“I am not free while any woman is unfree, even when her shackles are very different from my own.” – Audre Lorde
On the 5th of November, Donald Trump was declared the next President of the United States of America. In a devastating turn of events for a large portion of American citizens, Kamala Harris lost the vote and conceded, with Trump set to start his term soon as the 47th President of the United States along with JD Vance as the Vice President. Protests and questions have erupted across the nation on how a convicted felon is allowed to govern the country and what his presidency is going to mean for the most affected and vulnerable groups in America—especially what it will mean for American women.
Project 2025 is a policy blueprint developed primarily by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank that has numerous connections to Donald Trump and has been backed up by him multiple times. A quick read into the policies Project 2025 intends to put in action would show how they propose broad and sweeping changes to federal agencies and legislation that traditionally supported reproductive health, LGBTQ+ equality, and protections for minority groups in America. If Project 2025 becomes a reality, women’s rights may face perhaps what is the most aggressive rollback seen in decades.
Reproductive Health in Trump’s America
One of the first and direct targets of Project 2025 is reproductive healthcare. The blueprint advocates for a complete rollback of abortion access, pushing for restrictions that make safe abortions nearly impossible to obtain across the country. With Roe v. Wade already overturned in 2022, the situation of women’s basic healthcare rights is growing more dire in real time. One proposal calls for revoking the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval of mifepristone, a medication used in over 50% of U.S. abortions. By effectively banning medication abortion, women would be stripped of one of the few remaining safe, private, and non-invasive abortion procedures.
Project 2025 also targets the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labour Act (EMTALA), which requires hospitals to provide emergency care, including necessary abortions in life-threatening situations. This pushback could leave women who experience medical complications during pregnancy without access to life-saving care. In addition, the policies aim to cut federal funds from states that support abortion rights—a financial penalty for states that protect women’s rights.
The project also suggests dismantling federal support for women’s preventive health services, which currently include access to contraception under the Affordable Care Act. It would remove the requirement for insurance to cover contraceptives, potentially leading to out-of-pocket costs for birth control, emergency contraception, and other preventive services. This poses a high threat to low-income women and those in marginalised communities.
“The most disrespected person in America is the Black woman. The most unprotected person in America is the Black woman. The most neglected person in America is the Black woman.” – Malcolm X
Recent statistics showed 92% of black women who participated in the 2024 elections voted for Kamala Harris. This support wasn’t just about party loyalty; it was about survival. Black women in America face systemic violence and obstacles that make them the most vulnerable demographic, dealing with a complex intersection of racial and gender inequalities. They have some of the highest maternal mortality rates and face increased hurdles in access to healthcare and reproductive services. Voting for Kamala Harris—a Black and South Asian woman—was a fight for their rights, a powerful act of hope.
But under Trump and the proposed policies he backs, black women’s access to healthcare, economic opportunities, and even the right to vote is under threat. Trump’s policies, particularly those targeting Medicaid and reproductive rights, disproportionately harm black women. Even worse, ongoing efforts to restrict voting rights hit black communities hard, aiming to silence the very voices that are most at risk. It’s not just about picking a candidate; they’re fighting for representation, dignity, and policies that support their lives and families in the face of a system that has worked against them their whole lives.
Workplace Protections and Healthcare Access
Over 18 million American women rely on Medicaid for their healthcare, and Project 2025 has set its sights on making cuts to one of America’s most important programs. Medicaid provides access to family planning, prenatal care, and essential health services that many women—especially women of colour—depend on. With proposed funding cuts and restrictions, Project 2025 would jeopardise women’s ability to access affordable care, further marginalising those who already face significant health disparities. This policy has nothing to do with fiscal responsibility; it’s about taking resources from women in need and punishing them for their reliance on federal support.
Reversing Anti-Discrimination Protections
Project 2025’s proposals to redefine federal anti-discrimination laws by enforcing a rigid definition of “sex” as strictly biological reverse LGBTQ+ rights by decades and have profound consequences for the community. The policies erase protections regarding discrimination in healthcare, employment, and education. Trump’s camp is well aware that such a change would encourage discrimination toward LGBTQ+ people, especially considering the massive shift to conservatism and homophobia, racism, and sexism that has been observed in young men. But apparently for him and JD Vance, “traditional values” triumph over the most basic rights and dignities of millions of Americans.
Educational and Workplace Equity
The initiative also aims for major cuts to federal programs supporting education and workplace equity, severely affecting women’s opportunities for advancement and safety in these areas. For example, it suggests eliminating programs under the Department of Education that promote gender equity and Title IX protections (a federal civil rights law that prohibits sex-based discrimination). This potentially will expose female students to increased discrimination and harassment without the necessary institutional protections.
In summary, Trump’s presidency that looms in the future actively harms women’s rights across multiple domains. Along with a Republican senate, legislation and laws could take turns for the worse for multiple marginalised communities, bringing in the question of how law—supposed to bring general safety to the public and maintain fairness—is going to protect its principles now.
Written by Anushka Sriram
