Washington governor-elect Bob Ferguson, a Democrat, announced Monday that he is forming a subcommittee within his transition team specifically aimed at combating Project 2025.
The transition team anticipates that Project 2025 will be advocated by the incoming Trump Administration despite President-elect Trump’s attempts during his campaign to distance himself from the contentious proposal.
Ferguson’s committee will be co-chaired by Jennifer Allen, CEO of Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates, and King County Councilmember Jorge L. Barón, who also previously served as the executive director of the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, as per a report by Fox 13.
“We are getting prepared in case President Trump threatens the fundamental freedoms of Washingtonians,” Ferguson stated, according to the news outlet. “We will continue to move Washington forward regardless of what unfolds at the national level.”
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Governor-elect Bob Ferguson gives his victory speech at the Washington State Democrats Election Night Watch Party at the Seattle Convention Center on November 5, 2024, in Seattle, Washington. (Getty Images)
Project 2025 is a contentious initiative developed by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, which was authored by a group of conservatives, including former Trump administration officials.
The initiative proposed right-leaning policy recommendations for Trump’s second term, such as replacing civil service employees with Trump supporters, eliminating the Department of Education, criminalizing pornography, cutting DEI programs, reducing Medicaid and Medicare funding, opposing abortion as healthcare, executing mass deportations, and injecting Christian values into the government.
Throughout his campaign, Trump aimed to distance himself from the initiative, which has been condemned as an authoritarian and Christian nationalist scheme that would undermine civil liberties, by stating that he was unaware of it, labeling parts of it as “extremely ridiculous and terrible,” and associating its supporters with the “radical right.”
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Washington governor-elect Bob Ferguson announced Monday that he is creating a subcommittee in his transition team to fight Project 2025. (Getty Images)
Former Trump officials also shared with POLITICO before Election Day that individuals associated with Project 2025 would be ostracized from his administration.
However, Trump has chosen the authors and contributors of Project 2025 to hold positions in his upcoming administration, including Russell Vought as Director of the Office of Management and Budget, Tom Homan as “border czar,” Stephen Miller as Deputy Chief of Policy, and Brendan Carr as Chair of the Federal Communications Commission.
“This is a crucial moment for our nation as we face the potential threat of our communities being attacked from various angles,” Allen remarked, as per Fox 13. “I am grateful to be part of Governor-elect Ferguson’s transition team and to co-chair this subcommittee in supporting his leadership in our state and country to advocate for and protect reproductive rights and the rights of all Washingtonians.”
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump attends a viewing of the launch of the sixth test flight of the SpaceX Starship rocket on Nov. 19, 2024, in Brownsville, Texas. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
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Barón expressed his gratitude in assisting Governor-elect Ferguson during his transition into the new role and co-chairing this significant subcommittee, as reported by Fox 13.
“As an immigrant and the proud parent of a transgender daughter, I am especially thankful that the Governor-elect is dedicated to safeguarding all Washington state residents, especially those communities most vulnerable to potential rights violations by the incoming federal administration,” Barón continued.
Ferguson’s office announced that the subcommittee will outline policy priorities for his initial 100 days in office, although specific policy proposals have not been disclosed, according to Fox 13.
