Trump’s Mask Drops: Project 2025 Architects Take Center Stage in New Administration

In the political whiplash that has become Trump’s signature, the president-elect’s appointments to key positions in his administration paint a starkly different picture from his campaign-era disavowals of Project 2025. This 900-page policy blueprint, developed by a cadre of conservative leaders, is a roadmap for radically restructuring federal institutions, amplifying presidential power, and advancing a slate of hard-right priorities.

Russell T. Vought, a principal architect of the project and former Trump administration official, will return to lead the Office of Management and Budget. Vought’s vision for the OMB—described in Project 2025 as the “president’s mind” within the federal government—aligns seamlessly with Trump’s agenda for an empowered, loyalist-driven executive branch. In Vought’s own words, the role requires establishing the president’s intent as gospel across all facets of governance.

Indeed, the personnel choices extend beyond immigration. Brendan Carr, an FCC commissioner and Project 2025 contributor, will spearhead efforts to dismantle Big Tech’s legal immunities, aiming to bring transparency and regulation to social media giants. At the CIA, Trump plans to install John Ratcliffe, who has advocated combating so-called “woke culture” within intelligence agencies—a goal outlined in Project 2025’s broader attack on federal “identity politics.”

Democratic leaders have been quick to highlight the implications. “What we’re seeing is a clear and present danger to the very structure of American democracy,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. “Trump is weaponizing the federal government against itself, and Project 2025 is his blueprint.”

Trump, meanwhile, appears emboldened. Despite earlier denials, his actions suggest a calculated pivot to consolidate power and sideline dissent. The appointments signal not just a second term but a presidency intent on reengineering governance itself—one department, one policy, one loyalist at a time.

As the inauguration nears, the question remains: Can the institutions of democracy withstand the battering ram of Project 2025? Or will this term mark the start of a new era—one that reshapes the balance of power in ways that will outlast Trump’s tenure? For now, one thing is certain: Trump is done pretending. The mask is off, and the stakes could not be higher.