Project 2025's Long Game: Reshaping American Power, Not Just Policy
THE ACTORS: Architects of a 250-Year Vision The primary actor is the Heritage Foundation , a conservative think tank established in 1973. While seemingly a detached research institution, Heritage is a crucial node in a much larger network. Key figures leading Project 2025 include Paul Dans, former chief of staff at the Office of Personnel Management during the Trump administration, and Spencer
Chritton, a veteran of the Trump White House transition team. Their involvement signals a direct conduit from political power to what purports to be apolitical policy development. Other notable actors are the dozens of allied conservative organizations, including the Federalist Society, which have been instrumental in shaping judicial appointments and legal theory for decades. THE FUNDING:
Billions Behind the Blueprint The Heritage Foundation's financial backing is deep and intentionally opaque. Public records show a significant portion comes from dark money groups and large individual donors who champion a specific interpretation of 'limited government' – often translating to deregulation favorable to corporate interests. For instance, between 2018 and 2022, Heritage reported
receiving over $200 million in contributions (Heritage Foundation Annual Reports). Major donors include the Sarah Scaife Foundation, the Bradley Foundation, and the Koch network, all of whom have long-term political agendas focused on conservative economic policy and judicial activism. This isn't small-time fundraising; it's industrial-scale political financing aimed at systemic change, not just