The current Republican administration, which feigned ignorance of Project 2025 prior to the election, is now fully engaged in implementing its agenda. There are several summaries of the document online.

In short, Project 2025 serves the ultrawealthy and most privileged individuals and the largest, highest-polluting corporations and industries. It is anti-choice, anti-equity, anti-environment, anti-regulation, anti-immigrant and anti-democratic. This wide-ranging agenda has dramatic impacts. I could write about many issues, but I’ll choose three.

One of the first acts of the current Republican administration was firing the independent inspectors general at 17 federal agencies, without notice to Congress, as required by law. This action eliminates independent and nonpartisan oversight against abuse and corruption. There is no one protecting taxpayer money from fraud.

Elon Musk and his associates have changed the Treasury Department’s computer code and built a back door into the system, giving them access to every payment made by the U.S. Treasury. Why?

The Republican administration is dismantling environmental regulations. What does it look like for Astoria and the North Coast when the Environmental Protection Agency is gutted, and over 1,000 pipelines that drain into the Columbia River from industrial and agricultural sites upriver have free rein to pollute? Will we stay silent while this happens?

I know many support this agenda and voted for it. But if any of this troubles you, push back in every way you can. Contact Sens. Wyden and Merkley and Rep. Bonamici, support organizations fighting this agenda, delete your X account and join Bluesky, speak out.

CAROL MERWIN

Astoria