Faith, Speech, and Policy: Tracking Trump's Implementation of Project 2025

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Project 2025 – spearheaded by the Heritage Foundation as a conservative roadmap for the next administration – lays out an extensive policy blueprint touching on religious liberty, free speech, pro-life policies, and even Sabbath, specifically Sunday, observance accommodation. Donald Trump and aligned organizations have begun integrating many of these proposals into campaign platforms, legal strategies, and public messaging going into the current presidential term. Below is an overview of the key Project 2025 provisions on First Amendment-related issues and how Trump and his affiliates are addressing them through policy proposals, statements, and actions.

Religious Freedom and Religious Liberty Initiatives

Project 2025 calls for robust protections of religious exercise across the federal government. It urges the next President to issue an executive order making clear that religious employers are free to run their businesses according to their beliefs, even if they conflict with general nondiscrimination laws. The plan recommends strengthening Title VII’s religious exemptions so faith-based employers can hire consistent with their creed, and providing robust accommodations for employees’ sincere religious practices, including beliefs about marriage and gender. It also calls for the DOJ to zealously guard constitutional rights, explicitly including free exercise. Project 2025 emphasizes defending religious organizations’ equal access to federal programs and funding and urges the removal of any regulation that infringes on First Amendment or RFRA rights.

Trump has embraced a conservative religious freedom stance, highlighting his first-term record and pledging to continue protecting religious conscience rights, such as those of the Little Sisters of the Poor. He has also emphasized shielding churches from IRS interference, effectively softening enforcement of the Johnson Amendment. His 2024 \”Agenda 47\” platform affirms parental rights in moral and religious upbringing and promises to reverse gender-affirming care policies. Trump surrogates are actively promoting these policies. For instance, the Heritage Foundation’s advisory ranks include Trump-aligned figures. Heritage President Kevin Roberts has stated that Project 2025 is meant to staff the next conservative administration with officials ready to implement these protections.

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Legal organizations such as Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) and First Liberty Institute are reinforcing these efforts through the courts. ADF won the 303 Creative case, affirming that the government cannot compel individuals to create speech that violates their religious beliefs. First Liberty Institute prevailed in Groff v. DeJoy, expanding protections for employees seeking religious accommodations, including Sabbath observance.

In February 2025, President Trump demonstrated alignment with this vision by signing an executive order establishing the White House Faith Office. This office is tasked with ensuring that religious organizations have a prominent voice in policy discussions and that their rights are vigorously defended. The administration\’s fact sheet emphasized the goal of eradicating anti-Christian bias and ending the perceived weaponization of government against religious entities.

Defending Freedom of Speech and Combating Censorship

Project 2025 outlines a twofold approach to free speech: ending government censorship and eliminating progressive indoctrination in public institutions. It proposes requiring all federal grant recipients to affirm compliance with the First Amendment and calls for halting any coordination between federal agencies and tech platforms that could suppress lawful speech. Project 2025 also seeks to eliminate political litmus tests within agencies and remove ideological content (such as critical race theory or gender ideology) from schools.

Trump\’s 2024 campaign has positioned \”free speech\” as a central theme, with promises to sign an executive order on Day One halting all federal efforts to censor online content. He has pledged to cut funding to institutions engaged in censorship and reform Section 230. Legal arms like America First Legal (AFL), led by former Trump officials, have filed lawsuits and FOIA requests exposing agency coordination with tech firms to suppress disfavored viewpoints.

Trump has also proposed education reforms that align with Project 2025: cutting federal funding from schools that promote critical race theory or gender ideology, and ensuring parental rights in education. Trump-aligned groups like ADF and AFL are working to ensure favorable judicial and administrative outcomes on these issues.

