Op-ed by scholar David Marchick follows new reporting revealing a Project 2025 architect’s secret 180 day transition playbook, and reports on Project 2025 building a “conservative LinkedIn” of candidates to staff a Trump-Vance administration

In response, DNC National Press Secretary Emilia Rowland released the following statement:

“As Trump continues to gaslight the public claiming he has ‘no idea who is behind’ Project 2025, here’s the truth every American deserves to know: First, Project 2025 wrote Trump’s agenda for a second term. Then, Trump put the architects of Project 2025 in charge of the Republican party platform committee – which produced the most extreme platform in GOP history. Now, reports exposing their secret 180 day transition playbook, ‘conservative LinkedIn’ of potential administration staff, and the fact that Trump has not organized any transition team proves that Trump’s deep dependence on Project 2025 extends to staffing and setting the transition processes to execute their dystopian agenda for a second Trump term.”

Today, David M. Marchick, a scholar who specializes on the history of presidential transitions, issued a dire warning in an op-ed he published in Bloomberg, writing: 

• “Not surprisingly, Trump’s moves in and out of office were the most chaotic in modern history…
• “This time around, the fact that Trump has not organized a transition planning team could make him largely dependent on two outside groups: the America First Transition Project and the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025.”
• “While Trump has distanced himself from Project 2025, Heritage has said it continues to focus on personnel issues.” 

Trump’s Project 2025 allies are crafting a “180-Day Transition Playbook” and a ‘conservative LinkedIn’ to staff the transition to a second Trump term. 

Associated Press: A chief architect of Project 2025 is ready to shock Washington if Donald Trump wins a second term

Key Point: “A chief architect of Project 2025 — the controversial conservative blueprint to remake the federal government — Vought is likely to be appointed to a high-ranking post in a second Trump administration. And he’s been drafting a so-far secret ‘180-Day Transition Playbook’ to speed the plan’s implementation to avoid a repeat of the chaotic start that dogged Trump’s first term.”

Propublica: The Man Behind Project 2025’s Most Radical Plans

Key Point: “As Donald Trump tried to disavow the politically toxic project, its director, Paul Dans, stepped down. But the plans and massive staffing database that he prepared — to replace thousands of members of the ‘deep state’ with MAGA loyalists — remain.

“Some four years later, here he was, hoping to build the next administration. Dans envisioned the personnel database that he wanted to create as a ‘conservative LinkedIn.’”

CNN: Project 2025 director steps down amid backlash from Trump

Key Point: “A spokesperson for Heritage, though, said despite Dans’ exit, work will continue on the current phase of Project 2025, which is a nationwide search to fill a Trump administration with loyal conservatives.”