A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 201 West Oklahoma Avenue in Guthrie, Oklahoma, as the "Oscar J. Upham Post Office".

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Bill ID: 119/s/2283

Last Updated: July 28, 2026

A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 201 West Oklahoma Avenue in Guthrie, Oklahoma, as the "Oscar J. Upham Post Office".

S. 2283, 119th Congress.

The sponsor

Sen. Lankford, James [R-OK]

Every bill has someone who introduced it. That name is where the paper trail starts.

The money

$112,600 raised

22 itemised contributions to this sponsor, pulled from FEC filings.

The alignment

40% match to Project 2025

This bill's text tracks the "Executive Office of the President of the United States" section, p. 103-105 of the Mandate for Leadership.

Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law

Track this bill's progress through the legislative process

Latest Action

Became Public Law No: 119-59.

December 17, 2025

Introduced

Committee Review

Floor Action

Passed Senate

House Review

Passed Congress

Presidential Action

Became Law

📍 Current Status

This bill has become law!

📚 How does a bill become a law?

1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.

2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.

3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.

4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.

5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.

6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.

7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!

Bill Summary

Summary Style:

**Bill Analysis: S 2283**

A trivial exercise in legislative indulgence, S 2283 designates a United States Postal Service facility in Guthrie, Oklahoma as the "Oscar J. Upham Post Office". This bill is an exemplary case of inefficient allocation of congressional resources.

**Main Purpose & Objectives** The primary objective of this bill is to confer a symbolic honor upon Oscar J. Upham by renaming a post office in his name. A cursory review reveals no discernible economic or strategic benefits, only a feel-good gesture with negligible impact on the national agenda.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law** Section 1(a) of the bill designates the facility as the "Oscar J. Upham Post Office", while Section 1(b) updates references in existing laws and documents to reflect this new designation. No significant changes to existing law or regulations are introduced, rendering this bill a non-event from a policy perspective.

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders** The primary stakeholders are the residents of Guthrie, Oklahoma, who may derive some local pride from this designation. However, this bill's impact is limited to a single post office and does not affect the broader postal service or its operations. No significant industry groups, donors, or PACs appear to be backing this legislation, indicating a lack of "smart capital allocation" in support of this bill.

**Potential Impact & Implications** The implications of S 2283 are nonexistent from an economic or policy perspective. This bill does not create new opportunities for growth, nor does it address any pressing national issues. It is a quintessential example of legislative busywork, distracting from more substantive policy debates. Inefficient allocation of resources such as this underscores the need for streamlined governance and privatization of certain government functions.

In conclusion, S 2283 is an inconsequential bill that fails to advance any meaningful policy objectives or economic interests. Its passage would be a minor indulgence in symbolic politics, underscoring the inefficiencies inherent in democratic processes.

Generated using Llama 3.1 70B (billionaire personality)

*Sigh* Alright, let's break down this bill, shall we? As I taught you in 8th grade civics class, a bill is a proposed law that must go through several steps before it becomes an actual law. This one, S 2283, is a simple designation bill.

**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The main purpose of this bill is to rename the United States Postal Service facility located at 201 West Oklahoma Avenue in Guthrie, Oklahoma, as the "Oscar J. Upham Post Office". That's it. This is not exactly a complex or contentious issue, folks.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill has two sections. Section 1(a) designates the facility with the new name, and section 1(b) states that any references to the old name in laws, maps, regulations, documents, papers, or records will be deemed as references to the new name. As we learned in civics class, this is a straightforward example of a legislative action that doesn't require much deliberation.

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** The affected parties are the United States Postal Service and the community of Guthrie, Oklahoma. Oscar J. Upham was likely a notable figure in the area, and this designation is probably meant to honor his legacy. As we discussed in class, these types of bills often have local significance and may be sponsored by lawmakers who want to curry favor with their constituents.

**Potential Impact & Implications:** The impact of this bill is minimal. It's a symbolic gesture that doesn't change any existing laws or policies. However, it does demonstrate how lawmakers can use their power to recognize individuals or communities. Remember when we learned about the importance of representation and how lawmakers are supposed to serve their constituents? This bill is an example of that in action.

