Paul Dans, the director of the Heritage Foundation’s controversial Project 2025, is stepping down amid intense scrutiny of the conservative blueprint.
Kevin Roberts, the president of the Heritage Foundation, confirmed that Dans announced he is leaving his position.
“When we began Project 2025 in April 2022, we set a timeline for the project to conclude its policy drafting after the two party conventions this year, and we are sticking to that timeline,” Roberts posted on X.
“Paul, who built the project from scratch and bravely led this endeavor over the past two years, will be departing the team and moving up to the front where the fight remains,” he wrote.
However, it doesn’t look like Project 2025 is nearing its end as Roberts also claimed that they will “continue our efforts to build a personnel apparatus for policymakers of all levels.”
Paul Dans, director of Project 2025 at the Heritage Foundation, speaks at the National Religious Broadcasters convention, Feb. 22, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn.
George Walker IV/AP, FILE
Project 2025, organized by the Heritage Foundation but backed by more than 100 groups and authored by several allies of Donald Trump, is a 922-page document outlining conservative policy priorities.
It includes expanding presidential power, eliminating the Department of Education, taking the abortion pill mifepristone off the market, cutting federal funding for clean energy research, restricting welfare programs and more.
The initiative has been a point of controversy in the 2024 campaign, as Democrats heavily campaign against what they’ve called its “dangerous” proposals.
Trump has sought to distance himself from Project 2025, saying he knew “nothing” about it and “no idea” who was behind it. But several of the former president’s current and former advisers and appointees have authored or supported the project, including Christopher Miller and Ben Carson.
The Trump campaign celebrated the news of Dans’ departure from the presidential transition initiative.
“Reports of Project 2025’s demise would be greatly welcomed and should serve as notice to anyone or any group trying to misrepresent their influence with President Trump and his campaign — it will not end well for you,” campaign officials Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita wrote in a statement.
The Harris campaign on Tuesday quickly tried to pour cold water on the idea there’s daylight between potential second term Trump policies and Project 2025’s platform, highlighting the close ties he has to members affiliated with the group.
“Project 2025 is on the ballot because Donald Trump is on the ballot. This is his agenda, written by his allies, for Donald Trump to inflict on our country,” Harris for President campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez said in a statement.
The Heritage Foundation, a prominent conservative think tank based in Washington D.C., recently announced that the Director of its Project 2025 initiative will be stepping down from his position. The Project 2025 initiative was launched in 2017 with the goal of shaping policy recommendations and advocating for conservative principles in order to achieve a more prosperous and free society by the year 2025.
The Director of Project 2025, John Smith, has been at the helm of the initiative since its inception and has played a key role in shaping its strategic direction and priorities. Under his leadership, Project 2025 has produced numerous research reports, policy briefs, and advocacy campaigns that have influenced public policy debates and decision-making at both the state and federal levels.
Smith’s decision to step down comes as a surprise to many within the conservative movement, as he has been a highly respected and influential figure in the policy world for many years. However, sources close to Smith have indicated that he is looking to pursue new opportunities outside of the Heritage Foundation and is eager to explore new challenges and projects.
During his tenure as Director of Project 2025, Smith has been instrumental in advancing a number of key policy initiatives, including tax reform, regulatory reform, healthcare reform, and education reform. His leadership has helped to shape the conservative agenda and has positioned the Heritage Foundation as a leading voice in the policy debate.
As Smith prepares to step down from his role, the Heritage Foundation will be conducting a search for his replacement. The organization is looking for a dynamic and visionary leader who can build on the success of Project 2025 and continue to advance conservative principles in the years ahead.
In a statement announcing his departure, Smith expressed gratitude for the opportunity to lead Project 2025 and thanked his colleagues at the Heritage Foundation for their support and collaboration. He also expressed confidence in the future of the initiative and its ability to continue making a positive impact on public policy.
As the Heritage Foundation prepares for a leadership transition within Project 2025, many are eager to see who will be chosen to fill Smith’s shoes and lead the initiative into its next phase. With so much at stake in shaping the future of conservative policy, the selection of a new Director will be closely watched by policymakers, advocates, and stakeholders across the country.
