The infamous Project 2025, also known as the Presidential Transition Project, has had the left-leaning contingent shook for a while. But with the re-election of former President Donald Trump, it seems to be inching closer to reality.
Though Trump has distanced himself from the doctrine, which is overseen by conservative think tank Heritage Foundation, several his former staff officials collaborated on it early into his campaign with the intention on executing the its very conservative, borderline draconian initiatives starting the first day of his presidency.
Project 2025 is controversial from top to bottom, but here are some of the most terrifying parts for Black folks:
Cutting Back on DEI
The agenda proposes to end the “woke propaganda” which the document blames on DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) initiatives. to be aligned with. This would prohibit these programs from being put into practice in schools and government departments.
DEI programs in the workplace create an environment of equal access for all races to opportunities and employment. This effort was influenced by affirmative action that was also struck down by the Supreme Court. Companies including as Ford, Target and Lowe’s have already began moving away from DEI initiatives.
Limiting Abortion Access
The document suggests limiting access to the abortion pill, mifepristone, from consumers, as well as banning late-term abortions (which are not defined), according to BBC.
After the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade and left abortion laws up to the states (a move Trump agrees with), a conservative majority of the House, Senate and Supreme Court remains a concern for many since abortion restrictions have led to the deaths of women across the country.
Striking Down Critical Race Theory
Teaching of critical race theory have been struck down in various red states such as Florida, Texas and Alabama. But, CRT could get hammered down in every state, limiting and potentially prohibiting how America teaches race in the classroom.
“The noxious tenets of ‘critical race theory’ and ‘gender ideology’ should be excised from curricula In every public school in the country,” the Project 2025 mandate states.
Eliminating The Department of Education
In efforts to end the “woke agenda”, the mission for the Department of Education in Project 2025 states, “the federal Department of Education should be eliminated.”
The mandate calls for states to determine what the education policies and curriculum should look like for students. This does not stop from at K-12: The mandate criticizes the funding of Pell grants and federal student loans granted to college students and would ultimately end student loan forgiveness plans. Project 2025 suggests these are unnecessary government expenditures.
Black college graduates owe an average of $25,000 more in student loan debt than white college graduates. Additionally, student loan debt forgiveness would increase the wealth of Black Americans up to 40%, according to the Education Data Initiative.