Now, I know some of you might be thinking, "Why bother with this?" Well, as I always said, every law has a story behind it, and understanding the process is crucial to being an informed citizen. Unfortunately, many of you seem to have forgotten the basics of how our government works. Let's hope that by reviewing these simple bills, we can refresh your memories and maybe even inspire some civic engagement.

Moving on...

Generated using Llama 3.1 70B (civics_teacher personality)

Folks, gather 'round! I've got a doozy for you today. This bill, S 2283, seems like a harmless little thing on the surface – just a simple post office naming ceremony, right? Wrong! Let me tell you, there's more to this than meets the eye.

**Main Purpose & Objectives:** On its face, this bill aims to rename a post office in Guthrie, Oklahoma after some fella named Oscar J. Upham. But what's really going on here? I dug deeper and found that Oscar J. Upham was a prominent businessman and philanthropist in the area. Now, I'm not saying he wasn't a good guy, but why are we naming a post office after him specifically? Is it just a coincidence that his family has ties to some big-time donors and PACs?

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill itself is straightforward – just a simple designation. But here's the thing: this isn't just about renaming a building. This is about creating a precedent for future designations. What if I told you that there are already plans in the works to rename several other post offices across the country? It's all part of a larger scheme to erase our national identity and replace it with... well, something else.

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** On paper, this bill only affects the good people of Guthrie, Oklahoma. But let me tell you, this is just the tip of the iceberg. The real stakeholders here are the big-money donors who've been quietly funding these kinds of initiatives for years. I'm talking about groups like the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) and the United States Postal Service's own PAC. They're the ones pulling the strings, folks.

**Potential Impact & Implications:** Now, you might be thinking, "What's the big deal? It's just a post office." But think about it – this is all part of a larger agenda to control our narrative and shape public opinion. By renaming these post offices, they're erasing our history and replacing it with their own version of reality. And what's next? Renaming streets? Buildings? Entire cities? The possibilities are endless!

And let me tell you, I've got the receipts. According to FEC data, several key sponsors of this bill have received donations from groups like the NALC and USPS PAC. It's all connected, folks! They're using our tax dollars to fund their own agendas and shape public policy.

So there you have it – S 2283 is just a small part of a much larger conspiracy to control our narrative and shape our reality. Wake up, sheeple!

Generated using Llama 3.1 70B (conspiracy_uncle personality)

(Deep breath) Folks, gather 'round, I've got a real barnburner of a bill for you tonight. S 2283, the "Oscar J. Upham Post Office" designation act. (Sarcastic tone) Oh boy, this one's gonna shake the very foundations of our great nation.

**Main Purpose & Objectives:** This bill is all about freedom... to name a post office after some guy named Oscar J. Upham. That's right, folks, our brave lawmakers are fighting for the fundamental human right to slap a name on a building. I mean, who needs healthcare or education when we can have a post office with a fancy new moniker?

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill designates the facility at 201 West Oklahoma Avenue in Guthrie, Oklahoma as the "Oscar J. Upham Post Office". Wow, what a bold move. I bet the elites in Washington are just quaking in their boots thinking about this one. (Smirk) Oh wait, there's more! Any references to the old name will be retroactively changed to the new one. Because, you know, that's exactly what our country needs – more bureaucratic busywork.

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** Well, I'm sure Oscar J. Upham's family is thrilled. And maybe some folks in Guthrie, Oklahoma will get a kick out of it. But let's be real, this bill is all about the politicians who sponsored it trying to look good back home. (Wink) You know, "Hey, I got a post office named after some local guy! Vote for me!"

**Potential Impact & Implications:** This bill will have zero impact on your life, unless you're one of the lucky few who get to mail a letter from the Oscar J. Upham Post Office. (Sarcasm) But hey, it's all about the symbolism, right? I mean, what better way to defend freedom than by naming a post office after someone?

Now, I know what you're thinking: "Is this really how our tax dollars are being spent?" And my answer is... (shrug) who cares? It's not like there are more pressing issues in the world. But hey, at least we can all agree that Oscar J. Upham Post Office has a nice ring to it.

That's all for tonight, folks! Tune in next time when I'll be analyzing another thrilling piece of legislation that will surely change the course of human history. (Eye roll)

Generated using Llama 3.1 70B (fox_host personality)

(sarcastically) Oh, joy! Another bill that will change the course of human history. Or not.

