Donald Trump insisted during the 2025 Presidential campaign that he has “nothing to do with” Project 2025, calling it “ridiculous” and “abysmal.” But Donald Trump is a pathological liar, so very little he says is actually true (except, perhaps, in his mind).

Like so many of Trump’s denials and outright lies, the facts tell a different story—one that’s unfolding in real time. Drip, Drip, Drip. We are the proverbial frog boiling alive, one degree at a time.
As the federal government is rapidly being hollowed out and restructured under his second term, the pot is on full boil; the frog is nearly cooked. It’s a five-alarm fire, and if we don’t act soon—before the 2026 elections—it may well be too late. If it’s not already!
The Project 2025 Shell Game: Deny and Hire
“I have nothing to do with Project 2025,” Trump said in the ABC News Presidential Debate. “I haven’t read it. I don’t want to read it purposely. I’m not going to read it.” —Donald Trump, Presidential Debate, Sept. 2024
Yet, Donald Trump’s hiring and policies as President of the United States tell a different story, starting with two of his most important appointments:

Russell Vought, a lead architect of Project 2025 and its most influential voice on deconstrucing the federal government, was appointed in February 2025 as Director of the Office of Management and Budget. His fingerprints are on nearly every agency defunding and deregulation scheme since inauguration day.
Stephen Miller, who has claimed to have “zero involvement” with Project 2025 and even had his group America First Legal removed from the advisory board, is now Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Homeland Security Advisor—arguably one of the most powerful figures in the Trump administration. His policy priorities closely mirror the blueprint’s hardline agenda:
- executive overreach
- aggressive deportation infrastructure
- stripping of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives across government
Six Months of Radical Transformation: A Project 2025 Timeline
Since Trump’s return to office in January 2025, we’ve witnessed a coordinated, relentless dismantling of federal institutions:
- Mass Layoffs
Over 200,000 federal workers have been laid off, including at the USDA, NIH, CDC, and VA. The firings aren’t random—they target experts, regulators, and scientists, precisely the “deep state” players Project 2025 promised to purge. - Creation of DOGE (Dept. of Government Efficiency)
This new agency centralizes control over hiring and spending—essentially acting as a gatekeeper to ensure all personnel and policy choices align with Trump’s political priorities. - Inspector General Firings
Seventeen Inspectors General—internal watchdogs designed to check corruption—were fired overnight. No replacements. No oversight. Just silence. - The DEI Purge
DEI offices have been dismantled across every federal agency. Staff were suspended or dismissed, programs eliminated. DEI is now treated as subversive ideology under this administration. - Union Protections Voided
In recent weeks, Trump unilaterally voided labor contracts for over 400,000 federal workers, gutting protections for whistleblowers, union organizers, and civil servants. This was a core goal of the Project 2025 labor platform. - FEMA Silenced
Over 180 FEMA staffers signed a letter warning of imminent disaster risks from staffing and budget cuts. Many were placed on administrative leave. Others fear speaking out. Disaster relief is now politicized. - Weaponizing Federal Grants
A sweeping executive order now mandates that all discretionary federal funding and rulemaking align with the president’s “stated priorities,” silencing agency independence and weaponizing policy levers for political gain. - Taking over the Federal Reserve (Fed)
- Decapitating the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
The Bottom Line
Trump can say he “doesn’t even like” Project 2025, but his actions betray him. This is not speculation. It’s happening now. And it’s far from over. Every day, we are hit with something new taken directly from Project 2025.
If you’ve wondered what an American version of illiberal democracy looks like, don’t look to Hungary or Turkey. Look to Washington, D.C., in 2025. Keep your eye on the ball. Don’t be deceived by media overload, distractions—or media, corporate, and political complacency.
What are you plans to fight this downward spiral toward authoritarianism? Let us know in the comments below!
Blogcritics The critical lens on today's culture & entertainment