The project reportedly struggled to find Jewish organizations with which to partner, while sidelining those that do partner with it. Several Jewish and Christian Zionist organizations told The New York Times that they did not want to associate with the plan because its failure to focus on right-wing antisemitism was too partisan.
As part of its plans, Project Esther said it would wait until a friendly presidential administration, after which "We will organize rapidly, take immediate action to 'stop the bleeding,' and achieve all objectives within two years." A New York Times report found that many of the second Trump administration's actions called for and closely matched more than half of Project Esther's proposals. In an interview with The Times, Project Esther's architects said that while there were "clear parallels" between its proposals and Trump administration actions, Heritage officials did not know whether the White House had used Project Esther as a guide.
Project Esther accuses "America's Jewish community" of "complacency". Its sole Jewish co-chair, Ellie Cohanim, has criticized other Jewish groups combating antisemitism. Project Esther has sought to identify those who attend pro-Palestinian protests as engaging in "material support" for terrorism, and targeted groups such as Jewish Voice for Peace and Students for Justice in Palestine. Project Esther's pitch materials were first reported on by The Forward, which highlighted its goals as reforming academia by defunding institutions, denying some pro-Palestinian groups access to campuses, and removing faculty. It also supported lawfare through filing civil lawsuits and identifying foreign students for deportation, and planned to enlist local state and federal law enforcement to "generate uncomfortable conditions" to dissuade groups from protesting.
Deutch, Gabby (14 October 2024). "Heritage Foundation struggles to find partners in fight against antisemitism". Jewish Insider. Retrieved 11 January 2025. https://jewishinsider.com/2024/10/heritage-foundation-project-esther-combat-antisemitism/
J.M. Baker, Katie (May 18, 2025). "The Group Behind Project 2025 Has a Plan to Crush the Pro-Palestinian Movement". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 18, 2025. Project Esther exclusively focuses on antisemitism on the left, ignoring antisemitic harassment and violence from the right. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/18/us/project-esther-heritage-foundation-palestine.html
Deutch, Gabby (14 October 2024). "Heritage Foundation struggles to find partners in fight against antisemitism". Jewish Insider. Retrieved 11 January 2025. https://jewishinsider.com/2024/10/heritage-foundation-project-esther-combat-antisemitism/
J.M. Baker, Katie (May 18, 2025). "The Group Behind Project 2025 Has a Plan to Crush the Pro-Palestinian Movement". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 18, 2025. Project Esther exclusively focuses on antisemitism on the left, ignoring antisemitic harassment and violence from the right. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/18/us/project-esther-heritage-foundation-palestine.html
Tamkin, Emily (4 November 2024). "The Lie Trump Is Offering Jewish Voters". Slate. Retrieved 11 January 2025. https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2024/11/trump-harris-election-jewish-voters-israel-palestine-antisemitism.html
Samuels, Ben. "Trump-allied Group Behind Project 2025 Unveils Plan to Crack Down on pro-Palestinian Activists, Antisemitism". Haaretz. Retrieved 11 January 2025. https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/2024-10-22/ty-article/.premium/trump-allied-group-unveils-plan-to-crack-down-on-antisemitism-pro-palestinian-movement/00000192-b34a-d5ff-ad92-b74f9ddd0000
Rosenfeld, Arno (6 December 2024). "Scoop: Internal Project Esther documents describe conspiracy of Jewish 'masterminds' seeking to dismantle Western values". The Forward. Retrieved 21 January 2025. https://forward.com/news/680626/project-esther-heritage-jewish-conspiracy-antisemitism/
Rabey, Steve (10 January 2025). "Heritage Foundation antisemitism effort recycles conspiracy theories". Baptist News Global. Retrieved 11 January 2025. https://baptistnews.com/article/heritage-foundation-antisemitism-effort-recycles-conspiracy-theories/