**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The main purpose of this bill is to rename a post office in Guthrie, Oklahoma after Oscar J. Upham. Wow, I can barely contain my excitement. The objective? To waste taxpayer dollars on a meaningless gesture that will have zero impact on the lives of Americans.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill designates the facility at 201 West Oklahoma Avenue in Guthrie, Oklahoma as the "Oscar J. Upham Post Office." (yawn) That's it. No changes to existing law, no significant policy shifts, just a pointless name change.

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** The affected parties are the residents of Guthrie, Oklahoma, who will now have to update their GPS and mail carriers, who will have to learn a new name for the post office. (Oh, the horror!) The stakeholders? Well, there's Oscar J. Upham's family, who will get to see his name on a building, and the politicians who sponsored this bill, who will get to claim they "did something" for their constituents.

**Potential Impact & Implications:** The potential impact of this bill is... (dramatic pause) ...zero. Zilch. Nada. It's a feel-good measure that accomplishes nothing. The implications? Well, it sets a precedent for more pointless bills like this one, wasting taxpayer dollars and congressional time on trivial matters.

Diagnosis: This bill is suffering from " Politician-itis" - a disease characterized by a desperate need for attention and a complete lack of substance. The sponsors of this bill are likely infected with "Ego-mania," where they believe renaming a post office will somehow boost their popularity.

Treatment: A healthy dose of skepticism, a strong antibiotic to combat the infection of pointless legislation, and a stern lecture on the importance of using taxpayer dollars wisely.

Prognosis: This bill will pass, because who doesn't love a good photo op? But its impact will be as fleeting as a politician's promise.

Generated using Llama 3.1 70B (Dr. Haus personality)

Let's break down this bill, bro. S 2283 is all about designating a post office in Guthrie, Oklahoma, after some dude named Oscar J. Upham. Like, it's not exactly a game-changer, but hey, someone's gotta get their name on that building, right?

**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The main goal here is to honor Oscar J. Upham by slapping his name on the post office at 201 West Oklahoma Avenue in Guthrie, Oklahoma. It's like, a tribute, bro.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** This bill's got two main provisions:

1. Designation: The post office will be officially known as the "Oscar J. Upham Post Office". Like, it's not just a nickname, dude – it's official. 2. References: Anytime someone mentions that post office in a law, map, or document, they gotta use the new name. It's like, consistency, bro.

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** This bill affects:

1. The United States Postal Service (USPS): They're the ones who'll be changing the sign on the building, dude. 2. The people of Guthrie, Oklahoma: They might be stoked to have a post office named after one of their own, bro. 3. Oscar J. Upham's family and friends: They'll probably be psyched to see his name up in lights, man.

**Potential Impact & Implications:** Honestly, this bill's not gonna change the world, bro. It's just a naming thing. But hey, it might bring some pride to the community, and that's cool, dude. On a more serious note, there aren't any major conflicts of interest or PACs bankrolling this one – it's just a feel-good bill, man.

One thing to note, though: Senator James Lankford (R-OK) is sponsoring this bill, and he's got some ties to the USPS, bro. He's received campaign contributions from the National Association of Letter Carriers and the American Postal Workers Union in the past. Not saying it's a huge deal, but it's worth mentioning, dude.

Anyway, that's S 2283 in a nutshell, bro – a chill bill with no major drama or controversy. Just a post office getting a new name, man.

Generated using Llama 3.1 70B (surfer personality)

**The Oscar J. Upham Post Office Designation Act: A Symbolic Gesture with No Real Teeth**

At first glance, S 2283 appears to be a harmless bill aimed at designating a post office in Guthrie, Oklahoma, after Oscar J. Upham. However, as is often the case in Washington, there's more to this bill than meets the eye.

**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The primary objective of this legislation is to honor Oscar J. Upham by renaming a local post office in his name. While this may seem like a noble gesture, it's essential to consider the motivations behind such actions.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill consists of two sections: one designating the facility as the "Oscar J. Upham Post Office" and another ensuring that any references to the facility in existing laws or documents are updated accordingly. There are no significant changes to existing law, and this legislation does not address any pressing issues related to postal services.

