Did reports about a loyalty list change hiring, and is there proof?
Research question: Did the pre-election reports about a loyalty or candidate screening database lead to hiring changes, and what has been documented about them?
The records show that Project 2025 assembled a database of more than 10,000 job candidates vetted for loyalty to Trump's cause, ready to be deployed into federal agencies if Trump won the 2024 election 2. By the time director Paul Dans stepped down in August 2024, that candidate database had been built and training seminars for potential appointees had been taught 84. A leaked database later showed more than 13,000 submissions to an application form that asked about political beliefs and offered consideration for a future administration position in exchange for a questionnaire and resume 357. None of the verified facts document whether the database led to any actual hiring changes in federal agencies, so that part of the question cannot be answered from this record 28. The newest fact dates from June 2025, about 16 months before October 2026 35.
Sources
"Project 2025 is launching the database to collect résumés and vet thousands of potential applicants in"Former PPO Director John McEntee Joins Project 2025; Personnel Database Launches
"Under Dans, the project has assembled a database of more than 10,000 names — job candidates vetted for loyalty to Trump’s cause — who will be ready to deploy into federal agencies should he win the 2024 election."The man behind Project 2025’s most radical plans • Wisconsin Examiner
"A nonprofit whistleblower website has published a leaked database containing more than 13,000 submissions to an application form for the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 initiative"Leak exposes data on applicants to Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025
"As Project 2025 faced denunciations from the Trump campaign, the project’s director, Paul Dans, stepped down from his role."The man behind Project 2025’s most radical plans • Wisconsin Examiner
"Analysis of the data by SAN shows 13,726 submissions containing names and details on political philosophies."Leak exposes data on applicants to Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025
"“Our work is presently winding down, and I plan later in August to leave Heritage.”"The man behind Project 2025’s most radical plans • Wisconsin Examiner
"“Would you like to be considered for a position in a future presidential Administration and participate in our trainings?” the application form asks."Leak exposes data on applicants to Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025
"The database was built; the training seminars had been taught."The man behind Project 2025’s most radical plans • Wisconsin Examiner