Democrats call out Project 2025’s potential harm, citing abortion access stories and low public approval
Democrats on Capitol Hill focused their efforts on exposing the highly unpopular conservative policy plan, Project 2025, at a hearing on Tuesday. The hearing, aimed at unveiling the damaging impact of the plan, centred on one key issue: abortion access, especially in states where conservative laws are restricting women’s rights.
The majority of the hearing highlighted the dangerous situations women are facing under these abortion bans. Many women have been forced to wait for their health conditions to worsen before doctors would intervene, afraid of breaking laws that allow abortion care only in life-threatening circumstances. These distressing stories were shared by women like Gracie Ladd, who recounted the traumatic experience of having to travel from Wisconsin to Chicago to seek abortion care for her son, who would have died shortly after birth.
Despite the focus on abortion, the Democrats also aimed to shed light on other troubling aspects of the plan, including proposals to dismantle environmental regulations and undermine the independence of the Justice Department, raising concerns among legal experts.
The Democrats’ strategy appears to be resonating with the public. A recent NBC News poll revealed that Project 2025 holds an exceptionally low approval rating, with over 50% of registered voters expressing disapproval and only 4% viewing it positively.
Rep. Ayanna Pressley warned that Project 2025’s proposals could lead to even more severe restrictions on abortion access, referencing the language in the plan which asserts that the overturning of Roe v. Wade is “just the beginning.” Meanwhile, Donald Trump, whose administration played a pivotal role in overturning Roe, has faced increased scrutiny from his party over the plan’s potential to restrict abortion rights further. Despite his attempts to distance himself from more extreme aspects of Project 2025, the controversy continues to fuel divisions within the Republican Party, as well as between Trump and his political opponents.
NBC’s poll results further highlight a growing gender gap in national politics, with Vice President Kamala Harris leading Trump by more than 20 points among women, a divide that could prove significant in the upcoming election.