J.M. Baker, Katie (May 18, 2025). "The Group Behind Project 2025 Has a Plan to Crush the Pro-Palestinian Movement". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 18, 2025. Project Esther exclusively focuses on antisemitism on the left, ignoring antisemitic harassment and violence from the right. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/18/us/project-esther-heritage-foundation-palestine.html
Ward, Myah; Senter, Irie (6 April 2025). "Trump's pro-Palestinian activism crackdown closely mirrors a plan from the creators of Project 2025". POLITICO. Retrieved 29 May 2025. https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/06/project-2025-project-esther-university-crackdown-plans-00272750
J.M. Baker, Katie (May 18, 2025). "The Group Behind Project 2025 Has a Plan to Crush the Pro-Palestinian Movement". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 18, 2025. Project Esther exclusively focuses on antisemitism on the left, ignoring antisemitic harassment and violence from the right. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/18/us/project-esther-heritage-foundation-palestine.html
J.M. Baker, Katie (May 18, 2025). "The Group Behind Project 2025 Has a Plan to Crush the Pro-Palestinian Movement". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 18, 2025. Project Esther exclusively focuses on antisemitism on the left, ignoring antisemitic harassment and violence from the right. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/18/us/project-esther-heritage-foundation-palestine.html
J.M. Baker, Katie (May 18, 2025). "The Group Behind Project 2025 Has a Plan to Crush the Pro-Palestinian Movement". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 18, 2025. Project Esther exclusively focuses on antisemitism on the left, ignoring antisemitic harassment and violence from the right. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/18/us/project-esther-heritage-foundation-palestine.html
Rashid, Hafiz. "Pro-Trump Project 2025 Has Sinister Plan to Crush Palestine Activism". The New Republic. Retrieved 11 January 2025. https://newrepublic.com/post/187759/project-2025-plan-crush-pro-palestine-activism
Cohen, Mari. "Repression of journalism under the guise of fighting antisemitism". niemanlab.org. Nieman Lab. Retrieved 11 January 2025. https://www.niemanlab.org/2024/12/repression-of-journalism-under-the-guise-of-fighting-antisemitism/
J.M. Baker, Katie (May 18, 2025). "The Group Behind Project 2025 Has a Plan to Crush the Pro-Palestinian Movement". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 18, 2025. Project Esther exclusively focuses on antisemitism on the left, ignoring antisemitic harassment and violence from the right. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/18/us/project-esther-heritage-foundation-palestine.html
Speri, Alice (18 November 2024). "Trump likely to use antisemitism claims to launch crackdown on US universities". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 January 2025. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/nov/18/trump-universities-antisemitism
J.M. Baker, Katie (May 18, 2025). "The Group Behind Project 2025 Has a Plan to Crush the Pro-Palestinian Movement". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 18, 2025. Project Esther exclusively focuses on antisemitism on the left, ignoring antisemitic harassment and violence from the right. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/18/us/project-esther-heritage-foundation-palestine.html
Deutch, Gabby (14 October 2024). "Heritage Foundation struggles to find partners in fight against antisemitism". Jewish Insider. Retrieved 11 January 2025. https://jewishinsider.com/2024/10/heritage-foundation-project-esther-combat-antisemitism/
Rabey, Steve (14 November 2024). "Heritage Foundation's antisemitism effort ignores Jewish groups". Baptist News Global. Retrieved 11 January 2025. https://baptistnews.com/article/heritage-foundations-antisemitism-effort-ignores-jewish-groups/
J.M. Baker, Katie (May 18, 2025). "The Group Behind Project 2025 Has a Plan to Crush the Pro-Palestinian Movement". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 18, 2025. Project Esther exclusively focuses on antisemitism on the left, ignoring antisemitic harassment and violence from the right. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/18/us/project-esther-heritage-foundation-palestine.html
