The future of our democracy is at stake. Project 2025, a sweeping conservative initiative, threatens to reshape our government in ways that could have dire consequences for Lenawee County.

From cuts to essential local services to threats against Social Security and public schools, this plan puts our community at risk.

But we are not powerless. By staying informed, organizing locally, and using our voices at the ballot box, we can fight back and protect Lenawee County democracy.

Understanding Project 2025’s Impact on Lenawee County

Project 2025 is a policy blueprint designed by conservative think tanks and political operatives to consolidate executive power, roll back regulations, and reshape government institutions.

While its supporters claim it will streamline governance, its actual implications could be devastating for our community.

Cuts to Local Services

One of the key elements of Project 2025 is the reduction of federal funding to essential services that help Lenawee County families such as:

• Medicaid
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
• Housing support

These cuts could severely impact Lenawee County families. With diminished federal support, local governments may struggle to meet residents’ needs, potentially forcing many families into difficult financial situations.

SNAP Cuts

For instance, SNAP, known in Michigan as the Food Assistance Program (FAP), is vital for many households in Lenawee County. Recent data indicates that approximately 14% of households in Lenawee County receive food assistance benefits. This percentage underscores the potential impact of changes to SNAP, which could increase food insecurity nationwide.

Medicaid Cuts

Additionally, cuts to Medicaid could result in significant coverage losses. In Lenawee County, Michigan, approximately 22.6% of residents are enrolled in Medicaid. Any proposed federal cuts to Medicaid will lead to increased uninsured rates and greater strain on our local healthcare resources.

Risks to Social Security

Social Security serves as a crucial support system for many residents of Lenawee County, especially seniors who depend on these benefits for their daily living expenses. Recent proposals associated with Project 2025 aim to raise the retirement age, privatize certain benefits, and reduce funding for social programs that assist retirees. If these measures are implemented, they could impose significant hardships on current seniors and future beneficiaries who rely on Social Security for financial stability.

Threats to Public Schools

Public education is at the heart of our community, ensuring that every child has access to a quality education. However, Project 2025 seeks to redirect public school funding toward private and charter schools, leaving local schools underfunded and understaffed. The results?

• Larger class sizes
• Fewer resources
• Decreased support for students with special needs

Additionally, proposals within Project 2025 advocate for rolling back federal education standards, potentially limiting access to equitable learning opportunities, and undermining programs that benefit low-income students.

These changes will disproportionately affect rural school districts like Lenawee County. Rural schools often encounter higher per-pupil costs due to factors such as lack of economies of scale, geographic isolation, transportation expenses, and declining enrollment.

Project 2025 proposes significant cuts to federal education funding, including the elimination of Title I funding, which supports schools with high percentages of low-income students. This could result in the loss of over 180,000 teacher positions nationwide and negatively affect the academic outcomes of approximately 2.8 million vulnerable students.

Additionally, the proposed elimination of programs like Head Start would further restrict access to early childhood education in rural areas, undermining economic growth and increasing inequalities among families with young children.

Lenawee County schools need continued investment, not policies that undermine public education and restrict opportunities for our children.

Impact on Family Farms

Agriculture plays a pivotal role in Lenawee County’s economy, supporting over 3,000 jobs and generating over $40 million in labor income. But Project 2025 threatens to disrupt this vital industry.

The plan proposes eliminating federal Agricultural Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage programs, which serve as critical financial safety nets for farmers facing sudden crop price drops. Michigan farmers, particularly those growing corn, soybeans, and grain sorghum, have benefited significantly from these programs in recent years.

Additionally, Project 2025 seeks to bar farmers from receiving both farm program payments and crop insurance indemnities in the same year, which could devastate small, family-owned farms by limiting their access to essential funding through Farm Service Agency loans.

The plan also calls for ending crop export promotion programs, such as the Market Access Program and Foreign Market Development Program, which awarded over $200 million to farmers. Without these resources, many local farmers may struggle to maintain their operations, threatening Lenawee County’s agricultural economy.

