Former RNC chair Michael Steele confronted Kevin Roberts, president of The Heritage Foundation, about Project 2025, a plan to fire up to 50,000 federal government workers aimed at achieving conservative goals should the GOP win the 2024 election. The project, developed by The Heritage Foundation and other right-leaning groups, includes proposals such as reintroducing Schedule F, making it easier to fire federal workers, and abolishing DEI initiatives at the DOD. Steele questioned Roberts about the replacement of these workers and raised concerns about firing individuals based on political contributions to the Democratic Party.
Roberts defended the plan to replace federal workers, referring to them as “unelected bureaucrats” aligned with a mission that is misaligned with conservative goals. He stated that the number of firings should exceed 50,000 due to the belief that the federal government is overly bloated and needs to devolve power back to the people. Roberts emphasized the need to root out the supposed liberal ‘deep state,’ cut wasteful spending, and prevent mission creep in federal departments and agencies. The proposal has become a prominent talking point in the 2024 election cycle, with House Democrats launching a task force to oppose and prevent the implementation of Project 2025 if Trump is reelected.
As polling data suggests a closely contested election between Trump and President Biden, Project 2025 remains a divisive issue, with Democrats warning against its potential impact. Representative Jared Huffman established The Stop Project 2025 Task Force, comprising Democratic lawmakers, to inform fellow legislators and voters about the proposal and push back against its implementation. Despite efforts from the left to oppose Project 2025, Roberts maintains that the plan will proceed, characterizing the opposition as “unserious” and indicative of a frenzied response from liberal critics. The Heritage Foundation remains committed to the initiative, welcoming challenges from Democrats but affirming its determination to persevere and achieve its objectives.
The clash between Michael Steele and Kevin Roberts underscores the ideological divide within the Republican party and the broader political landscape regarding government reform and workforce restructuring. Project 2025 reflects conservative efforts to streamline the federal government, root out perceived inefficiencies and align the workforce with the administration’s goals. Opponents, including House Democrats, view the proposal as a threat to civil service protections and essential government functions. The debate surrounding Project 2025 highlights the ongoing struggle for power and influence within the federal government and the diverging visions for its future direction.