J.M. Baker, Katie (May 18, 2025). "The Group Behind Project 2025 Has a Plan to Crush the Pro-Palestinian Movement". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 18, 2025. Project Esther exclusively focuses on antisemitism on the left, ignoring antisemitic harassment and violence from the right. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/18/us/project-esther-heritage-foundation-palestine.html
Rosenfeld, Arno (7 January 2025). "Scoop: Heritage Foundation plans to 'identify and target' Wikipedia editors". The Forward. Retrieved 11 January 2025. https://forward.com/news/686797/heritage-foundation-wikipedia-antisemitism/
Merid, Feven (March 13, 2025). "Wikipedia's Reluctant Resisters". Columbia Journalism Review. Retrieved June 4, 2025. https://www.cjr.org/the_new_gatekeepers/wikipedia-reluctant-resisters-musk-trump.php
J.M. Baker, Katie (May 18, 2025). "The Group Behind Project 2025 Has a Plan to Crush the Pro-Palestinian Movement". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 18, 2025. Project Esther exclusively focuses on antisemitism on the left, ignoring antisemitic harassment and violence from the right. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/18/us/project-esther-heritage-foundation-palestine.html
J.M. Baker, Katie (May 18, 2025). "The Group Behind Project 2025 Has a Plan to Crush the Pro-Palestinian Movement". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 18, 2025. Project Esther exclusively focuses on antisemitism on the left, ignoring antisemitic harassment and violence from the right. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/18/us/project-esther-heritage-foundation-palestine.html
J.M. Baker, Katie (May 18, 2025). "The Group Behind Project 2025 Has a Plan to Crush the Pro-Palestinian Movement". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 18, 2025. Project Esther exclusively focuses on antisemitism on the left, ignoring antisemitic harassment and violence from the right. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/18/us/project-esther-heritage-foundation-palestine.html
Rosenfeld, Arno (6 December 2024). "Scoop: Internal Project Esther documents describe conspiracy of Jewish 'masterminds' seeking to dismantle Western values". The Forward. Retrieved 21 January 2025. https://forward.com/news/680626/project-esther-heritage-jewish-conspiracy-antisemitism/
J.M. Baker, Katie (May 18, 2025). "The Group Behind Project 2025 Has a Plan to Crush the Pro-Palestinian Movement". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 18, 2025. Project Esther exclusively focuses on antisemitism on the left, ignoring antisemitic harassment and violence from the right. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/18/us/project-esther-heritage-foundation-palestine.html
Plitnick, Mitchell (22 November 2024). "Inside Project Esther, the right wing action plan to take down the Palestine movement". Mondoweiss. Retrieved 11 January 2025. https://mondoweiss.net/2024/11/inside-project-esther-the-right-wing-action-plan-to-take-down-the-palestine-movement/
Deutch, Gabby (14 October 2024). "Heritage Foundation struggles to find partners in fight against antisemitism". Jewish Insider. Retrieved 11 January 2025. https://jewishinsider.com/2024/10/heritage-foundation-project-esther-combat-antisemitism/
J.M. Baker, Katie (May 18, 2025). "The Group Behind Project 2025 Has a Plan to Crush the Pro-Palestinian Movement". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 18, 2025. Project Esther exclusively focuses on antisemitism on the left, ignoring antisemitic harassment and violence from the right. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/18/us/project-esther-heritage-foundation-palestine.html
Tamkin, Emily (4 November 2024). "The Lie Trump Is Offering Jewish Voters". Slate. Retrieved 11 January 2025. https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2024/11/trump-harris-election-jewish-voters-israel-palestine-antisemitism.html
Samuels, Ben. "Trump-allied Group Behind Project 2025 Unveils Plan to Crack Down on pro-Palestinian Activists, Antisemitism". Haaretz. Retrieved 11 January 2025. https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/2024-10-22/ty-article/.premium/trump-allied-group-unveils-plan-to-crack-down-on-antisemitism-pro-palestinian-movement/00000192-b34a-d5ff-ad92-b74f9ddd0000
Rosenfeld, Arno (6 December 2024). "Scoop: Internal Project Esther documents describe conspiracy of Jewish 'masterminds' seeking to dismantle Western values". The Forward. Retrieved 21 January 2025. https://forward.com/news/680626/project-esther-heritage-jewish-conspiracy-antisemitism/
