From Brennan Center for Justice:
Project 2025, the Heritage Foundation’s blueprint for a conservative administration, proposed a number of actions that would transform criminal justice policy at the federal level. They are likely to be implemented, as President Trump has already included Project 2025 policies in other areas.
The most dramatic change concerns the mission of the Justice Department. Currently, that mission is “to uphold the rule of law, to keep our country safe, and to protect civil rights.” The rule of law is essential to a functioning democracy because it ensures that laws are applied equally and impartially. In the past, the DOJ has pursued these goals while attempting to address inequities in the criminal justice system, with efforts such as investigations into prison conditions and initiatives to reduce unnecessary incarceration. Conversely, the proposals in Project 2025 prioritize political agendas over the independence and impartiality of law enforcement, thereby posing risks to democratic norms, civil liberties, and public trust.
The DOJ is charged with both enforcement and policymaking. It has historically worked with the White House to achieve specific policy goals, but the department’s investigations and prosecutions must be independent from politics. The DOJ’s independence is not guaranteed by any explicit rule, but through norms and practices put in place after the Watergate scandal. Many practices are a matter of principle or convention. Implementing Project 2025 would push against those by undoing many existing norms, consequently undermining the rule of law. Continue reading >>>
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