Project 2025 Architect Steps Up Attacks on EPA

Demand for “list” of names previews approach of former Trump officials

A leader of Project 2025 took to “X” yesterday because she didn’t like what I had to say in an article from Politico’s E&E News. A second article featuring her post now tops the charts of “most read” stories on the news site.

Here’s a breakdown, and what it means for EPA.

Cat out of the bag

The Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 became a political lightning rod because its authors let the cat out of the bag when they published in great detail what former Trump officials have in store if they are re-appointed to federal agencies.

When the Heritage Foundation booted Paul Dems, the most visible face of the project, Trump’s campaign didn’t mince words,  warning:

Dems’ fate “should serve as notice to anyone or any group trying to misrepresent their influence with President Trump and his campaign - it will not end well for you."

One Project 2025 architect didn’t get the memo

Mandy Gunasekara, a Fellow at Heritage Foundation, wrote the Project 2025 chapter that would gut EPA. She knows how to go about it, having served as chief-of-staff for Andrew Wheeler, the coal lobbyist who Trump put in charge of EPA. Gunasekara also pushed Trump to abandon the Paris climate accords and orchestrated rollbacks of the Clean Air Act under disgraced EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt.

Before her EPA tour, Gunasekara staffed the late Senator Jim Inhofe. She can be seen sitting behind him as he infamously brought a snowball to the Senate floor in an attempt to show that global warming is a hoax.

The radical EPA plan Gunasekara wrote for Project 2025 is a demolition blueprint intent on dismantling EPA from the inside out. As I pointed out to Politico, Trump was unable to fully follow through on his plans to gut the agency in his first term because Congress rejected his efforts to slash EPA’s budget. This time around, the Project 2025 plan would bypass Congress by driving out its dedicated workforce or placing them directly under political hacks.

When Politico ran an article about EPA alumni who are critical of Protect 2025, Gunasekara took to “X:”

Politico then ran the second article, which included my response:

Doubling Down

Gunasekara doubled down Politico when asked to elaborate by Politico:

“It would be helpful for any appointees to know who all is building a ‘resistance’ to complicate potential policy changes before even walking in the door. Given the group’s media engagement, they don’t strike me as shy.”

Beyond Weird

The gravity of the threat to EPA should not be overshadowed by the weirdness of Gunasekara’s post. It’s another revealing and chilling moment from Project 2025 architects.

On its surface, the list that Gunasekara is seeking involves EPA alumni. But let’s be honest. Raising the prospect of a “list” is a not-so-subtle shot across the bow of civil servants currently working at EPA. They are especially concerned with Project 2025’s plans to reclassify tens of thousands of jobs so that scientists, inspectors, and regulators can be fired without cause. Mark Hague, Chair of the Board of Environmental Protection Network, has a great rundown on the ramifications of this plan.

Politico reminds readers that this isn’t the first time EPA has faced a potential “hit list:”

There’s a notable difference between today and the 1980’s. When the “hit list” was exposed under Reagan, the alleged architect was fired. This time around, compiling lists of names is a job audition.

Note: Climate Insider is an independent publication by Jeremy Symons. The opinions are my own and do not represent the views of any organization.

Updated Aug. 9, 2024