 "Republican presidential nominee and former US President Donald Trump takes the stage to address supporters at his rally, at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, US, November 6, 2024. File Image/Reuters")
As Donald Trump returns to the White House in January following his victory in the 2024 presidential election, speculation surrounds the policy roadmap that may shape his second term in office.
Titled “Agenda 47,” this detailed blueprint lays out sweeping changes across various sectors, from education and immigration to climate policy and defence. While some of these proposals may require congressional approval, others could be implemented via executive orders.
We take a quick look at Agenda 47, and also its intersection with Project 2025, a related conservative policy framework:
Education & Cultural reforms in Trump’s agenda
Trump’s Agenda 47 places a heavy emphasis on reshaping the education system. Proposals include empowering parents to elect school principals, stripping federal funding from schools that teach “critical race theory,” and implementing school choice policies.
In a move aimed at reshaping school staff dynamics, he advocates for removing teacher tenure and establishing a new credentialing body for educators committed to what he describes as “patriotic values.”
Additionally, Trump plans to encourage prayer in schools, allow teachers to carry concealed firearms, and enforce stricter discipline, including expelling “out-of-control troublemakers.”
At the university level, Trump envisions creating a free, online “American Academy” that offers tuition-free degrees to students, leveraging funds obtained by fining colleges and universities accused of discrimination.
To reinforce these values, he proposes a sweeping overhaul of the college accreditation system, proposing new standards aligned with conservative principles. “It will be strictly non-political, and there will be no wokeness or jihadism allowed,” Trump stated on November 1 last year.
Backtracking climate goals under Trump’s agenda
Reversing current climate policies is a hallmark of Agenda 47. Trump has pledged to withdraw the US from the Paris Climate Agreement and dismiss restrictions imposed by incumbent US President Joe Biden’s administration, aiming to boost fossil fuel production.
His energy plan involves expanding oil and gas extraction by opening federal lands for exploration, ending electric vehicle incentives, and loosening emissions standards for the automotive industry. In his words, these initiatives will drive down household utility bills, though US energy production under Biden has already reached record levels.
What Project 2025 says
The broader conservative policy package, Project 2025, mirrors this approach with even more aggressive climate proposals.
The Heritage Foundation, a leading conservative organisation behind Project 2025, advocates dismantling the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and scaling back the National Weather Service’s role to selling data to private firms, a move critics argue would weaken critical climate and weather forecasting capabilities.
Stricter measures around crime & immigration
Trump’s plans to address crime include bolstering police forces and expanding their protections, as well as implementing policies like “stop and frisk.”
He also aims to crack down on drug dealers, gangs, and human traffickers, advocating the use of federal troops to “restore law and order” where local law enforcement “refuses to act.” For the most serious drug offenses, Trump has proposed the death penalty.
On immigration, Trump’s Agenda 47 lays out a hardline stance. Key policies include prohibiting undocumented immigrants from accessing public benefits, reinstating a travel ban for certain countries, ending birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants, and implementing a nationwide “catch-and-release” ban.
Also Read | Can Trump really implement his mass deportation plan?
He also intends to deploy strict “extreme vetting” procedures and suspend refugee admissions. Trump has declared, “We’re going to have the largest deportation operation in American history.”
What Project 2025 says
The Project 2025 policy document, while similar to Agenda 47 in many respects, has its own approach to these issues. It suggests removing civil service protections for federal employees, thereby allowing more rapid firing, particularly for those suspected of opposing conservative policies.
Additionally, Project 2025 takes an aggressive stance on reducing federal “unaccountable spending,” a goal Trump shares with his vision of trimming bureaucratic red tape and “handcuffing” the federal administration.
Foreign policy under Trump 2.0 agenda
In foreign affairs, Trump’s agenda promises to curb military assistance to Ukraine, insisting European allies should reimburse the US for military support, and he has been openly critical of NATO, stating, “I don’t consider them leaders.”
Project 2025, however, diverges by endorsing NATO but demanding member states increase their defence spending. Both agendas call for limiting economic relations with China, though Project 2025’s stance on Chinese economic engagement is more extreme, stating it should be “ended, not rethought.”
Trump also intends to revamp US defence systems, including constructing a missile defence shield, an initiative reminiscent of Reagan-era policies. While Trump has avoided condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Project 2025 condemns it explicitly, affirming Ukraine’s “right to defend their homeland.”
Economy & Healthcare under Trump 2.0
Economic proposals in Agenda 47 favour domestic manufacturing by introducing baseline tariffs on imported goods, with higher rates for countries with “unfair trade practices.” Trump has also proposed cutting corporate taxes to 15 per cent, a reduction from the current 21 per cent, along with tax cuts specifically targeting the working class by exempting tips and overtime wages.
However, some critics warn that these exemptions could benefit high-income earners if implemented broadly. Project 2025’s tax plan suggests an even more radical overhaul by creating two federal income tax brackets and moving toward a flat tax.
Also Read | From immigration to taxes: Trump’s bold plans for second term
In healthcare, Trump wants federal agencies to prioritise purchasing American-made medicines and equipment, as well as mandating that pharmaceutical companies sell medications to the US at the “best price” offered to foreign buyers.
Project 2025, while aligning with these general goals, suggests adjustments to Medicare and Medicaid that critics argue could shift financial burdens to lower-income Americans.
Does Agenda 47 align with Project 2025?
Although Agenda 47 is tailored directly by Trump, many of its elements align with Project 2025, a detailed conservative framework by the Heritage Foundation and former Trump administration officials.
Despite Trump’s distancing from Project 2025 — remarking, “I haven’t read it. I don’t want to read it — purposefully” — the two documents share objectives, particularly around scaling back federal power, promoting conservative values, and reshaping the social landscape.
Differences between Agenda 47 and Project 2025 largely lie in emphasis, with Project 2025 presenting a more extensive critique of federal civil rights protections, expanding the president’s power to control federal departments, and opposing LGBTQ protections more rigorously.
With inputs from agencies