STATEMENT: Project 2025 and Libraries
EveryLibrary opposes the Project 2025 framework by the Heritage Foundation because it would dismantle important parts of how public libraries build communities, how schools support students and families, and how higher education supports the next generation of scholars.
The rhetoric in Heritage Foundation's Project 2025 about libraries and schools is very troubling.
The opening section of the Project 2025 report is filled with allegations of criminal conduct by librarians, publishers, authors, and educators and argues in favor of criminal charges and incarceration.
The highly politicized statements and the divisive language used in Project 2025 are not only inaccurate but also contribute to further polarization among Americans who believe in the First Amendment and the freedom to read.
We know these aren't empty threats because we've fought against a number of states who have already attempted to enact these same kinds of laws.
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It is essential to recognize libraries' role as neutral and inclusive spaces dedicated to providing readers of all backgrounds and identities with access to a wide range of information and books.
Project 2025 would dismantle much of what makes K-12 public education the great leveler of American society. From proposals to eliminate the Department of Education and phase out Title I support for the poorest of schools to scaling back Civil Rights enforcement in the name of parents' rights, American education would be unrecognizable within a few years and set our children back for decades. They advocate for increased censorship and threaten criminal penalties on educators. This will discourage school librarians from providing diverse materials, limiting students' access to comprehensive educational resources.
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Across Higher Ed, Project 2025 proposes significant changes that align with a broader agenda aimed at reducing federal oversight and funding. These changes will reshape the landscape of higher education, with substantial negative implications for academic institutions, students, and the quality of education. The broader cultural and educational policies proposed could undermine academic freedom, restricting access to research and materials that are essential for higher education and critical inquiry.
The Project 2025 proposals must be taken seriously. The Heritage Foundation has tremendous influence in certain political circles. We have seen the impact of the alignments between Heritage and like-minded movements like Moms for Liberty, which has focused on censorship, the Koch Brothers network, which has focused on anti-tax movements, and the Trump administration's repeated proposals to defund IMLS. Voters who care about libraries - and the people they serve - need to understand the impact that implementing Project 2025 will have on society and libraries.