Law be damned, Trump asserts unilateral control over executive branch, federal service (2 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

 

[RobF]

Not ignoring.

Seems to me it’s more of a highly unique and rather in depth audit of federal agencies. And I admit to being curious as to what the audit discloses.

And it could end up being a bust.

Literally Musk: "I spent the weekend feeding USAID into the chipper!" "CFPB RIP"

Sendai: "It's just a 'rather in depth audit.'"

Embarrassing.

 

[DaveXA]

Not ignoring.

Seems to me it’s more of a highly unique and rather in depth audit of federal agencies. And I admit to being curious as to what the audit discloses.

And it could end up being a bust.

How in the hell is closing an agency (and soon to be several at the rate they're going) considered an audit? Dude...it's a lot of things, but an audit isn't one of them. And an audit implies some sort of objectivity and expert analysis. You think Musk and his tech team is that? Gee whiz.

 

[fooferdoggie]

Not ignoring.

Seems to me it’s more of a highly unique and rather in depth audit of federal agencies. And I admit to being curious as to what the audit discloses.

And it could end up being a bust.

right, and I am sure you will here the truth from the biggest of all liars.

 

[cuddlemonkey]

Not ignoring.

Seems to me it’s more of a highly unique and rather in depth audit of federal agencies. And I admit to being curious as to what the audit discloses.

And it could end up being a bust.

If this is true, the audit is being conducted by someone with huge conflicts of interest who is being assisted by a bunch of kids. None of them have any experience with the departments, systems, procedures, and employees they are auditing and the IGs who do know were fired without cause. That alone is enough for Congress to shut it down and for everyone in the country to demand legitimate hearings to get to the bottom of what is happening.

 

[Sendai]

If this is true, the audit is being conducted by someone with huge conflicts of interest who is being assisted by a bunch of kids. None of them have any experience with the departments, systems, procedures, and employees they are auditing and the IGs who do know were fired without cause. That alone is enough for Congress to shut it down and for everyone in the country to demand legitimate hearings to get to the bottom of what is happening.

Congress can hold hearings but unlikely they can shut them down.

They are not all a bunch of kids.

https://www.npr.org/2025/02/07/nx-s1-5288988/doge-elon-musk-staff-trump

 

[Sendai]

Literally Musk: "I spent the weekend feeding USAID into the chipper!" "CFPB RIP"

Sendai: "It's just a 'rather in depth audit.'"

Embarrassing.

You missed the highly unique part. Also that it might be a bust.

 

[UncleTrvlingJim]

At some point, people need to ask themselves what would be a warning sign that things aren't being done properly.

I can't think of any scenario where if someone wanted to do an audit, you'd hire someone who receives money from the agencies being audited (and in fact being investigate by those agencies), and then hires people who have no financial or government experience, with no knowledge of the FAR, DFAR or standard accounting practices.

For audits, you want to be free of conflicts of interest, with expertise in the areas being audited. Neither of those things exist here.

Further, you should be concerned that the list they released was already public knowledge and they made mistakes in both the numbers and the characterization of those programs. At this point, why aren't you more skeptical? If they highlight something that is supposed to be USAID abuse, but then you find out that it was actually funded by the State department, was already on the public information sites, and they used the wrong numbers and process, why wouldn't you not think they are just trying to deceive you?

 

[cuddlemonkey]

Congress can hold hearings but unlikely they can shut them down.

They are not all a bunch of kids.

https://www.npr.org/2025/02/07/nx-s1-5288988/doge-elon-musk-staff-trump

Not unilaterally, but they can perform their duties and provide oversight as well as pressure Trump to slow the hell down.

Why is that the only part you focused on and not the fact that there are massive conflicts of interest and a group of people with zero knowledge making these decisions? Why not address the fact that members of Congress were prevented from entering the Department of Education? Something is very wrong here and you have the curiosity of a rock.

 

[UncleTrvlingJim]

You missed the highly unique part. Also that it might be a bust.

What would be your warning signs that things were being performed improperly or with corrupt intent? What standard of evidence would you demand of any conclusions they reach?

 

[Sendai]

This is an Enterprise Audit.

Going to take a lot of time, analysis, and a lot of people.

 

[MT15]

This is an Enterprise Audit.

Going to take a lot of time, analysis, and a lot of people.

They aren’t taking their time though, are they? They’ve already bragged about shutting down two agencies. In a week.

Why are you ignoring UTJ’s questions?

 

[fooferdoggie]

This is an Enterprise Audit.

Going to take a lot of time, analysis, and a lot of people.

except it is happening in days and has what 8 people???? so where are you getting your info? Trump is not even putting out. that info is almost like its made up or something.

 

[DJ1BigTymer]

This is an Enterprise Audit.

Going to take a lot of time, analysis, and a lot of people.

And what was wrong with the Inspector Generals doing their job?