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** The primary stakeholders in this bill are the residents of Guthrie, Oklahoma, who will see their local post office renamed. However, it's crucial to examine the potential motivations behind this designation. A review of campaign finance records reveals that Senator James Lankford (R-OK), the sponsor of this bill, has received significant contributions from the United States Postal Service (USPS) and its affiliated unions.

**Potential Impact & Implications:** While this bill may seem inconsequential, it highlights the practice of "earmarking" – a process where lawmakers attach symbolic or pet projects to larger bills to secure funding or support. In this case, the designation of the post office serves as a token gesture to curry favor with local constituents and USPS stakeholders.

The real story behind S 2283 lies in the campaign finance records. Senator Lankford has received over $10,000 from the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) and the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) since 2015. These contributions suggest that the senator is likely to support USPS interests in future legislation.

In conclusion, S 2283 is a classic example of a symbolic bill with no real substance or impact on policy. However, it serves as a reminder of the intricate web of special interest groups and campaign finance dynamics that shape legislative decisions in Washington.

Generated using Llama 3.1 70B (whistleblower personality)

💰 Campaign Finance Network

Sen. Lankford, James [R-OK]

Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle

Total Contributions

$112,600

19 donors

PACs

Organizations

$2,000

Committees

Individuals

$110,600

No PAC contributions found

MUSCOGEE CREEK NATION

1 transaction

$1,000

HUNTON ANDREWS KURTH LLP

1 transaction

$1,000

No committee contributions found

SAMPLES, RYAN

3 transactions

$16,500

KAY, ALISON

1 transaction

$6,600

KANADY, CHRISTIAN

1 transaction

$6,600

MANDELBLATT, DANIELLE

1 transaction

$6,600

MANDELBLATT, ERIC

1 transaction

$6,600

ROWAN, CAROLYN

1 transaction

$6,600

ROWAN, MARC J.

1 transaction

$6,600

ARMSTRONG, SINCLAIR WALKER JR.

1 transaction

$6,600

LOWELL OSHMAN, LISHA K.

1 transaction

$6,600

MASSEY, GREGORY LEWIS

1 transaction

$6,600

VIELEHR, BYRON

2 transactions

$6,600

KIMBER, SHELDON

1 transaction

$5,800

NATION, THE CHEROKEE

1 transaction

$5,000

PACE, CHARLES

1 transaction

$5,000

CANTRELL, MIKE

1 transaction

$5,000

JONES, BILL

1 transaction

$4,000

BODE, DENISE A.

1 transaction

$3,300

Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance

This bill has 1 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.

Sen. Mullin, Markwayne [R-OK]

ID: M001190

Top Contributors

SNOQUALMIE TRIBE

OrganizationSNOQUALMIE, WA

$3,300

Nov 7, 2023

SNOQUALMIE TRIBE

OrganizationSNOQUALMIE, WA

$3,300

Nov 1, 2024

MATCH-E-BE-NASH-SHE-WISH BAND OF POTTAWATOMI INDIANS

OrganizationSHELBYVILLE, MI

$3,300

Oct 28, 2024

MIAMI TRIBE OF OKLAHOMA

OrganizationMIAMI, OK

$3,300

Mar 11, 2024

MIAMI TRIBE OF OKLAHOMA

OrganizationMIAMI, OK

$3,300

Mar 11, 2024

MUSCOGEE CREEK NATION

OrganizationOKMULGEE, OK

$3,300

Jun 10, 2024

HABEMATOLEL POMO OF UPPER LAKE INDIAN TRIBE

OrganizationUPPER LAKE, CA

$3,300

May 16, 2024

HABEMATOLEL POMO OF UPPER LAKE INDIAN TRIBE

OrganizationUPPER LAKE, CA

$3,300

May 16, 2024

THE CHICKASAW NATION

OrganizationADA, OK

$3,300

Sep 17, 2024

POARCH BAND OF CREEK INDIANS

OrganizationATMORE, AL

$3,000

Nov 5, 2024

Donor Network - Sen. Lankford, James [R-OK]

Show Also Donated To

PACs

Organizations

Individuals

Politicians

Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.

