Law be damned, Trump asserts unilateral control over executive branch, federal service (3 Viewers)

[superchuck500]

Following the Project 2025 playbook, in the last week, Trump and his newly installed loyalists have moved to (1) dismiss federal officials deemed unreliable to do his bidding (including 17 inspectors general) - many of which have protections from arbitrary dismissal, (2) freeze all science and public health activity until he can wrest full control, (3) freeze all federal assistance and grant activity deemed inconsistent with Trump's agenda, and (4) moved to terminate all federal employee telework and DEI programs.

The problem is much of this is controlled by federal law and not subject to sudden and complete change by the president through executive order. Most notably is the Impoundment Control Act of 1974 that simply codifies what is the constitutional allocation of resources where Congress appropriates money to the executive branch for a specific purpose, the executive branch must carry out that statutory purpose. This is indeed a constitutional crisis and even if Congress abdicates to Trump by acquiescing, the courts must still apply the law - or rule it unconstitutional.

And meanwhile the architect of much of this unlawful action is Russell Vought, Trump’s OMB nominee who the Senate appears ready to confirm.

120. The Impoundment Crisis of 2025

The Trump administration's Monday spending freeze is likely to provoke a crisis over the constitutionality of "impoundment"—one that the justices could well have to resolve *very* soon.

www.stevevladeck.com

 

[Mr. Blue Sky]

I think it will. The way it is setup, the retirement date is 9/30/2025 - and the pay is deemed earned through that date. The agencies have notified the employees that the offer is legitimate and will be paid.

This isn't Twitter - I'm confident it will be paid.

For their sake, i hope you are correct .. i actually qualified for a tax refund this year.. not confident ill get it since even with early e-filing , direct deposit et al , Musk now has the power and access to simply hold up tax refunds on a whim if he wants to .. “Oh that could never happen here “………


Can’t speak to Twitter since it’s been years since ive used that app , or “X.”

 

[Optimus Prime]

Federal health workers are expressing fear and alarm after a website called “DEI Watch List” published the photos, names and public information of a number of workers across health agencies, describing them at one point as “targets.”

It’s unclear when the website, which lists mostly Black employees who work in agencies primarily within the Department of Health and Human Services, first appeared.

“Offenses” for the workers listed on the website include working on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, donating to Democrats and using pronouns in their bios.

The website, a government worker said, is being circulated among multiple private group chats of federal health workers across agencies, as well as through social media links.

The site also reached Dr. Georges Benjamin, the executive director of the American Public Health Association, who learned about it Tuesday evening when a federal health worker sent it to him.

“This is a scare tactic to try to intimidate people who are trying to do their work and do it admirably,” Benjamin said. “It’s clear racism.”

A government worker said they found out theirs was among the names on the website Tuesday afternoon after a former co-worker sent them the link on social media.

“It’s unnerving,” said the person, who requested anonymity because of safety concerns. “My name and my picture is there, and in 2025, it’s very simple to Google and look up someone’s home address and all kinds of things that potentially put me at risk.”..............

Federal health workers terrified after 'DEI' website publishes list of 'targets'

The site calls out workers who have been involved with DEI initiatives. A majority are Black.

www.nbcnews.com

 

[superchuck500]

For their sake, i hope you are correct .. i actually qualified for a tax refund this year.. not confident ill get it since even with early e-filing , direct deposit et al , Musk now has the power and access to simply hold up tax refunds on a whim if he wants to .. “Oh that could never happen here “………


Can’t speak to Twitter since it’s been years since ive used that app , or “X.”

I'm referring to Musk's buyout of Twitter employees (some of which have not been paid).

But it's entirely different with the federal civilian workforce. There are statutory remedies, unions and interest groups, and specialized lawyers. It's going to be paid.

 

[Eeyore]

It’s not a bad deal if you don’t have that much vested in the system yet - pays you for eight months while you find another job or whatever.

Especially if you think things are gonna suck or you’d rather not work for this bullshirt then take it.

