{"id":2346753,"date":"2024-09-27T13:09:02","date_gmt":"2024-09-27T17:09:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/project-2025-director-fired-for-misconduct-heritage-says-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-09-27T13:11:59","modified_gmt":"2024-09-27T17:11:59","slug":"project-2025-director-fired-for-misconduct-heritage-says-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/project-2025-director-fired-for-misconduct-heritage-says-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Project 2025 director fired for misconduct, Heritage says &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fproject-2025-director-fired-for-misconduct-heritage-says-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2346753&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Former Project 2025 director Paul Dans\u2063 was\u2062 fired from \u200cthe Heritage Foundation due to professional\u2063 misconduct, specifically unprofessional interactions with colleagues. Initially presented as a voluntary departure, the\u2063 Heritage Foundation later\u2063 clarified that Dans was terminated\u2063 following an internal review that\u2062 raised\u2064 concerns about his dismissive behavior.\u2064 Humans Resources\u200b director Kelly Adams stated that \u200cspecific alarming interactions led to the decision to separate from Dans.<\/p>\n<p>In response to \u200bhis dismissal, Dans has \u200daccused \u2062the Foundation of unfairly branding him as a scapegoat\u2062 amid a public\u2062 relations crisis surrounding Project\u200c 2025. The Foundation, feeling\u200c compelled to defend its \u2064actions, expressed disappointment\u2063 over Dans&#8217;s claims and maintained that his termination was justified \u200bbased on factual issues concerning his \u200dconduct.<\/p>\n<p>The situation escalated when Project \u20622025 came under scrutiny from\u200b Democrats, who aimed to highlight\u2064 potential dangers \u200cassociated\u200b with its policies in light\u2062 of a hypothetical second Trump presidency. Dans has publicly rejected the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cbs-airs-puff-piece-on-radical-left-wing-district-attorney-of-crime-ravaged-san-francisco\/\" title=\"CBS Airs Puff Piece on Radical Left-Wing District Attorney of Crime-Ravaged San Francisco\">narrative surrounding<\/a> \u200chis dismissal, \u2062contending that the Heritage Foundation is harming his professional reputation for their own benefit.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Project 2025 director fired for professional misconduct, Heritage says<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1769618\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The former director of the Heritage Foundation&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/presidential\/3104603\/trump-team-celebrates-demise-project-2025\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Project 2025<\/a> was dismissed from his position earlier this year due to professional misconduct and dismissive interactions with colleagues, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.realclearpolitics.com\/articles\/2024\/09\/27\/heritage_director_project_2025_did_not_resign_was_fired_151700.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"the think tank announced on Friday.&nbsp;\">the think <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/atlantic-council-parts-ways-with-prominent-iran-apologist\/\" title=\"Atlantic Council Parts Ways With Prominent Iran Apologist\">tank announced<\/a> on Friday.&nbsp;<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Paul Dans, who led the presidential transition framework for the conservative organization, was removed from the top position in July as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/presidential\/3071030\/trump-knows-nothing-project-2025-heritage\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Project 2025<\/a> officials said they were concluding its policy drafting phase of the operation. At the time, Dans&rsquo;s departure was framed as voluntary, which the Heritage Foundation is now walking back to say it was not.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Paul Dans was terminated from the Heritage Foundation due to a number of related issues, including his dismissive and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-york-post-editorial-board-takes-shot-at-vivek-ramaswamy-tucker-carlson-2\/\" title=\"NY Post Editorial Board targets Vivek Ramaswamy, Tucker Carlson\">unprofessional approach<\/a> to interacting with a number of his colleagues,&rdquo; Kelly Adams, director of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/we-caught-them-lin-wood-outed-mysterious-georgia-operative-gabe-sterling-now-video-shows-him-admitting-he-helped-set-up-drop-boxes-and-promoted-far-left-activists-as-absentee-ballot-counters\/\" title=\"WE CAUGHT THEM: Lin Wood Outed Mysterious Georgia Operative Gabe Sterling - Now Video Shows Him Admitting He Helped Set Up Drop Boxes and Promoted Far Left Activists as Absentee Ballot Counters\">human resources<\/a> at Heritage, said in a statement. &ldquo;After some specific disconcerting interactions were brought to the attention of senior management, an internal review was conducted and a decision was made to separate Mr. Dans&rsquo; employment as amicably as possible.