The recent implementation of the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 policy, as outlined in their Mandate for Leadership (2023, ISBN 978-0-89195-174-2), has led to the systematic dismantling of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Specifically, Chapter 18, page 583 of the Mandate for Leadership explicitly calls for the elimination of EEO-1 racial data collection, a crucial tool for tracking employment discrimination.
What the Civil Rights Act of 1964 Actually Protects
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is a landmark legislation that protects individuals from discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Title II prohibits discrimination in public accommodations, Title VI prohibits discrimination in programs or activities receiving federal financial assistance, and Title VII prohibits employment discrimination.
What Is Being Dismantled
Chapter 17, pages 545-547 of the Mandate for Leadership, calls for a ‘top-to-bottom overhaul’ of the Department of Justice, including the termination of all consent decrees and placing the Civil Rights Division under direct political control. Chapter 17, page 557, also directs the prompt and proper elimination of lawless policies, investigations, and cases, including all existing consent decrees. Furthermore, Chapter 18, page 583, explicitly calls for the elimination of EEO-1 racial data collection, a ban on CRT trainings, and the rescission of Executive Order 11246. Chapter 11, page 322, aims to safeguard civil rights by rejecting gender ideology and critical race theory, while Chapter 15, page 503, seeks to eliminate Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing enforcement.
Recent Developments
On June 9, 2026, the DOJ’s Office of Legal Counsel declared the EEOC’s disparate-impact guidance unconstitutional, dealing a direct blow to Title VII enforcement mechanisms. This move is a clear indication of the ongoing efforts to dismantle the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Who Is Impacted
Black Americans are disproportionately affected by the dismantling of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Black Americans face higher unemployment rates and lower median earnings compared to their white counterparts. The United States Census Bureau reports that Black Americans are more likely to live in poverty and have lower levels of educational attainment. The intersections with women, disabled people, and immigrants are also significant, with these groups facing unique challenges and barriers to equal opportunity.
What You Can Do Now
Readers can take concrete actions to resist the dismantling of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Contact your representatives in Congress through the U.S. House of Representatives website and express your concerns about the implementation of Project 2025 policies. Join organizations like the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, the American Civil Liberties Union, and the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation to stay informed and get involved in the fight for racial justice. Track the latest developments on Project 2025 through our Project 2025 tracker.
Stay informed and take action to protect the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Visit the Federal Register to stay up-to-date on the latest policy changes and visit the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division to learn more about the ongoing efforts to dismantle the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
- Heritage Foundation. (2023). Mandate for Leadership. https://www.heritage.org/
- United States Congress. (1964). Civil Rights Act of 1964. https://www.congress.gov/bill/88th-congress/house-bill/7152
- United States Department of Labor. (n.d.). Executive Order 11246. https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ofccp/executive-order-11246
- United States Department of Justice. (n.d.). Office of Legal Counsel. https://www.justice.gov/olc
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