Sam Perez

Bryan Gonzalez questioning if former President Trump is connected to Project 2025.

Only a small percentage of students and staff know what Project 25 is.

In a survey of 100 students and staff, just 32 of them knew what Project 2025 is about.  That’s about  a third of the students surveyed.

According to Project 2025, it is a historic movement, brought together by over 100 respected organizations from across the conservative movement, aiming to dismantle the Deep State and return the government to the people. Additionally, BBC News states that Donald Trump has disavowed the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 document, though many of its authors worked for his previous administration. According to PBS.org, to distance himself from Project 2025 amid Democratic attacks, Trump wrote on Truth Social that he “knows nothing” about it and has “no idea” who is in charge of it. Vox mentions it’s been called “authoritarian” and “dystopian.” It’s the talk of TikTok. Some Democrats see it as the ace in the hole that could help Kamala Harris beat Trump in November. Furthermore, Project 2025 is backed by a $22 million budget and includes strategies for implementing policies immediately after the presidential inauguration in January 2025 (BBC).

“I have heard of Project 2025. I think many of the authors and creators of this plan worked as advisors for him while he was in the White House. Also, one of the leaders is from the Heritage Foundation, which is the group Trump got his three Supreme Court picks from. Yes, I think Project 2025 will take away rights for certain groups of people, which is the opposite of our founding ideals. Opportunity, equality, freedom, and justice are ideals we are trying to get closer to in our country, not farther away,” said social studies teacher Ms. Jennie Crownson.

Ms. Crownson expresses concern that Project 2025 may void the rights and values of immigrants. This worry resonates on a personal level for students at Morton East and across the country.

“I would be mad because I have family that would maybe be deported because of Trump’s mass deportation,” said senior Valeria Torres.

Students who may not know what Project 2025 is could still be affected, and others use prior knowledge to give their opinion on the matter.

“I don’t know what Project 2025 is. Trump is probably behind it, or at least with it, because I feel he doesn’t really like immigrants. He tried to build a wall to keep Mexicans out. I don’t have a clue what the founding ideals are,” said junior Joel Hernandez.

He acknowledged how this country was built by immigrants and how a mass deportation would greatly affect the nation.

“I do know what Project 2025 is, and it’s not really the best option for the state to pursue. Immigrants play a huge role in America, and in many states, there are undocumented people. Many families would be affected,” said senior Lizbeth Zethia.

And, students judge the policies rather than the persons affected or connected.

“I don’t know what Project 2025 is. I don’t know if Trump is connected to it, but I think it would affect the economy and cause financial issues,” said sophomore Jovany Perez.