Washington’s paralysis at the start of October was avoidable and shameful, but it also exposes a simple truth: the broken permanent bureaucracy and obstructionist politicians are the real problem, not the American people. With the federal government grinding to a halt on October 1, hardworking citizens are left holding the bill while career politicians play chicken.

For conservatives this crisis is not just a disaster to mourn — it’s a rare opening to press the reset button on a bloated, politicized administrative state. When federal spending and operations are on hold, presidential authority and bold executive action gain leverage; that leverage can and should be used to enact sweeping, long-overdue reforms. The people who have watched Washington hollow out our institutions for decades deserve a leadership that seizes the moment.

Project 2025 is precisely the kind of roadmap conservatives have needed: a clear, practical plan from the Heritage Foundation to remake the executive branch, provide vetted personnel, and restore accountable governance rather than leaving it to unelected bureaucrats. This isn’t abstract ideology — it’s a 900-page playbook for returning power to the people by making personnel policy and structural changes that actually work.

Heritage’s president Kevin Roberts has been blunt about what’s at stake, and conservatives should stop apologizing for wanting to win. His call to “take the country back” and warning about a “second American Revolution” reflects the urgency felt by millions who see institutions failing families, schools, and public safety. Critics scream about rhetoric; patriots recognize the will to rebuild a republic that serves its citizens rather than entrenched interests.

This shutdown also highlights that the White House already has tools to cut waste and reclaim authority — tools the administration has used before. The passage and signing of the Rescissions Act in July showed a willingness to claw back funding for programs that don’t serve America’s priorities, and similar maneuvers during a funding crisis can force real, permanent downsizing of agencies that overreach. If you want less government that actually works, this is the precise window to use those instruments.

Yes, Project 2025 has been attacked and its management has faced friction with the campaign, but those internal skirmishes don’t change the merit of the plan itself. Even after leadership shifts and media hysteria, the project’s policy prescriptions and personnel network remain valuable tools for any conservative administration serious about fixing Washington. The left will howl; let them — history belongs to those who act, not those who complain.

So what should a bold president do during a shutdown? Use executive orders to protect religious liberty and parental rights, reorganize or eliminate redundant agencies, freeze nonessential hiring, and immediately deploy a personnel pipeline that prioritizes competence and allegiance to the Constitution. Replace activist bureaucrats with public servants who answer to voters, not to partisan pressure, and then let Congress do the hard work of passing lasting reforms while the public watches who stands for real change.

This is a clarifying moment for the country: stand with leaders who fight for families, secure borders, and a government that lives within its means, or let the same failed class of elites keep running the show. Conservatives should embrace Project 2025’s blueprint, demand action during the funding fight, and pressure elected Republicans to stop negotiating from weakness. The shutdown is a painful price, but it can be the spark that finally ignites a responsible, patriotic reform of our federal government.