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Shortly after his termination on July 25, the think tank attempted to maintain an amicable relationship with Dans, according to sources familiar with the situation. In a statement on July 30, Heritage President Kevin Roberts said the group was &ldquo;extremely grateful&rdquo; for his work and that Dans would be moving &ldquo;to the front where the fight remains.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>However, Dans has since accused the think tank of baselessly terminating him from his position, according to sources familiar with the communications issued from the former director to the Heritage Foundation.<\/p>\n<p>After that, the think tank received media requests seeking comment on those accusations, prompting Heritage to go public with its reasoning behind Dans&rsquo;s termination.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We are deeply disappointed that Mr. Dans is using the liberal media to attack Heritage&rsquo;s decision to terminate him, thereby making the rationale behind his dismissal public,&rdquo; Adams said. &ldquo;We will not allow him to falsely attack Heritage and its people, without defending the difficult decision to terminate Paul&rsquo;s employment based on facts. We will continue to defend our staff and our institution from false narratives and disgruntled former employees.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Dans rebuked Heritage&rsquo;s framing of his departure in a statement to the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>, saying he was made to be a &ldquo;scapegoat.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I was made a scapegoat by The Heritage Foundation to cover up for their own mishandling of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/stephen-kruiser-kamala-harris-exists-to-make-joe-biden-seem-coherent\/\" title=\"Stephen Kruiser: Kamala Harris Exists to Make Joe Biden Seem Coherent\">public relations fiasco<\/a> over Project 2025,&rdquo; Dans wrote. &ldquo;The statements that you have provided to me are false and it appears that the Heritage Foundation continues to trash my good name and professional reputation for their benefit.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Complaints about Dans&rsquo;s behavior began earlier this summer when Project 2025 came under intense scrutiny as Democrats <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/presidential\/3080136\/project-2025-fact-checking-democrats-claims\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"sought to weaponize\">sought to weaponize<\/a> the conservative playbook to warn voters about what they say are dangerous changes to the federal government under a possible second Trump administration. After that, former President Donald Trump <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/presidential\/3071030\/trump-knows-nothing-project-2025-heritage\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>distanced himself from the organization<\/a>, and Project 2025 was heavily criticized.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>More than half a dozen Heritage staffers at various levels reported feeling fearful of interacting with Dans after he allegedly reacted emotionally to that criticism and began acting in a demanding and pejorative manner, according to sources familiar with the situation. This resulted in a pattern of verbally dismissive and abusive behaviors that prompted his involuntary termination, sources said.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>It&rsquo;s not clear what accusations Dans has lobbed against the Heritage Foundation or Project 2025 that prompted the think tank to reveal his termination publicly. The <em>Washington Examiner <\/em>contacted his attorney&rsquo;s office for comment.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The Heritage Foundation deeply values all of our staff, and is committed in both practice and principle to maintaining a positive work environment where abusive or demeaning behavior is not welcome,&rdquo; Adams said. &ldquo;Heritage remains zealously focused on the task at hand, which is to influence policy outcomes that restore the American dream.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1769618\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1769618\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Project 2025 director fired for misconduct, Heritage reports<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2640,"featured_media":2346754,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/paul-dans-heritage-scaled-1024x682.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[41859,36848,4835,33997],"class_list":["post-2346753","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-director-fired","tag-heritage-foundation","tag-misconduct","tag-project-2025"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/paul-dans-heritage-scaled-1024x682.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2346753","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2640"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2346753"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2346753\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2346754"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2346753"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2346753"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2346753"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}