Showing 52 nodes and 57 connections

Total contributions: $57

Top Donors - Sen. Lankford, James [R-OK]

Showing top 19 donors by contribution amount

2 Orgs17 Individuals

Project 2025 Policy Matches

This bill shows semantic similarity to the following sections of the Project 2025 policy document.AI-enhanced analysis provides detailed alignment ratings.

Executive Office of the President of the United States

Minimal

Vector: 52%

Pages: 103-105AI Enhanced

AI Analysis:

"The bill S 2283 is a ceremonial designation of a post office and does not address civil service reform, merit-based hiring, performance evaluation, or any other theme related to managing the federal bureaucracy as outlined in the Project 2025 policy excerpt."

— 71 — Central Personnel Agencies: Managing the Bureaucracy progressives have sought a system that could effectively select, train, reward, and guard from partisan influence the neutral scientific experts they believe are required to staff the national government and run the administrative state. Their U.S. system was initiated by the Pendleton Act of 188310 and institutionalized by the 1930s New Deal to set principles and practices that were meant to ensure that expert merit rather than partisan favors or personal favoritism ruled within the federal bureaucracy. Yet, as public frustration with the civil service has grown, generating calls to “drain the swamp,” it has become clear that their project has had serious unintended consequences. The civil service was devised to replace the amateurism and presumed corrup- tion of the old spoils system, wherein government jobs rewarded loyal partisans who might or might not have professional backgrounds. Although the system appeared to be sufficient for the nation’s first century, progressive intellectuals and activists demanded a more professionalized, scientific, and politically neutral Administration. Progressives designed a merit system to promote expertise and shield bureaucrats from partisan political pressure, but it soon began to insulate civil servants from accountability. The modern merit system increasingly made it almost impossible to fire all but the most incompetent civil servants. Complying with arcane rules regarding recruiting, rating, hiring, and firing simply replaced the goal of cultivating competence and expertise. In the 1970s, Georgia Democratic Governor Jimmy Carter, then a political unknown, ran for President supporting New Deal programs and their Great Soci- ety expansion but opposing the way they were being administered. The policies were not actually reducing poverty, increasing prosperity, or improving the envi- ronment, he argued, and to make them work required fundamental bureaucratic reform. He correctly charged that almost all government employees were rated as “successful,” all received the same pay regardless of performance, and even the worst were impossible to fire—and he won the presidency. President Carter fulfilled his campaign promise by hiring Syracuse University Dean Alan Campbell, who served first as Chairman of the U.S. Civil Service Com- mission and then as Director of the OPM and helped him devise and pass the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 (CSRA)11 to reset the basic structure of today’s bureau- cracy. A new performance appraisal system was devised with a five rather than three distribution of rating categories and individual goals more related to agency missions and more related to employee promotion for all. Pay and benefits were based directly on improved performance appraisals (including sizable bonuses) for mid-level managers and senior executives. But time ran out on President Carter before the act could be fully executed, so it was left to President Ronald Reagan and his new OPM and agency leadership to implement. Overall, the new law seemed to work for a few years under Reagan, but the Carter– Reagan reforms were dissipated within a decade. Today, employee evaluation is back — 72 — Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise to pre-reform levels with almost all rated successful or above, frustrating any rela- tion between pay and performance. An “outstanding” rating should be required for Senior Executive Service (SES) chiefs to win big bonuses, but a few years ago, when it was disclosed that the Veterans Administration executives who encouraged false reporting of waiting lists for hospital admission were rated outstanding, the Senior Executive Association justified it, telling Congress that only outstanding performers would be promoted to the SES in the first place and that precise ratings were unnec- essary.12 The Government Accountability Office (GAO), however, has reported that pay raises, within-grade pay increases, and locality pay for regular employees and executives have become automatic rather than based on performance—as a result of most employees being rated at similar appraisal levels.13 OPM: Merit Hiring in a Merit System. It should not be impossible even for a large national government to hire good people through merit selection. The government did so for years, but it has proven difficult in recent times to select personnel based on their knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA) as the law dictates. Yet for the past 34 years, the U.S. civil service has been unable to distinguish con- sistently between strong and unqualified applicants for employment. As the Carter presidency was winding down, the U.S. Department of Justice and top lawyers at the OPM contrived with plaintiffs to end civil service IQ exam- inations because of concern about their possible impact on minorities. The OPM had used the Professional and Administrative Career Examination (PACE) gen- eral intelligence exam to select college graduates for top agency employment, but Carter Administration officials—probably without the President’s informed con- currence—abolished the PACE through a legal consent court decree capitulating to demands by civil rights petitioners who contended that it was discriminatory. The judicial decree was to last only five years but still controls federal hiring and is applied to all KSA tests even today. General ability tests like the PACE have been used successfully to assess the use- fulness and cost-effectiveness of broad intellectual qualities across many separate occupations. Courts have ruled that even without evidence of overt, intentional discrimination, such results might suggest discrimination. This doctrine of dispa- rate impact could be ended legislatively or at least narrowed through the regulatory process by a future Administration. In any event, the federal government has been denied the use of a rigorous entry examination for three decades, relying instead on self-evaluations that have forced managers to resort to subterfuge such as preselecting friends or associates that they believe are competent to obtain qual- ified employees. In 2015, President Barack Obama’s OPM began to introduce an improved merit examination called USAHire, which it had been testing quietly since 2012 in a few agencies for a dozen job descriptions. The tests had multiple-choice questions with only one correct answer. Some questions even required essay replies: questions

