Put Them in Trauma: Inside a Key MAGA Leader's Plans for a New Trump Agenda

Overview

ProPublica investigates potential policy plans and ideologies of key Trump ally Russell Vought for a potential second Trump administration. Vought aims to implement radical changes in governance, focusing on demoralizing federal civil servants and reshaping U.S. domestic policy.

Key Points

Plans for Civil Servants

• Demoralization Strategy: Vought plans to "put career civil servants in trauma," undermining job protections and morale.
• Schedule F Executive Order: Revival aims to strip job protections for nonpartisan government workers.

Use of Military and Domestic Policy

• Insurrection Act: Legal rationale being crafted for military deployment against domestic unrest.
• Defunding Agencies: Plans include defunding the EPA and other independent federal agencies.
• Transgender Rights: Called for a rollback of policies, referring to gender-affirming care in extreme terms.

Ideological Context

• Historical Comparisons: Likens the U.S. political climate to 1776 and 1860, periods of significant conflict.
• Christian Nationalism: Emphasizes a return to perceived constitutional and religious fundamentals.

Project 2025

• Shadow Government: Vought’s efforts in Project 2025 include drafting executive orders and regulations for rapid policy deployment.
• Recruitment and Training: Aims to recruit thousands to support a future conservative administration.

Critique of Current System

• Post-Constitutional Regime: Vought argues the separation of powers has been undermined by independent agencies.
• Federalist Society Critique: Criticizes them for not doing enough to dismantle independent agencies.

Political Rhetoric and Allegations

• Election Fraud Claims: Endorses claims of a stolen 2020 election, comparing media dismissals to propaganda.
• Political Prisoners: Refers to January 6 detainees as such and defends lawyers involved in election challenges.

Vought's Vision

• Shadow Office of Legal Counsel: Proposed to support Trump by bypassing traditional checks on executive power.
• Republican Red-State Strategy: Encourages states to limit federal power in the event of a Trump loss.

Reactions

• Trump Campaign: Distances itself from Vought’s plans, emphasizing the official campaign's policy role.

Conclusion

Vought's speeches reflect a hardline approach to governance and a dramatic shift in the implementation of MAGA policies. His plans highlight a blend of political, legal, and ideological strategies aimed at solidifying Trump’s influence and reshaping governmental structures.