Tamkin, Emily (4 November 2024). "The Lie Trump Is Offering Jewish Voters". Slate. Retrieved 11 January 2025. https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2024/11/trump-harris-election-jewish-voters-israel-palestine-antisemitism.html
Rosenfeld, Arno (6 December 2024). "Scoop: Internal Project Esther documents describe conspiracy of Jewish 'masterminds' seeking to dismantle Western values". The Forward. Retrieved 21 January 2025. https://forward.com/news/680626/project-esther-heritage-jewish-conspiracy-antisemitism/
Samuels, Ben. "Trump-allied Group Behind Project 2025 Unveils Plan to Crack Down on pro-Palestinian Activists, Antisemitism". Haaretz. Retrieved 11 January 2025. https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/2024-10-22/ty-article/.premium/trump-allied-group-unveils-plan-to-crack-down-on-antisemitism-pro-palestinian-movement/00000192-b34a-d5ff-ad92-b74f9ddd0000
Deutch, Gabby (14 October 2024). "Heritage Foundation struggles to find partners in fight against antisemitism". Jewish Insider. Retrieved 11 January 2025. https://jewishinsider.com/2024/10/heritage-foundation-project-esther-combat-antisemitism/
Rosenfeld, Arno (6 December 2024). "Scoop: Internal Project Esther documents describe conspiracy of Jewish 'masterminds' seeking to dismantle Western values". The Forward. Retrieved 21 January 2025. https://forward.com/news/680626/project-esther-heritage-jewish-conspiracy-antisemitism/
J.M. Baker, Katie (May 18, 2025). "The Group Behind Project 2025 Has a Plan to Crush the Pro-Palestinian Movement". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 18, 2025. Project Esther exclusively focuses on antisemitism on the left, ignoring antisemitic harassment and violence from the right. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/18/us/project-esther-heritage-foundation-palestine.html
Elia-Shalev, Asaf. "Realizing old tactics aren't enough, US Jewish groups use science to fight antisemitism". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 11 January 2025. https://www.timesofisrael.com/realizing-old-tactics-arent-enough-us-jewish-groups-use-science-to-fight-antisemitism/
J.M. Baker, Katie (May 18, 2025). "The Group Behind Project 2025 Has a Plan to Crush the Pro-Palestinian Movement". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 18, 2025. Project Esther exclusively focuses on antisemitism on the left, ignoring antisemitic harassment and violence from the right. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/18/us/project-esther-heritage-foundation-palestine.html
Lorber, Ben (22 October 2024). "Heritage Foundation's Christian Nationalist 'Project Esther' Won't Combat Antisemitism — But It Will Weaponize Jews". Religion Dispatches. Retrieved 11 January 2025. https://religiondispatches.org/heritage-foundations-christian-nationalist-project-esther-wont-combat-antisemitism-but-it-will-weaponize-jews/
J.M. Baker, Katie (May 18, 2025). "The Group Behind Project 2025 Has a Plan to Crush the Pro-Palestinian Movement". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 18, 2025. Project Esther exclusively focuses on antisemitism on the left, ignoring antisemitic harassment and violence from the right. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/18/us/project-esther-heritage-foundation-palestine.html
Matthiessen, Connie (10 December 2024). "What Is Project Esther and What Does It Mean for Funders — and Civil Society?". www.insidephilanthropy.com. Retrieved 29 May 2025. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/what-is-project-esther-and-what-does-it-mean-for-funders-and-civil-society
Rosenfeld, Arno (15 October 2024). "The group behind Project 2025 has a new plan to fight antisemitism". The Forward. Retrieved 21 January 2025. https://forward.com/forward-newsletters/antisemitism-notebook/664258/the-group-behind-project-2025-has-a-new-plan-to-fight-antisemitism/
Deutch, Gabby (14 October 2024). "Heritage Foundation struggles to find partners in fight against antisemitism". Jewish Insider. Retrieved 11 January 2025. https://jewishinsider.com/2024/10/heritage-foundation-project-esther-combat-antisemitism/
J.M. Baker, Katie (May 18, 2025). "The Group Behind Project 2025 Has a Plan to Crush the Pro-Palestinian Movement". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 18, 2025. Project Esther exclusively focuses on antisemitism on the left, ignoring antisemitic harassment and violence from the right. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/18/us/project-esther-heritage-foundation-palestine.html