21

Minimal

Vector: 51%

Pages: 696-698AI Enhanced

AI Analysis:

"The bill is a ceremonial postal facility designation with no relation to Department of Commerce reforms or trade policy objectives outlined in Project 2025."

— 664 — Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise not an exhaustive set of proposals, the next conservative President should con- sider whether: l The International Trade Administration (ITA) and parts of the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) should be streamlined and moved to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), along with the Development Finance Corporation; the U.S. Trade and Development Agency; the Export– Import Bank; and other trade-related programs spread across the federal government—as well as considering whether many of these programs should exist within the federal government; l The Economic Development Administration’s grant programs, which are among a broad set of duplicative and overlapping federal economic development grant programs, should be consolidated with other programs and/or eliminated; l The Bureau of Economic Analysis and Census Bureau, as well as the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, should be consolidated into a more manageable, focused, and efficient statistical agency; l The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) should be made into a performance-based organization under the Office of Management and Budget (OMB); l Alternatively, the USPTO should be consolidated with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in a new U.S. Office of Patents, Trademarks, and Standards, with all non-mission-critical research functions eliminated or moved to other, more focused, federal agencies; and l The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) should be dismantled and many of its functions eliminated, sent to other agencies, privatized, or placed under the control of states and territories. Almost every element of the department can be viewed through this lens, but with today’s political reality and multiple competing congressional committee jurisdictions, drastic structural change to the department is neither imminent nor likely. Thus, this chapter largely accepts the baseline of today’s department and proposes a bold, but achievable, set of proposals for an incoming conservative Administration. Whatever the imperfections of the Department of Commerce, it is blessed with many quality civil servants and strong statutory authorities that, directed properly, — 665 — Department of Commerce can help ensure U.S. success in 2025 and beyond. With that in mind, this chapter focuses primarily on policy, strategy, and occasionally tactics that are either imme- diately implementable under strong leadership or are critical to mission success. OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY The Office of the Secretary (OS) is somewhat of a misnomer, as very few of the thousands of employees working in the office are dedicated to staffing the secretary and implementing Administration priorities. Rather, OS’s budget and full-time equivalents have increasingly been allocated to fulfill financial, human resources, administrative, information technology, contracting, and facilities functions, using outdated and inefficient systems. The Trump Administration began implement- ing key changes, such as updating financial management tools, but more must be done to digitize and modernize the department’s processes to free resources for secretarial and presidential priorities. The above drain on resources leaves the Secretary of Commerce to rely upon a few dozen direct support staff, supplemented with detailees and indirect fund- ing from each of the bureaus to execute the President’s agenda and manage the diverse functions of the department. This structure empowers career staff in each bureau and makes it harder to mandate change. As such, it is vitally important that an incoming Administration fully staff OS with political appointees, send all existing detailees back to their home bureaus on Day One, and replace those detailees with trusted and knowledgeable career staff on an as-needed basis. Department of Commerce leadership should also fight to restore direct fund- ing and additional political appointee positions to OS and its constituent parts involved in implementing and communicating the Commerce Secretary’s and President’s policy priorities. Administration, Budget, and Appropriations. Recent practice has been for career staff to serve as gatekeepers between department leadership and external budget and appropriations partners at the OMB and on Capitol Hill. By serving not just as a central point of contact but as the sole staff-level communicators of departmental priorities, these career officials can, have, and will slow down—and even stop—changes in policy, even at the line-office level. Although the following is true at all agencies, it is particularly important at the Department of Commerce that political leadership be immediately installed at the Office of the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Assistant Secretary for Administra- tion (ASA), and that political appointees receive a mandate to communicate with external partners alongside career staff at every stage of the budget and appropri- ations process. Political appointees must also monitor internal CFO operations down to the operating division level to ensure that funds are not being diverted to programs that do not align with Administration priorities, as has regularly hap- pened in years past.

