Project 2025's Approach to National Security
Restructuring the Department of Defense
Project 2025 proposes significant changes to the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), specifically targeting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, which it seeks to abolish. Additionally, it calls for the immediate reinstatement of service members discharged for refusing COVID-19 vaccination, emphasizing a reversal of prior pandemic-related policies.
Exclusion of Climate Change from Security Threat Analysis
The Project suggests that climate change should not factor into the Armed Forces' assessments of national security threats. By excluding climate change considerations, the Project emphasizes a narrower focus on traditional geopolitical and defense concerns, omitting environmental factors from strategic planning.
Addressing the Threat of China
Identifying China as the primary threat to U.S. national security, Project 2025 outlines several steps to counter perceived Chinese influence within American society. Specific recommendations include banning the social media platform TikTok, accused of espionage, and eliminating Confucius Institutes, which the Project claims promote Chinese influence in U.S. higher education.
Protecting Intellectual Property and American Investments
The Project expresses concerns over intellectual property theft by China and suggests that American pension funds should be cautious with investments in Chinese entities. It also proposes placing restrictions on American companies attempting to invest in sensitive sectors in China, with a focus on limiting any activities that could benefit the Chinese Communist Party.
Conclusion
Project 2025's national security agenda prioritizes reducing perceived internal and external influences linked to China while restructuring the DoD's priorities to exclude DEI and climate change considerations. These policies reflect a focus on traditional defense capabilities and countering foreign influence, with an emphasis on reducing the presence of Chinese influence in U.S. society and economy.