Trump Begins Assembling Administration with Former Project 2025 Contributors

WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump, having recently secured an electoral victory, is drawing from a detailed policy initiative known as ‘Project 2025‘ to fill key roles in his upcoming administration. This decision comes despite his previous denials of involvement with the project, which previously posed a liability during his 2024 campaign.

The initiative, which aims to steer the United States government towards a more conservative trajectory, has been met with criticism from Democratic figures. Trump has appointed key figures such as Russel Vought, who previously served as Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director and authored parts of the Project 2025, to reclaim his post. In addition, Tom Homan and Stephen Miller have been tapped for significant positions concerning immigration policy.

These appointments have sparked responses from Democrats warning that Trump is consolidating power by relying on movement conservatives who have long advocated for centralizing authority in the presidency. Senator Patty Murray of Washington stated, «Russ Vought is a far-right ideologue,» indicating concerns over his vision of enhancing the president’s control over fiscal policy and civil services.

Trump’s spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, clarified that the appointments are aligned with Trump’s own agenda. «All of President Trump’s Cabinet nominees and appointments are whole-heartedly committed to President Trump’s agenda, not the agenda of outside groups,» she noted.

Vought’s approach, as detailed in his chapter in Project 2025, envisions a more assertive use of presidential power to discipline federal expenditure and potentially override existing agency bureaucracies. This approach aligns with Trump’s campaign proposals of increasing executive control over federal operations and budgeting processes.

Similarly, Stephen Miller and Tom Homan’s return marks a focus on Trump’s previous immigration policies, which include stringent restrictions and enforcement measures. Miller’s influence is expected to resonate through immigration reforms outlined in the project.

Critics, including Democrats Representatives Jamie Raskin and Melanie Stansbury, argue that such appointments threaten to dismantle the federal workforce’s expertise, affecting public services ranging from healthcare to social security.

Project 2025, a comprehensive blueprint for Trump’s envisioned governmental overhaul, has also been linked with prominent figures like Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, who have reportedly been eyed for restructuring federal efficiency and spending according to conservative principles.

The unfolding scenario continues to draw national attention, with pundits and policymakers watching how these ideological appointments will shape the executive administration’s trajectory in the coming term.