In alignment with these principles, the Trump administration has taken assertive steps against traditional media outlets. Notably, the Associated Press was barred from media events due to its refusal to adopt terminology favored by the administration. This move underscores a broader strategy to challenge and redefine the media landscape, compelling news organizations to reassess their practices in light of the administration\’s stance.​

Furthermore, the administration has initiated actions against law firms perceived to be advancing agendas contrary to its policies. Executive orders have been signed to revoke security clearances and scrutinize government contracts of firms such as Paul Weiss and Perkins Coie, leading to a series of legal challenges and negotiations.

Pro-Life Advocacy and Anti-Abortion Policies

Project 2025 includes detailed proposals for federal action on abortion. It advocates using existing laws, such as the Comstock Act, to halt the distribution of abortion drugs and urges the FDA to reverse its approval of mifepristone. It supports reinstating Title X and Mexico City Policy restrictions and recommends expanding civil rights protections for unborn children. The plan also calls for robust enforcement of laws protecting pregnancy resource centers and churches from violence.

Trump has taken credit for the overturning of Roe v. Wade but has refrained from endorsing a national abortion ban, framing the issue as best left to the states. Still, Trump promises to defund abortion providers and reinstate prior executive rules aligned with pro-life goals. His allies, including Pam Bondi and Russell Vought, are strongly supportive of the Project 2025 approach. Legal groups like ADF are litigating cases such as Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA, challenging mail-order distribution of abortion pills. These cases align with Project 2025’s strategy to regulate abortion through executive and administrative action.

President Trump\’s administration has echoed these priorities by appointing officials committed to pro-life policies and supporting legal actions aimed at limiting abortion access. The administration\’s alignment with Project 2025 is evident in its efforts to promote policies that protect the unborn and redirect funding away from abortion providers.​

Affiliated organizations like the Alliance Defending Freedom continue to pursue legal strategies consistent with Project 2025\’s objectives, focusing on restricting the distribution of abortion-inducing drugs and challenging related regulatory approvals.

Sunday Rest and Sabbath Observance Provisions

Project 2025 includes a proposal to amend labor law to require overtime pay for Sunday work, encouraging a shared day of rest rooted in Judeo-Christian tradition. The proposal allows flexibility for religious minorities and exempts essential services. An alternative view in the document cautions that such a mandate could raise business costs and even encourage Sabbath work for overtime pay.

In 2023, the Supreme Court\’s decision in Groff v. DeJoy raised the standard for denying Sunday leave, making it easier for employees to observe the Sabbath. Although Trump has not directly campaigned on the Sunday rest policy, his administration would likely support broader religious accommodations. Heritage leaders and religious conservatives in his circle continue to advocate for policies encouraging shared rest and worship.

As of March 2025, the Trump administration has not publicly adopted specific measures to implement this proposal. While the administration has shown a commitment to religious freedoms, initiatives explicitly encouraging Sabbath accommodations through amendments to labor laws have yet to be introduced.

Conclusion

In the initial months of his second term, President Trump\’s administration has taken decisive steps that closely mirror the policy recommendations of Project 2025, particularly in areas concerning religious freedom, free speech, and pro-life advocacy. While the administration has yet to address the proposal regarding Sabbath accommodations, the overall trajectory indicates a concerted effort to implement the conservative blueprint outlined by the Heritage Foundation. These actions have sparked considerable debate and legal challenges, reflecting the contentious nature of the administration\’s policy agenda.

Resources

1. Heritage Foundation, \”Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise\” (Project 2025)

2. Trump Agenda 47 Policy Statements and Campaign Speeches (2023–2024)

3. Alliance Defending Freedom, Legal Filings and Press Releases (303 Creative, Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine)

4. America First Legal, FOIA Filings and Public Statements (2023–2024)

5. Supreme Court Opinions: 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis, Groff v. DeJoy, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization

6. Associated Press, Politico, and Other News Reports on GOP 2024 Platform

7. Faith & Freedom Coalition, June 2023 Conference Transcript

8. U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit Opinions on Mifepristone Access (2023–2024)

9. Interviews and Statements from Heritage President Kevin Roberts

10. Public Commentary from Project 2025 Contributors (e.g., Russell Vought, Pam Bondi, Michael Farris)