Donald Trump’s second term will have massive effects on every aspect of America with many concerned about the next four years turning for the worst. However, from immigration and the economy to education and LGBTQ+ rights, one must separate the facts from fears.
Project 2025 is the primary source of what many believe will make the next four years a regime. However, take note that the document was authored by numerous conservative organizations and individuals, some of whom were part of Trump’s first term staff. It was not written or endorsed by Trump, even if some of his allies do.
Trump claimed at the September Presidential Debate with Harris, “I haven’t read it. I don’t want to read it – purposefully.” Trump publicly follows the official Republican platform, Agenda 47, which is notably milder than the Heritage Foundation’s proposals.
The Associated Press published in October that Trump’s words overlapped with Project 2025.
Trump’s first term cycled through numerous cabinet officials and people he didn’t know or lacked the experience to manage national policies. This time, expect mostly Trump loyalists and polished politicians.
Immigration was one of the top issues this cycle. Trump and Project 2025 both assert the use of the National Guard and police to curtail immigration, limit immigration from certain countries, deport millions of immigrants illegally residing in the country and end excessive welfare for immigrants, all based on the unfounded premise that immigrants commit crime and traffic drugs at higher rates than American citizens.
Project 2025 simply suggests reinstating all of Trump’s policies from his first term, including “Remain in Mexico.”
Trump also tapped Tom Homan, the writer for Project 2025’s Immigration section, as his Chief of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Neither Trump nor Homan offer a step-by-step playbook for mass deportations.
The economy is always a huge topic in elections. Trump wants to pass a universal 10% tariff on all imports, and higher imports on certain products from China and Mexico. Simple economics, though, indicate that this is a risky road, since the U.S. might not have the infrastructure to support itself. The same can be said of lowering taxes on income and corporations, significant sources of government revenue.
Regarding climate change, Trump plans to repeal much of the Inflation Reduction Act, which Biden passed into law in 2022. The law prepares the economy toward a green energy transition and to combat climate change, the largest investment of its kind in American history.
Trump and Project 2025 agree that climate change is far overstated, and the government shouldn’t dictate unnecessary economic intervention.
Trump and Project 2025 both support tremendous cutdowns in the size of the federal government. Trump claims regulation and bureaucracy inherently inhibit the economy. Hence, he proposed creation of the Department of Government Efficiency, co-headed by business moguls Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. Trump also proposes expanding executive powers to allow him to fire and replace more government employees.
Musk claims he can reduce the size of government by a third. Ramaswamy has suggested gutting agencies like the IRS, National Hurricane Service and FBI. The proposed Department of Government Efficiency will serve only an advisory role.
Among the departments to face serious curtailment will be the Department of Health and Human Services. Trump tapped notorious anti-vaxxer and environmental lawyer Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be the secretary. If Trump and the subsidiary agencies let Kennedy run wild, expect a decrease in government funded vaccine research and healthcare funds, cutbacks of the CDC, and possible repeal of the Affordable Care Act.
Trump and Project 2025 want to abolish the Department of Education, asserting that states should have more control over education. However, it would take approval from Congress. Even if he can’t get rid of it, the department is responsible for managing student loans, FAFSA and TOPS, so even downsizing would require moving those programs elsewhere.
Trump claims to block federal funding for institutions of higher learning and K-12 schools promoting “woke” content like Critical Race Theory, gender ideology and inappropriate content for children regarding sexual orientation, race and politics. He aligns with Jeff Landry’s proposals to bring some religious aspects of Christianity into the public school system.
It’s unclear where the boundaries on LGBTQ+ rights exactly lie. It could extend to gender neutral bathrooms and use of pronouns in the classroom. However, he certainly supports ending pro-transgender legislation like hormone inhibitors and gender-affirming care for youth.
Project 2025 suggests purging mentions of LGBTQ+ terminology from all government legislation and documents.
It’s crucial to remember that this is all speculative. Republicans may have a majority in the House and Senate, but that doesn’t mean everything Trump wants will get passed. Surrounding himself with allies could make the executive branch ineffective. A Congress of Republicans doesn’t equate to a Congress of Trump loyalists, and the Supreme Court could label actions unconstitutional.
Numerous Democratic state governors like Gavin Newsom in California and Jay Pritzker in Illinois have announced Governors Safeguarding Democracy to challenge the more radical elements of Trump’s administration from impacting their states.
Overall, although Trump has the ability to pass much of his agenda, checks and balances from numerous corners will try to restrain him from doing anything “dangerous.” This is not the end of America as we know it, even though it may look severely different in 2029.