federal government and increasing the age for eligibility. Many majority Black Detroit households depend on social security benefits for retirement and disability income. Medicare is the health insurance lifeline for a lot of Majority Black seniors. Tampering with either of these programs could disrupt financial and health well-being of many Detroit households who depend on these benefits for survival.
Environmental Regulations
A key aspect of Project 2025 is the reduction in what is referred to as overly burdensome environmental regulations. This could include weakening or elimination of protective rules on air and water pollution. Across the United States, those who live in front line and fence line communities and harmed by industrial and other forms of pollutions are more than likely to be Black and Brown residents. Majority Black Detroit already suffers from some of the highest asthma rates in the nation. Poor air quality increases vulnerability for poor health outcomes like asthma and other respiratory illnesses contributing to increased hospital stays and premature death.
Tax Reforms
Adoption of some of the rule changes/law changes may result in more tax cuts they say across the board but for sure there will be reduced tax rates for big businesses and corporations. Majority Black Detroit has experienced what it looks like when those with wealth and power benefit from various tax incentives, tax abatements, and lower tax rates. We believe these options allow those with wealth and power to legally avoid paying their fair share and instead divert our precious tax dollars into economic development schemes. These economic development projects rarely deliver on the jobs and opportunities that are promised. The decade long Detroit recovery mostly fueled by various tax benefits has not improved the overall quality of life for many majority Black Detroiters.
Federal Education Policies Along with the proposed elimination of the Department of Education as it functions now may become a policy option. In addition, federal dollars for k-12 education programs including Title 1 funding which targets schools serving low-income students and funding for students with special needs could be redirected from traditional school district funding and administration processes.
Again, the potential changes cited here are just a small sample of proposed policies and programmatic changes outlined in Project 2025; thru the lens of Detroit People’s Platform these could have negative impacts on majority Black Detroit households.
We encourage Majority Black Detroit to do your research and figure out what the adoption of the plan would mean for you, your family, your neighbors and your community overall.
In the meantime, watch for updates and additional information from Detroit People’s Platform on Project 2025 in the coming weeks.