Musk did this with Twitter and then stiffed the people who took the offer.

 

[Eeyore]

I'm told that Musk will be entering the department of labor this afternoon. This won't be good. They already nuked it last week.

 

[Optimus Prime]

Arizona Congressman Rep. Andy Biggs has reintroduced a bill that seeks to abolish the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Biggs views OSHA as part of “the bloated federal government” and believes safety and health issues are better handled by states and private employers.

OSHA is a federal agency part of the Department of Labor that was established by the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act, which was signed into law by President Nixon on December 29, 1970. The role of OSHA is to ensure America’s workers have safe and healthful working conditions, free from unlawful retaliation. OSHA sets and enforces workplace safety standards, provides training, and enforces anti-retaliation provisions of the OSH Act. OSHA also works with state programs to improve workplace safety. OSHA recently published data that revealed there were 5,283 workplace fatalities and 1,538,299 injuries and illnesses in 2023..............

https://www.hipaajournal.com/biggs-nulify-occupational-safety-health-administration-act-nosha/

 

[efil4]

Arizona Congressman Rep. Andy Biggs has reintroduced a bill that seeks to abolish the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Biggs views OSHA as part of “the bloated federal government” and believes safety and health issues are better handled by states and private employers.

OSHA is a federal agency part of the Department of Labor that was established by the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act, which was signed into law by President Nixon on December 29, 1970. The role of OSHA is to ensure America’s workers have safe and healthful working conditions, free from unlawful retaliation. OSHA sets and enforces workplace safety standards, provides training, and enforces anti-retaliation provisions of the OSH Act. OSHA also works with state programs to improve workplace safety. OSHA recently published data that revealed there were 5,283 workplace fatalities and 1,538,299 injuries and illnesses in 2023..............

https://www.hipaajournal.com/biggs-nulify-occupational-safety-health-administration-act-nosha/

i bet one of my clients, who just called me yesterday after receiving an OSHA violation and fine ( $16,000 ) will be thrilled to hear this.

 

[DaveXA]

Chuck what in the world makes you think that any of that money will actually get paid to them ??

It's actually a legally binding document because it's from official government channels and has been acknowledged as such by relevant federal agencies. There are seminars and Q and As on it and it's a real thing.

 

[superchuck500]

Very detailed, good coverage here:

The 24-Hour Reality Check: Musk’s Impossible Power Grab And America’s Crisis

There are twenty-four hours in a day. This isn’t a matter of political opinion or technological disruption—it’s as immutable as the fact that two plus two equals four. No amount of geni…

www.techdirt.com

 

[Optimus Prime]

January 2029

God willing, we have a new Democratic President, hopefully we have a majority in the House and Senate by a healthy margin

Is it wrong to kind of hope we do the exact same thing?

If you worked on and helped implement these Project 2025 initiatives you're out

In fact if you were hired during the Trump administration, your services are no longer required effective the second you finish reading this email

Any company owned by or associated with Elon Musk, Peter Thiel or any other far right billionaire involved in any of this will have their government contracts immediately revoked

Committees and Investigations up the wazoo. Anything that was illegal that should have been stopped but allowed to happen will be looked into

 

[UncleTrvlingJim]

January 2029

God willing, we have a new Democratic President, hopefully we have a majority in the House and Senate by a healthy margin

Is it wrong to kind of hope we do the exact same thing?

If you worked on and helped implement these Project 2025 initiatives you're out

In fact if you were hired during the Trump administration, your services are no longer required effective the second you finish reading this email

Any company owned by or associated with Elon Musk, Peter Thiel or any other far right billionaire involved in any of this will have their government contracts immediately revoked

Committees and Investigations up the wazoo. Anything that was illegal that should have been stopped but allowed to happen will be looked into

I get the desire for karmic restoration, but I'd prefer an orderly and considerate return to normalcy and a strengthening of norms and institutions. So, I think it would be fair to review people's behaviors during these next 4 years, and rooting out inappropriate behavior (ie, doing things illegal or misusing government power for partisan purposes)... however, merely being hired during this time is not cause for termination.