J.M. Baker, Katie (May 18, 2025). "The Group Behind Project 2025 Has a Plan to Crush the Pro-Palestinian Movement". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 18, 2025. Project Esther exclusively focuses on antisemitism on the left, ignoring antisemitic harassment and violence from the right. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/18/us/project-esther-heritage-foundation-palestine.html
Rosenfeld, Arno (6 December 2024). "Scoop: Internal Project Esther documents describe conspiracy of Jewish 'masterminds' seeking to dismantle Western values". The Forward. Retrieved 21 January 2025. https://forward.com/news/680626/project-esther-heritage-jewish-conspiracy-antisemitism/
Rabey, Steve (10 January 2025). "Heritage Foundation antisemitism effort recycles conspiracy theories". Baptist News Global. Retrieved 11 January 2025. https://baptistnews.com/article/heritage-foundation-antisemitism-effort-recycles-conspiracy-theories/
Deutch, Gabby (14 October 2024). "Heritage Foundation struggles to find partners in fight against antisemitism". Jewish Insider. Retrieved 11 January 2025. https://jewishinsider.com/2024/10/heritage-foundation-project-esther-combat-antisemitism/
J.M. Baker, Katie (May 18, 2025). "The Group Behind Project 2025 Has a Plan to Crush the Pro-Palestinian Movement". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 18, 2025. Project Esther exclusively focuses on antisemitism on the left, ignoring antisemitic harassment and violence from the right. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/18/us/project-esther-heritage-foundation-palestine.html
Tamkin, Emily (4 November 2024). "The Lie Trump Is Offering Jewish Voters". Slate. Retrieved 11 January 2025. https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2024/11/trump-harris-election-jewish-voters-israel-palestine-antisemitism.html
Samuels, Ben. "Trump-allied Group Behind Project 2025 Unveils Plan to Crack Down on pro-Palestinian Activists, Antisemitism". Haaretz. Retrieved 11 January 2025. https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/2024-10-22/ty-article/.premium/trump-allied-group-unveils-plan-to-crack-down-on-antisemitism-pro-palestinian-movement/00000192-b34a-d5ff-ad92-b74f9ddd0000
Rosenfeld, Arno (6 December 2024). "Scoop: Internal Project Esther documents describe conspiracy of Jewish 'masterminds' seeking to dismantle Western values". The Forward. Retrieved 21 January 2025. https://forward.com/news/680626/project-esther-heritage-jewish-conspiracy-antisemitism/
Goldberg, Michelle. "The Trump-Supporting Christians Accusing Jews of Antisemitism". The New York Times. Retrieved 2025-05-20. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/19/opinion/antisemitism-israel-palestine-esther.html
Rabey, Steve (10 January 2025). "Heritage Foundation antisemitism effort recycles conspiracy theories". Baptist News Global. Retrieved 11 January 2025. https://baptistnews.com/article/heritage-foundation-antisemitism-effort-recycles-conspiracy-theories/
J.M. Baker, Katie (May 18, 2025). "The Group Behind Project 2025 Has a Plan to Crush the Pro-Palestinian Movement". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 18, 2025. Project Esther exclusively focuses on antisemitism on the left, ignoring antisemitic harassment and violence from the right. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/18/us/project-esther-heritage-foundation-palestine.html
J.M. Baker, Katie (May 18, 2025). "The Group Behind Project 2025 Has a Plan to Crush the Pro-Palestinian Movement". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 18, 2025. Project Esther exclusively focuses on antisemitism on the left, ignoring antisemitic harassment and violence from the right. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/18/us/project-esther-heritage-foundation-palestine.html
"Project Esther: NYT Details Right-Wing Plan to "Rebrand All Critics of Israel" as Hamas Supporters". Democracy Now!. 19 May 2025. /wiki/Democracy_Now!
Mitchell, Schuyler (May 23, 2025). "Project Esther Is a McCarthy-Era Blueprint for Crushing the American Left". Truthout. Retrieved May 24, 2025. https://truthout.org/articles/project-esther-is-a-mccarthy-era-blueprint-for-crushing-the-american-left/
Marcetic, Branko. "Trump Is Planning a Third Red Scare". Jacobin. Retrieved 11 January 2025. https://jacobin.com/2024/11/trump-red-scare-palestine-blm