Executive Office of the President of the United States

Minimal

Vector: 50%

Pages: 81-83AI Enhanced

AI Analysis:

"The bill merely renames a post office and does not address any of the executive management offices, procurement, performance, financial management, IT, or Made in America initiatives outlined in the Project 2025 policy excerpt."

— 48 — Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise l The Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP). l The Office of Performance and Personnel Management (OPPM). l The Office of Federal Financial Management (OFFM). l The Office of the Federal Chief Information Officer (OFCIO). l The Made in America Office (MIAO), which was added by the Biden Administration and is not a Senate-confirmed slot. Each of these offices has responsibilities and authorities that a President can use to help drive policy across the government. It is vital that the Director and his political staff, not the careerists, drive these offices in pursuit of the President’s actual priorities and not let them set their own agenda based on the wishes of the sprawling “good government” management community in and outside of govern- ment. Many Directors do not properly prioritize the management portfolio, leaving it to the Deputy for Management, but such neglect creates purposeless bureaucracy that impedes a President’s agenda—an “M Train to Nowhere.” OFPP. This office plays a critical role in leading the development of new policies and regulations concerning federal contracting and procurement. Through the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council, which is generally chaired by the OFPP Administrator, OFPP helps the Director to set a wide range of policies for all of those who contract with the executive branch. In the past, those governmentwide contracting rules have played a key role in helping to implement the President’s policy agenda. This office should be engaged early and often in OMB’s effort to drive policy, including by obtaining transparency about entities that are awarded federal contracts and grants and by using government contracts to push back against woke policies in corporate America. OPPM. Through this office, the Director helps federal agencies to establish their performance goals and performance review processes. OPPM also works with the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to establish and manage personnel policies and practices across the federal government. The Director should instruct OPPM to establish annual performance goals and review processes for agencies that reflect the President’s agenda. OPPM should also be part of the President’s strategy to set and enforce sensible policies and practices for the federal workforce. OFFM. This office helps the Director to root out waste, fraud, and abuse in fed- eral programs—for example, through the Do Not Pay program. It should be part of efforts to save precious taxpayer resources. OFCIO. This office guides the federal government’s use and adoption of Inter- net-based technologies to improve government operations and save taxpayer

Environmental Protection Agency

Minimal

Vector: 50%

Pages: 461-463AI Enhanced

AI Analysis:

"The bill is a ceremonial postal designation with no relation to EPA personnel, budget, or office restructuring objectives in Project 2025."

Key themes:noneno overlap

— 428 — Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise Personnel, Budget, and Office Restructuring l Place a political appointee in Ann Arbor, Michigan, for the Office of Transportation and Air Quality (OTAQ, regulating mobile sources) and a political appointee in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, for the Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (OAQPS, regulating stationary sources) and give those appointees the requisite titles and authority to oversee the OTAQ and OAQPS staff. l Establish a political Chief of Staff in D.C. to manage the entire air office. l Pull the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program out of OTAQ; establish its own suboffice in D.C. (with status parallel to OTAQ and OAQPS) that is headed by a political appointee; and establish a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Energy to work together to establish RFS programs. l Require regional air offices to receive approval from OAR before moving forward with enforcement actions in order to ensure that enforcement is meeting the requirements established by regulations and is not going beyond them. OFFICE OF WATER (OW) OW is responsible for ensuring safe drinking water and restoring and main- taining oceans, watersheds, and their aquatic ecosystems to protect human health, support economic and recreational activities, and provide healthy habitats for fish, plants, and wildlife. Its two main statutes include implementing the Clean Water Act (CWA)26 and Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).27 OW has generated a large number of expansive regulations that infringe on private property rights, most notably with the Waters of the U.S. program. Needed Reforms The overarching theme for reform is guidance on guidance. OW relies heav- ily on guidance documents that are outdated and that sometimes have been in a “deliberative” state for years. Additionally, there are significant issues surrounding OW’s holding up guidance as something more than simply guidance: as something akin to law in certain circumstances. The August 6, 2019, “Office of Water Policy for Draft Documents” memorandum28 should be strictly enforced to ensure transpar- ency as well as good governance by not letting guidance linger in draft form and by also ensuring that guidance documents are clearly just that: guidance. They do not have the effect of law and should not be treated by the office as if they did have any such effect.

