WASHINGTON—John Mcentee, a prominent figure from the Trump administration, has been appointed as a senior advisor to the 2025 Presidential Transition Project (Project 2025), marking a significant move in the conservative effort to prepare for the next presidential administration. The Heritage Foundation, spearheading Project 2025, announced McEntee’s involvement alongside the unveiling of the Presidential Personnel Database, a key component designed to assemble and vet candidates for potential roles in a future conservative White House. This database initiative underscores the project’s ambition to ensure a seamless transition and readiness from day one for the next conservative president.
McEntee’s expertise will be pivotal in bolstering the personnel aspect of Project 2025, grounded in the principle that “personnel is policy.” The Presidential Personnel Database is designed as a proactive measure to collect resumes and thoroughly vet thousands of prospective applicants well in advance of January 20, 2025, the inauguration date for the next president. This strategic foresight aims to populate the administration with individuals aligned with conservative principles from the outset.
Project 2025, orchestrated by the Heritage Foundation, unites over 50 leading conservative organizations in a collaborative effort. This coalition is dedicated to equipping the next conservative president with the necessary resources and personnel to hit the ground running.
“I am incredibly enthusiastic about joining Project 2025, the leading transition initiative aimed at reclaiming our nation,” John McEntee stated. “The Presidential Personnel Database is set to be an invaluable asset for the 47th president, as we are proactively undertaking crucial groundwork for the incoming administration. Every aspiring political appointee, from entry-level to senior positions, should register at Project2025.org immediately. Together, we are committed to bringing a multitude of vetted and well-prepared conservatives from across the country to Washington. The Project 2025 team has assembled the essential elements for a successful presidential transition, and I am eager to contribute to this endeavor. Let’s assemble the A-Team!” McEntee’s rallying cry emphasizes the urgency and importance of this personnel initiative.
In his role as senior advisor, John McEntee will collaborate closely with the Project 2025 team. His responsibilities include engaging with potential presidential candidates, promoting the Presidential Personnel Database to encourage applications, and providing strategic counsel to the coalition on matters concerning presidential personnel. His direct involvement signals the high priority Project 2025 places on securing the right individuals for key government positions.
Drawing from his experience as the director of the Presidential Personnel Office under the Trump administration, John McEntee brings a wealth of knowledge to Project 2025. During his tenure, McEntee was at the helm of vetting and appointing individuals to various roles within the White House and across the Trump administration. The Presidential Personnel Office is responsible for approximately 4,000 political appointments, making McEntee’s experience in this domain exceptionally relevant to the goals of Project 2025.
Paul Dans, director of Project 2025 and former chief of staff at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, expressed his enthusiasm about McEntee’s addition to the team. “It is an honor to collaborate with John McEntee once again. Few possess John’s exceptional talent in personnel operations, and even fewer evoke the level of apprehension he does within the bureaucracy, the political establishment, and the media. He is adept at building high-performing teams that are both loyal and dedicated to advancing conservative principles. Inspired by his leadership, a new wave of conservatives from outside the Beltway is heading to Washington,” Dans remarked. “The 47th president must and will confront the Deep State, and John McEntee is the person they will turn to for this task. We are delighted to have him join Project 2025’s extensive coalition of conservatives to ensure the next presidential administration is fully prepared in January 2025.” Dans’s statement underscores the strategic importance of McEntee’s role in not only staffing but also in potentially challenging established Washington structures.
John McEntee joins a robust Project 2025 team, which includes Associate Director Spencer Chretien, who previously served as a special assistant to President Trump and associate director of presidential personnel, and James Bacon, a Project 2025 advisor and former special assistant to the president who was PPO’s director of operations under Trump. Both Chretien and Bacon worked under McEntee at the White House, creating a team with deep experience in presidential personnel matters.
Project 2025 is structured to foster collaboration among conservatives in developing policy recommendations and in rigorously vetting and training personnel to implement these policies effectively. The coalition recently launched “Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise,” a comprehensive 900-page policy blueprint intended to guide the next administration. This policy document, coupled with the personnel database, represents a two-pronged approach to ensuring a conservative administration is policy-ready and staffed with aligned individuals.
Paul Dans further emphasized the significance of Project 2025 as a gateway for conservatives seeking to serve in the federal government. “Project 2025 is the portal for conservatives aspiring to contribute to our federal government,” Dans stated. “Each applicant will create a profile and upload their resume for review. Our coalition will then assess applicants and match them with relevant agencies, offering recommendations to the eventual transition team. Our objective is to bring ‘conservative warriors’ from across the United States to Washington to guarantee that the next administration effectively serves the interests of the American people.” This call to action serves as a clear invitation for conservatives nationwide to participate in shaping the future administration.
