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Project 2025 had a plan to target federal data. The Trump administration obeyed
The article says the Trump administration has altered or removed hundreds of federal datasets and thousands of government webpages, particularly material on diversity, climate and other topics at odds with its ideology. A Guardian analysis found that many of these actions match proposals in Project 2025, raising concerns that control of public information is being used to advance political goals.
The analysis reviewed the 900-page Heritage Foundation blueprint and identified nearly 100 proposals concerning government data, research and guidance; the article says the administration has implemented most of them. Experts describe data infrastructure as vulnerable to executive control and say the findings could help Congress investigate how information was removed and identify gaps in its protection. The White House and Heritage Foundation did not respond to requests for comment.
In short
- Federal data and webpages have been altered or removed.
- Many actions match proposals in Project 2025.
- Experts say Congress could investigate how safeguards failed.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters of the administration could argue that elected leaders should be able to set agency priorities and review publicly funded material for relevance, accuracy and consistency with their policies. Removing or revising datasets and webpages may be justified where information is outdated, duplicative or no longer reflects the administration’s direction, while the Project 2025 overlap could reflect a shared policy agenda rather than improper coordination.
The case against
Critics could argue that removing public data and guidance on politically contentious subjects risks concealing evidence, disrupting research and weakening the public’s ability to scrutinise government decisions. If the changes closely follow a political blueprint, they may suggest that information access is being shaped to advance an ideology rather than preserve reliable public records, and that existing safeguards are inadequate.
Explained simply
The federal government collects and publishes information on subjects such as health, the environment, the economy and public services. Its websites and datasets are used by researchers, businesses, journalists and the public to understand conditions and inform decisions.
Project 2025 is a policy blueprint produced by the conservative Heritage Foundation for a future Republican administration. It sets out proposals for changing federal agencies, including how they handle research, public guidance and data. The Trump administration is responsible for directing the executive branch, while Congress oversees the government and can investigate its actions.
Federal information matters because people rely on it to track changes and assess public policy. When records or guidance are changed or removed, it can affect what evidence is available and how easily the public can examine government decisions.
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