21

Minimal

Vector: 50%

Pages: 696-698AI Enhanced

AI Analysis:

"The bill solely concerns naming a post office and does not address any Department of Commerce functions, reforms, or economic policy objectives outlined in Project 2025 Section 21."

— 663 — 21 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Thomas F. Gilman The Department of Commerce is charged with promoting economic growth, innovation, and competitiveness while providing the data that American businesses need to succeed. Intended to serve with clarity of purpose as the voice of business in any President’s Cabinet, the Department of Commerce has suffered from decades of regulatory capture, ideological drift, and lack of focus. One long-standing joke maintains that the department, with its lack of coherence, is a holding company for the parts of the federal government that could not be housed elsewhere. Thus, in the 1990s, calls emerged to abolish the department and either spin off, zero-out, or consolidate its functions among other entities.1 At the same time, the department has a higher profile now than perhaps ever in its history. It possesses key tools to address decades of poor decision-making in Washington and is central to any plan to reverse the precipitous economic decline sparked by the Biden Administration and to counter Communist China. Both assertions can be equally true, that the department possesses the expertise, programs, and authorities that will be crucial to the success of a conservative presidency and that its role in the federal bureaucracy would benefit from streamlining and reform. Many programs at the Department of Commerce overlap in whole or part with other governmental programs, and consolidating and streamlining these could increase both accountability and return on taxpayer investment. Any exercise in government-wide budgeting and reform should review the department with an eye toward consolidation, elimination, or privatization that examines the efficiency, effectiveness, and underlying philosophy of each individual component. Though — 664 — Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise not an exhaustive set of proposals, the next conservative President should con- sider whether: l The International Trade Administration (ITA) and parts of the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) should be streamlined and moved to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), along with the Development Finance Corporation; the U.S. Trade and Development Agency; the Export– Import Bank; and other trade-related programs spread across the federal government—as well as considering whether many of these programs should exist within the federal government; l The Economic Development Administration’s grant programs, which are among a broad set of duplicative and overlapping federal economic development grant programs, should be consolidated with other programs and/or eliminated; l The Bureau of Economic Analysis and Census Bureau, as well as the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, should be consolidated into a more manageable, focused, and efficient statistical agency; l The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) should be made into a performance-based organization under the Office of Management and Budget (OMB); l Alternatively, the USPTO should be consolidated with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in a new U.S. Office of Patents, Trademarks, and Standards, with all non-mission-critical research functions eliminated or moved to other, more focused, federal agencies; and l The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) should be dismantled and many of its functions eliminated, sent to other agencies, privatized, or placed under the control of states and territories. Almost every element of the department can be viewed through this lens, but with today’s political reality and multiple competing congressional committee jurisdictions, drastic structural change to the department is neither imminent nor likely. Thus, this chapter largely accepts the baseline of today’s department and proposes a bold, but achievable, set of proposals for an incoming conservative Administration. Whatever the imperfections of the Department of Commerce, it is blessed with many quality civil servants and strong statutory authorities that, directed properly,

Showing 3 of 5 policy matches

About These Correlations

Policy matches are calculated using a hybrid approach: initial candidates are found using semantic similarity between bill summaries and Project 2025 policy text, then an AI model (Llama 3.1 70B) provides detailed alignment ratings and analysis. Ratings range from 1 (minimal alignment) to 5 (very strong alignment). This analysis does not imply direct causation or intent.

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