After publicly distancing itself from Project 2025 during the campaign, President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team is now using the conservative initiative’s resources to help staff his administration, according to a report from NBC News. Despite earlier dismissals, the Project 2025 personnel database is being tapped to identify candidates for the over 4,000 political appointee positions that will open in 2025.
The reversal marks a significant shift for Trump’s team, which previously disavowed Project 2025 as a liability during the election. Howard Lutnick, co-chair of Trump’s transition team and his pick for Commerce Secretary, had labeled the initiative “radioactive” and dismissed any association with it during the campaign.
Project 2025, led by conservative think tanks and Trump-era officials, received widespread attention for its detailed policy proposals and a personnel database described as a “conservative LinkedIn.” While its policy blueprint, including strict anti-abortion measures and calls for banning pornography, became a focal point of Democratic criticism, its database was created to provide a pool of vetted, MAGA-aligned candidates for a future Republican administration.
NBC News reports that transition officials have already turned to contributors from Project 2025 for key roles, including Tom Homan as border czar, Brendan Carr as FCC chair, and John Ratcliffe as CIA director. Despite this, some contributors, such as Roger Severino, have reportedly faced resistance due to hardline positions outlined in the Project 2025 policy manual.
During the campaign, Trump distanced himself from Project 2025, with public remarks disavowing the initiative. At a July campaign event, Trump referred to the group’s proposals as “seriously extreme.” NBC News polling from September revealed that 57% of voters viewed Project 2025 negatively, which may have further fueled the campaign’s decision to reject any association.
However, sources told NBC News that Project 2025 insiders viewed these disavowals as campaign strategy rather than a genuine rejection of the effort. As the transition team grapples with the scale of federal staffing, the database has proven valuable for its pool of conservative candidates.
Democrats, who used Project 2025 as a key target during the election, are now urging their party to shift focus to policy responses. Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, a vocal critic, emphasized the need for proactive measures. “It’s easy to say ‘we told you so,’ but more importantly, we now know what they’re going to do. It’s on Democrats to decide how to fight back,” McMorrow told NBC News.
