Project 2025 Director Quits After Trump’s Tantrums About His Own Plans

The director of Project 2025, a conservative blueprint for a potential second Donald Trump term, has stepped down amid intense criticism, including from the former president, who had previously touted the initiative, Steve Contorno and Kristen Holmes reported for CNN.

Paul Dans is a former top adviser in Trump’s administration. I Photo: The Heritage Foundation 

Paul Dans, a former top adviser in Trump’s administration, had been steering Project 2025 as it played a pivotal role in shaping discourse around conservative ambitions for a Republican-led White House.

While a source familiar with the planning indicated that Project 2025 would effectively end its policy operations, others noted that transitioning to the next phase was always part of the plan, and efforts to build a conservative personnel apparatus would continue.

Project 2025’s plans, detailed in a comprehensive 900-page playbook, aimed to radically reshape the federal government and American life, providing ample fodder for Democrats to warn against Trump’s return to power.

However, in recent months, Trump distanced himself from the project, labeling some of its ideas as “absolutely ridiculous and abysmal” and claiming he had “no idea who is behind it.”

Chris LaCivita, a top Trump adviser, recently referred to Project 2025 as “a pain in the a**” for the Trump campaign. Dans’ departure was confirmed in a statement to CNN by Dr. Kevin Roberts, president of the Heritage Foundation, the group that launched Project 2025.

In addition to stepping down from Project 2025, Dans is also leaving the Heritage Foundation, as Em Steck also reported for CNN.