Also, some of the Project 2025 initiatives are just dumb, but not illegal - and if a person was just administering lawfully given directives, they shouldn't be punished.

 

[DJ1BigTymer]

Uh, oh! It's on now!!!

Somebody is about to learn a lesson.

 

[Optimus Prime]

Some deaf federal employees at some agencies aren’t able to access American Sign Language interpreting services and other accommodations as a result of President Donald Trump’s orders to remove all positions related to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility, according to advocates working with deaf federal employees and interpreters.

The White House has also not provided ASL interpretation at its news conferences or broadcasts, and there are no ASL interpretations on videos posted to its YouTube channel. The accessibility section of the White House website has also been taken down.

Legal experts said failure to provide interpreting services to deaf employees may be a violation of Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, a federal law that mandates the government to provide reasonable accommodations to its employees, and the Americans with Disability Act, which prohibits discrimination and mandates equal access to those with disabilities.

In the past, the failure to provide interpreters at White House briefings has been found to violate Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, which mandates that all White House programs and services are accessible.

A White House official said the administration did not fire any of its ASL interpreters and said that the website is still a work in progress. The White House did not provide comment on its lack of interpreting services for conferences, broadcasts and videos...........

Deaf federal workers face uncertain access following Trump’s DEIA orders​

https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2025/02/04/deaf-federal-workers-trump-deia/

 

[DaveXA]

Uh, oh! It's on now!!!

Somebody is about to learn a lesson.

And it won't be Trump or Musk unfortunately.

 

[Optimus Prime]

I get the desire for karmic restoration, but I'd prefer an orderly and considerate return to normalcy and a strengthening of norms and institutions. So, I think it would be fair to review people's behaviors during these next 4 years, and rooting out inappropriate behavior (ie, doing things illegal or misusing government power for partisan purposes)... however, merely being hired during this time is not cause for termination.

Also, some of the Project 2025 initiatives are just dumb, but not illegal - and if a person was just administering lawfully given directives, they shouldn't be punished.

just angry and frustrated both my girlfriend and brother work for the government and are stressed like crazy

And Biden was supposed to be that return normalcy and decency. All the right did was lie, double down and back in power again

 

[DaveXA]

Some deaf federal employees at some agencies aren’t able to access American Sign Language interpreting services and other accommodations as a result of President Donald Trump’s orders to remove all positions related to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility, according to advocates working with deaf federal employees and interpreters.

The White House has also not provided ASL interpretation at its news conferences or broadcasts, and there are no ASL interpretations on videos posted to its YouTube channel. The accessibility section of the White House website has also been taken down.

Legal experts said failure to provide interpreting services to deaf employees may be a violation of Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, a federal law that mandates the government to provide reasonable accommodations to its employees, and the Americans with Disability Act, which prohibits discrimination and mandates equal access to those with disabilities.

In the past, the failure to provide interpreters at White House briefings has been found to violate Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, which mandates that all White House programs and services are accessible.

A White House official said the administration did not fire any of its ASL interpreters and said that the website is still a work in progress. The White House did not provide comment on its lack of interpreting services for conferences, broadcasts and videos...........

Deaf federal workers face uncertain access following Trump’s DEIA orders​

https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2025/02/04/deaf-federal-workers-trump-deia/

There's no maybe about this. And it should be litigated immediately. In fact, I'm gonna put in a request for our next event. If they want the sheet sued out of them, I'll be happy to oblige.

It's a blatant violation of ADA.

 

[Booker]

There's no maybe about this. And it should be litigated immediately. In fact, I'm gonna put in a request for our next event. If they want the sheet sued out of them, I'll be happy to oblige.

It's a blatant violation of ADA.

 

[Optimus Prime]

Uh, oh! It's on now!!!

Somebody is about to learn a lesson.

She’s always concerned

And she always gets over it