Since the early 1970s, hardline conservatives have sought to develop a comprehensive vision to guide US administrations, whether Republican or Democrat, as they assume the presidency.

This effort can be traced back to Republican Party candidate Barry Goldwater, a former general and businessman who ran against Democrat Lyndon B Johnson in the 1964 presidential elections. Goldwater’s electoral platform reflected a staunchly conservative and hardline ideology that rejected any social policies aimed at addressing the needs of the poor and non-white ethnic groups.

He strongly opposed the Civil Rights Act introduced by Johnson in 1964 and criticised the latter’s “Great Society” project, articulating his views in his book The Conscience of a Conservative.  

A group of hardline conservative hawks later institutionalised Goldwater’s foundational ideas, as noted in the previous article in this series, by establishing initiatives like the Project for a New American Century and the Heritage Foundation. The latter has focused on shaping the strategic directions of US administrations, both domestically and internationally, from the Reagan era to the second term in office of Donald Trump.  

Within this framework, the Heritage Foundation has formulated an extensive text of more than 900 pages designed to guide the 47th president when he takes office. This text, titled “Project 2025: Directions for Leadership to Achieve the Conservative Promise,” offers a roadmap for advancing a hardline conservative agenda.

The document is divided into sections covering themes such as governmental control, US defence policy, the welfare of American society, economic strategies, and the role of independent and federal regulatory agencies. An initial reading reveals the document’s overarching ideology, which merges political and religious conservatism in shaping the proposed policies.  

The project urges the new president to fully embrace a conservative agenda and encourages measures that consolidate presidential authority to curb institutional checks and balances. The proposed actions include ensuring loyalty among key personnel to the principles of the Conservative Promise, dismantling long-standing democratic norms in favour of centralising power, and shielding the administration from the influence of “deep state” institutions during a second Trump term.  

The philosophy underlying “Project 2025” revolves around the centralisation of executive authority, with a focus on empowering the president as the pivotal figure in governance. This approach diminishes the role of governmental agencies, administrative departments, and non-governmental organisations, thus enabling the realisation of a strict conservative agenda.  

The document emphasises the need to dismantle the structure of the US government in favour of what it calls “self-governance” through the president. It promotes the idea that the family should serve as the central unit of political organisation. The conservative agenda is portrayed as a protective force against external and internal threats, and the Conservative Promise is framed as a manifestation of a divine promise of happiness for the chosen people.  

To ensure the effective implementation of this vision, the document outlines several mechanisms, including the creation of a practical guide detailing the execution process, the development of a comprehensive information network to coordinate efforts with the president, and the provision of specialised training to optimise outcomes. The project prioritises immediate action, with the first 180 days of the new administration’s term considered critical for laying the groundwork for success.  

While Trump and some of his Republican Party allies have attempted to distance themselves from “Project 2025,” it is evident that many of its principles align with Trump’s previous actions. During his first term, he implemented approximately 65 per cent of the Heritage Foundation’s recommendations, and he is likely to continue this trajectory in a second term. The document provides detailed strategies to shield the administration from accountability and oversight by legislative, executive, and judicial institutions, as well as from the influence of the “deep state.”

Trump’s actions during his first term in office, such as increasing military spending, withdrawing from the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, reducing federal oversight, and enacting policies favouring the upper middle class and oligarchic elites in the US, reflect the principles outlined in the Conservative Promise. His administration also pursued policies marked by ethnic bias, and his appointments to key positions underscored his reliance on extreme ideologues.

Looking ahead, Trump is expected to intensify this agenda, which could include dismantling the US central bank the Federal Reserve, implementing a new banking system, removing money supply control from the central bank, significantly reducing corporate and capital gains taxes, abandoning climate-mitigation strategies, easing restrictions on fossil-fuel use, and expanding oil, gas, and coal reserves.  

Ultimately, “Project 2025” reflects a dual reality. On the one hand, it seeks to fulfill the Conservative Promise and allow political, religious, and ethnic conservatives to rigorously enforce its agenda and ensure the success of the new administration, beginning on 20 January 2025. On the other hand, it poses serious risks to American democracy, institutional integrity, and social cohesion, raising profound concerns about the future of the United States.

The writer is an intellectual and author.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 28 November, 2024 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly