“While some of the proposals in Project 2025 may be controversial, Heritage is known for rigorous policy analysis and thoughtful recommendations,” Lehrer said. “It’s unfortunate that the document has become a political football in this election, but I believe Heritage will continue to play a vital role in shaping conservative policy in the years to come.”
As the election draws near, the fate of Project 2025 and Heritage’s relationship with the White House hangs in the balance. Whether Trump wins or loses, the think-tank’s reputation and influence will be closely watched in the aftermath of this contentious campaign season.
“If you’re progressive, you have many reasons to dislike it, and conservatives also have reasons to dislike it,” Lehrer said. “Is it some deeply sinister plan to build a fascist theocracy? No, it isn’t.”
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Heritage remains financially strong, supported by both large and small donors, which could help it withstand the scrutiny regardless of the election outcome.
In 2022, it received over $95 million in contributions and grants, and had net assets worth $332 million, according to its most recent federal filing. However, Heritage is facing increasing competition from other Washington think tanks that are aligned with Trump but less connected to Project 2025.
If the former president is re-elected, all eyes will be on whether Heritage and Roberts will be brought back into the fold — and whether their ideas will be put into action. Roberts stated that “final decisions” on policy would be made by Trump, and his think tank had “genuine humility” about its role.
“Neither I as an individual nor Heritage as an organization, nor any of the organizations that are part of Project 2025, are so presumptuous as to say that we are going to dictate what President Trump or any elected president is going to do,” Roberts said.
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