How Lenawee County Residents Can Fight Back

Despite these threats, Lenawee County residents have the power to push back against Project 2025 and defend our community. Through civic engagement, grassroots organizing, and voter participation, we can safeguard our future.

1. Stay Informed and Spread Awareness

Knowledge is our most powerful tool. Stay updated on policy changes and how they affect Lenawee County by following reputable news sources, attending local government meetings, and engaging with organizations like Lenawee Indivisible. Share this information with friends, family, and neighbors to ensure our community understands the stakes.

2. Contact Your Representatives

Holding elected officials accountable is crucial in the fight against harmful policies.

Reach out to local, state, and federal representatives to express your concerns about Project 2025. Let them know that Lenawee County residents demand policies that protect Social Security, public schools, and essential services.

To contact Representative Tim Walberg, call his Washington, D.C. office at (202) 225-6276 or his Jackson, MI office at (517) 780-9075. You can also visit walberg.house.gov to send an email or find additional district office locations.

💡 Pro tip: The 5 Calls app makes it really easy to contact your reps daily!

3. Get Involved in Local Politics and Grassroots Activism

Change starts at the local level. Join Michigan grassroots activism groups like Lenawee Indivisible, which works to strengthen democracy in Lenawee County.

Attend town halls, volunteer for local campaigns, and participate in community organizing efforts to ensure that our voices are heard.

4. Protect Voting Access in Michigan

Voter suppression efforts are increasing across the country, and Michigan is no exception. Fight voter suppression in Michigan by ensuring you are registered to vote and encouraging others to do the same.

Support initiatives that expand voting access, such as early voting and vote-by-mail options, to make it easier for all residents to participate in elections.

5. Advocate for Policy Reform

Project 2025 is just one example of how political agendas can threaten our communities. By pushing for policy reform in Lenawee County, we can promote fair representation, campaign finance reform, and transparency in politics.

Strengthening community democracy means advocating for laws that benefit everyday residents rather than corporate interests.

Strengthening Democracy in Lenawee County

We are not alone in this fight. Across Michigan, local activism opportunities are growing, offering ways for residents to make a real impact. Organizations dedicated to protecting democracy in Michigan provide resources, advocacy training, and direct action opportunities to push back against harmful policies.

Check out our list of local partners.

Mobilizing Voters and Strengthening Civic Engagement

Civic action in Lenawee is essential to counteract the negative effects of Project 2025. Mobilizing voters in Michigan ensures that our elected officials reflect the values of the people they serve.

By increasing voter turnout in Lenawee County elections, we can hold leaders accountable and support candidates who prioritize local needs over special interests.

How to Make a Difference in Lenawee County

If you want to get involved in local politics in Michigan, there are many ways to take action:

• Volunteer for voter registration drives and help educate others on their rights.
• Support political advocacy efforts that promote local government accountability.
• Join a Michigan political action group to advocate for fair policies and strengthen democracy in Lenawee.
• Attend city council meetings and speak out against policies that harm our community.
• Share information about Project 2025 with your network and encourage civic engagement in Lenawee.

Conclusion: United We Stand Against Project 2025

Lenawee County politics and democracy are at a crossroads. Project 2025 threatens our community by cutting vital services, undermining public education, endangering Social Security, and putting family farms at risk. However, through collective action, we can fight back and ensure a better future for our county.

By engaging in grassroots organizing in Michigan, advocating for fair representation, and mobilizing voters, we can protect our community and push for policies that benefit all residents. Lenawee Indivisible and other civic engagement groups are here to support this fight, but it takes all of us working together to make a difference.

Now is the time to act.

Stand up for Lenawee County democracy, challenge policies that threaten our future, and ensure that our voices are heard. Together, we can safeguard our community and strengthen democracy in Lenawee County for generations to come.