Summary of Impacts
Project 2025 suggests reducing fossil fuel production regulations, which will accelerate climate change. Reduced regulations will reduce air quality and increase negative public health outcomes. Over-reliance on fossil fuels will jeopardize future energy security and stability, and increase American dependence on foreign oil sources.
Key Quotes
“Eliminate the Clean Energy Corps by revoking funding and eliminating all positions and personnel hired under the program.”
(McNamee 418)
“Eliminate energy efficiency standards for appliances.”
(McNamee 411)
“Make the design, development, and deployment of new nuclear warheads a top priority.”
(McNamee 430)
Impacts on the Department of Commerce
The impacts of Project 2025 policies on the Department of Commerce could include reducing regulations to foster innovation and economic growth, simplifying bureaucratic processes, and promoting new trade agreements that prioritize American businesses and jobs. The plan also includes protecting critical industries from unfair foreign competition, supporting technological innovation, and ensuring data privacy. Efforts would be made to ensure market competitiveness by revising antitrust regulations and supporting small and medium enterprises. Additionally, the project aims to encourage public-private partnerships for infrastructure development, invest in digital modernization, and optimize data collection processes while balancing privacy concerns. These policies reflect a broader conservative agenda focused on economic growth and reduced governmental overreach, depending on political leadership.
Critical Analysis
The text is filled with conservative rhetoric, such as criticizing “climate change alarmism” and emphasizing the need to counter “malign influence” from China. It also frequently mentions the need for “strong political leadership” and “conservative priorities,” indicating a clear ideological bias rather than genuine concern for the wellbeing of the United States.
Detrimental Impacts
The proposed policy for the Department of Commerce stands to affect the following:
Direct Impact
Consolidating and privatizing functions could lead to job losses and reduced services, disproportionately affecting marginalized communities who rely on government programs.
Replacing career staff with political appointees could undermine the objectivity and effectiveness of government operations.
Adding a citizenship question and changing race and ethnicity questions could lead to undercounts in marginalized communities. An undercount could result in reduced federal funding and political representation for communities of color. Additionally, shifting the focus of the MBDA from providing services to policy analysis could reduce support for minority-owned businesses.
General Public
Breaking up NOAA and downsizing its functions could undermine efforts to address climate change and protect natural resources. Reduced funding for climate research could hinder the ability to predict and mitigate natural disasters.
Aggressive trade policies aimed at countering China could lead to trade wars, harming both U.S. and global economies.
Future Consequences
Consolidating and privatizing government functions will likely lead to job losses and reduced services, worsening economic disparities. Marginalized communities will be hit hardest, as they often rely on these services for support.
Breaking up NOAA and downsizing its functions will undermine efforts to address climate change and protect natural resources. This will hinder the ability to predict and mitigate natural disasters, disproportionately affecting vulnerable communities.
Abolishing advisory committees that provide diverse perspectives will result in policies that ignore or harm marginalized groups. This will reduce the effectiveness of policies aimed at addressing social justice issues.
Conclusion
In summary, the proposed policies in this section of Project 2025 are likely to cause significant harm to marginalized groups and Americans in general. The emphasis on conservative priorities and political appointees will undermine the objectivity and effectiveness of government operations, leading to biased decision-making and reduced support for vulnerable communities.
Quotes from the Mandate
Page numbers refer to the Mandate for Leadership PDF