Dwain Northey (Gen X)

Donald Trump and the Heritage Foundation have become key players in a broader effort to reshape American governance in ways that critics argue are undermining the constitutional republic. Central to this transformation is the “Project 2025” initiative, a sweeping plan developed by the Heritage Foundation and aligned with Trump’s political ambitions. The plan envisions a dramatic expansion of presidential power, stripping away traditional checks and balances, and reshaping the federal bureaucracy to serve the president’s agenda.

One of the most troubling elements is the goal of purging nonpartisan civil servants and replacing them with ideological loyalists. This would erode the independence of federal agencies, which are designed to act based on law and expertise rather than political whim. Such a move fundamentally threatens the separation of powers and weakens the institutions that have upheld the rule of law.

Moreover, Trump’s repeated attacks on the judiciary, the press, and electoral integrity serve to delegitimize pillars of democratic governance. His refusal to accept the outcome of the 2020 election, culminating in the January 6th insurrection, was a direct challenge to the peaceful transfer of power—a cornerstone of the constitutional system. Rather than condemning this, groups like the Heritage Foundation have doubled down on rhetoric that paints federal institutions as corrupt and in need of political “cleansing.”

Taken together, this partnership signals a coordinated strategy to concentrate power in the executive branch while undermining democratic norms, accountability, and institutional checks. By framing their efforts as “restoring” America, they mask a radical departure from constitutional principles. If left unchecked, their agenda risks transforming the republic into an authoritarian system dominated by one faction, rather than a pluralistic democracy guided by laws, civil liberties, and balance of power.