Talking Points: Paul Dans’ Resignation from Heritage Foundation
Topline Message: The resignation of Paul Dans from his position at the Heritage Foundation does not signal the end of Project 2025, nor does it change anything about MAGA House Republicans plans to advance policies that threaten Americans’ rights, limit personal freedom, and undermine our democracy.
We know MAGA extremists in the House will continue with their well-funded, coordinated campaign to implement a dangerous and wildly out-of-touch agenda that fundamentally undermines American democracy—and we must hold them accountable for it.
Talking Points:
- MAGA House Republicans, led by Speaker Johnson, are already pushing many of the policies illustrated in the Project 2025 “Mandate for Leadership” document. No one should fall under the assumption that Dans’ resignation will kill the attempt to enact the extreme policies Project 2025 represents.
- The MAGA movement has the document in hand and are intent on steamrolling Project 2025 and its destructive policies into the federal government. Framing Dans’ stepping down as “the death of Project 2025” would be naive and shortsighted, given the enthusiasm shown by MAGA republicans in Congress for the extreme policies crafted by Dans and the Heritage Foundation.
- Any House member who falsely claims Project 2025 is dead must be made to answer for the policies they are pushing in lockstep with it.
- Will they refuse to use the Comstock Act to enforce their extreme national abortion ban?
- Does this mean they will not lower the corporate tax rate?
- Does this mean they’ll protect federal workers like intelligence officers from being fired because they put their oath of office ahead of their loyalty to a future president?
- In his own words, Paul Dans says that the Heritage Foundation “will continue to put Project 2025 and its recommendations in a place to be of best assistance to the new Conservative Administration.” He also doubles down on the mission of “deconstructing the administrative state.” That is a far cry from saying Project 2025 is shuttering its doors.
- We cannot become complacent in the wake of this news. Project 2025 still represents an existential threat to American democracy, our rights, and our economy. The resignation of Paul Dans is a smokescreen to distract the voters from the ruinous policies and outcomes Project 2025 and its enablers seek to institute.