Project 2025 is a blueprint conservative think tanks and political groups propose to reshape the U.S. federal government fundamentally. Spanning over 900 pages, this plan proposes sweeping changes across various sectors, including the environment and energy. Regarding government agencies, the primary goal is to reverse many climate and environmental policies implemented during President Joe Biden’s administration, potentially significantly altering the trajectory of U.S. climate action and energy policy.
As delegates gathered at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee last week to nominate former president Donald Trump as their 2024 candidate, the Heritage Foundation, a key convention sponsor, held an event to promote Project 2025. This blueprint, crafted by dozens of conservative groups, aims to restructure federal agencies from the Department of Defense (DoD) to the Federal Reserve and undermine extensive climate policies.
Under President Biden, federal agencies have started incorporating climate change into their operations, bolstered by the Inflation Reduction Act—the largest climate spending law in U.S. history. This act aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 42% below 2005 levels. Project 2025, however, seeks to dismantle this progress by slashing funding for government programs, weakening federal oversight, and rolling back key legislation. These changes would make it difficult for the U.S. to meet its climate goals under the Paris Agreement.
Energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives are particularly at risk. Project 2025 proposes repealing the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment Jobs Act, both crucial for advancing climate mitigation and resilience. Removing these acts would significantly hinder investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency, obstructing the transition to a sustainable energy system.
Moreover, the blueprint advocates for increased oil and gas development on federal lands, exacerbating fossil fuel dependency and increasing greenhouse gas emissions. This shift from renewable energy sources to fossil fuels represents a major setback for U.S. climate action.
Project 2025 targets key federal agencies responsible for environmental protection and energy regulation. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would face substantial budget cuts, and its environmental justice office could be dismantled. The Department of Energy’s (DOE) renewable energy offices are also at risk, impeding efforts to promote clean energy technologies and reduce carbon emissions.
The project further proposes transferring many federal environmental regulatory duties to state officials, particularly in Republican-led states. This decentralization could lead to inconsistent enforcement of environmental regulations, potentially weakening protections against pollution and environmental degradation.
The implications extend beyond climate policy. It proposes eliminating the Endangerment Finding, which requires the EPA to curb emissions under the Clean Air Act, and axing efforts to assess the social cost of carbon. These changes would undermine protections for public health and environmental justice, disproportionately affecting low-income communities and communities of color.
Project 2025 also suggests eliminating the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Weather Service, replacing them with private companies. This could devastate Americans' access to accurate weather forecasts, crucial for preparing for climate disasters. Additionally, the blueprint recommends shifting the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) to a different department, disrupting its disaster response capabilities.
This "playbook" represents a significant shift in U.S. environmental and energy policy with far-reaching implications for climate action, renewable energy, and environmental justice. The project could undermine decades of progress in addressing climate change and protecting the environment by rolling back key climate policies, reducing funding for federal agencies, and promoting fossil fuel development.
