By Lauren Pearlman, PhD and Rayna Young, MPP
As the 2024 election approaches, there have been unprecedented attacks on Black communities. From misinformation campaigns, such as the recent false accusations that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, OH were unlawfully present in the country, to the systematic dismantling of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives nationwide, the stakes for Black people have never been higher. Now, Project 2025—the far-right policy blueprint for a conservative presidency—stands as one of the most severe and regressive proposals in modern history.
Project 2025’s Agenda Targets Black Communities
At its core, Project 2025 seeks to erase vital protections that have bolstered Black advancement in this country. It calls for the elimination of affirmative action and diversity considerations across all federal agencies, directly undermining efforts to level the playing field for Black professionals and students. The plan goes further, advocating for the dismantling of the Department of Education and the withdrawal of federal support for low-income students, many of whom are Black. Project 2025 also proposes limiting overtime benefits for hourly and service workers, a group that includes 21% of Black Americans who rely on such jobs to make ends meet. It would also end funding guaranteed by the Small Business Administration, which fosters Black entrepreneurship and economic mobility. For Black Americans already striving to close the racial wealth gap, these proposals would only deepen economic inequalities.
In addition to these attacks on education equity and economic advancement, Project 2025 would empower the federal government to keep Black citizens overrepresented in the criminal legal system by authorizing the federal government to bring charges against individuals that local jurisdictions have not convicted and through the creation of stricter sentences for drug possession. It would also strip legal protections from immigrants, including over 200,000 Haitian nationals who are currently authorized to live and work in the U.S.
While the policies proposed in Project 2025 are undoubtedly harmful, ensuring that the communities who would be most impacted are fully informed remains a significant challenge.
Community Concerns Are Growing
At the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s (CBCF) 53rd Annual Legislative Conference, our Center for Policy Analysis and Research (CPAR) surveyed conference attendees on their views about Project 2025. Black-identifying respondents used phrases like “extreme plan,” “conservative political playbook,” and “taking civil rights” to describe the plan. While 94% of respondents were aware of Project 2025, 70% wanted more information about its full scope.
In response to this demand, CPAR has developed a detailed Project 2025 Fact Sheet highlighting the most critical sections of the nearly 900-page document and the potential impacts on Black people in the U.S. The fact sheet makes clear what’s at stake for Black communities—including its impact on criminal justice reform, healthcare access, education equity, civil rights protections, immigration policy, economic advancement, and reproductive freedom.
Action Is Needed
Knowledge is power, but awareness alone won’t stop Project 2025. A staggering 86% of those surveyed expressed deep concern about its potential impact on their communities. But Black communities are not powerless. Those concerned about the erosion of civil rights must organize to ensure that every eligible voter is educated about and understands the stakes of Project 2025 and is ready to act at the ballot box this November.
We urge you to learn more about the implications of Project 2025 by reading our fact sheet. Share this information widely with your family, friends, and networks, and visit vote.org/cbcf to find information about voting in your state. Make sure your voice is heard in this election. Our future depends on it.