Heritage Foundation’s Kevin Roberts Regrets ‘Tactical Error’ in Project 2025 Rollout

Kevin Roberts, the President of the Heritage Foundation, has expressed regret over the organization’s handling of the backlash following the release of Project 2025, a comprehensive conservative policy agenda. In a recent Bloomberg Radio interview, Roberts acknowledged a “tactical error” in not promptly responding to criticisms from Democratic opponents, including Vice President Kamala Harris, who made attacks on Project 2025 a central part of her campaign against President-elect Donald Trump.

Project 2025, unveiled in April 2023, is a 900-page document designed to serve as a policy blueprint for the next Republican administration. However, it faced significant criticism from Democrats, who claimed it would “strip away our freedoms.” Roberts admitted that the Heritage Foundation did not anticipate the strong backlash and failed to counter the mischaracterizations of the project in its initial weeks.

Despite the controversy, President-elect Donald Trump recently named Tom Homan, one of the authors of Project 2025, as his “border czar,” a move seen as a boost to the Heritage Foundation’s immigration policies. Roberts interpreted this appointment as a reflection of Trump’s mandate to address border issues rather than an endorsement of the Heritage Foundation itself.

Roberts emphasized that the Heritage Foundation is ready to support the incoming administration in the policymaking process, maintaining that their role is to serve both the president-elect and the American people. He expressed optimism about the future collaboration, stating that the organization is built for the policymaking season ahead[1]).