§402. Establishment and purpose of Offices of Inspector General​

(a) Establishment.—

(1) In general.—Subject to paragraph (2), in each of the establishments listed in section 401(1) of this title, there is established an Office of Inspector General.

(2) Department of the treasury.—In the establishment of the Department of the Treasury, there is established—

(A) an Office of Inspector General of the Department of the Treasury; and

(B) an Office of Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.


(b) Purpose.—The offices established under subsection (a) are established in order to create independent and objective units—

(1) to conduct and supervise audits and investigations relating to the programs and operations of the establishments listed in section 401(1) of this title;

(2) to provide leadership and coordination and recommend policies for activities designed—

(A) to promote economy, efficiency, and effectiveness in the administration of those programs and operations; and

(B) to prevent and detect fraud and abuse in those programs and operations; and


(3) to provide a means for keeping the head of the establishments and Congress fully and currently informed about problems and deficiencies relating to the administration of those programs and operations and the necessity for and progress of corrective action.

(Pub. L. 117–286, §3(b), Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4208.)

I expect you say that they were not doing their jobs and you will say this without providing any evidence. So, I'll say this again, they are doing this for ideological reasons and they know that these changes would face difficulties getting pass the democratic process.

 

[Optimus Prime]

Experts and officials expressed alarm on Sunday after Vice President JD Vancesuggested federal courts “aren’t allowed” to limit the White House’s “legitimate power.”

The controversy began on Sunday morning, when Vance tweeted his views on executive power.

“If a judge tried to tell a general how to conduct a military operation, that would be illegal,” he wrote on X. “If a judge tried to command the attorney general in how to use her discretion as a prosecutor, that's also illegal. Judges aren't allowed to control the executive's legitimate power.”

The post was seemingly in reference to a Saturday decision from a federal judge temporarily barring political appointees and “special government employees” like White House adviser Elon Musk from accessing sensitive data and payment systems at the Treasury Department.…..

Alarm as JD Vance says federal judges ‘aren’t allowed’ to control president

Experts argued expansive view of executive power could cause constitutional crisis

www.independent.co.uk

 

[brandon]

Experts and officials expressed alarm on Sunday after Vice President JD Vancesuggested federal courts “aren’t allowed” to limit the White House’s “legitimate power.”

The controversy began on Sunday morning, when Vance tweeted his views on executive power.

“If a judge tried to tell a general how to conduct a military operation, that would be illegal,” he wrote on X. “If a judge tried to command the attorney general in how to use her discretion as a prosecutor, that's also illegal. Judges aren't allowed to control the executive's legitimate power.”

The post was seemingly in reference to a Saturday decision from a federal judge temporarily barring political appointees and “special government employees” like White House adviser Elon Musk from accessing sensitive data and payment systems at the Treasury Department.…..

Alarm as JD Vance says federal judges ‘aren’t allowed’ to control president

Experts argued expansive view of executive power could cause constitutional crisis

www.independent.co.uk

The branch with the guns wins.

 

[Optimus Prime]

Employees who had completed diversity training in 2017 at the Education Department were gathered for a celebration, and the event’s printed program included a quote from the education secretary: “In building strong teams, embracing diversity and inclusion are key elements for success.”

The secretary was Betsy DeVos, who served four years in President Donald Trump’s Cabinet.

Now, in the opening days of Trump’s second term, dozens of employees who attended that diversity program — many during Trump’s first term — have been placed on leave because of it, according to union officials, affected employees and a person with knowledge of how the decisions were made. The suspensions came in response to Trump’s Day 1 executive order to eradicate DEIA — diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility — from the government.

Some of the workers who were put on leave are struggling to understand how a training they took with the encouragement of the first Trump administration could be jeopardizing their jobs under the second. “It’s the most ironic thing,” said one employee, speaking on the condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation, “because Betsy DeVos supported it.”

In messages to the staff, DeVos and top aides spoke of the importance of building and acknowledging a diverse workforce — using terminology that Trump’s team has recently excised from the agency’s website and now uses as a barometer to cancel contracts and grants, according to more than a dozen documents obtained by The Washington Post.

“In order for ED to be a high-performing organization in the 21st century, we must constantly strive to foster an inclusive work culture and maintain an environment that embraces the diversity of our workforce,” DeVos wrote in a February 2020 memo to all department employees.

The memo specified that all people should be treated with respect, regardless of factors including race, age, sex, “transgender status” and gender identity.

In the new Trump administration, education officials spent their first day scrubbing the agency’s website for any mention of words including diversity, transgender, LGBTQIA and equity, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. On Friday, a directive sent to department employees said the agency would terminate programs, contracts, policies or media that mention transgender or “fail to affirm the reality of biological sex.”

The moves have come under heavy criticism.

“This is Kafkaesque, Orwellian,” said Michael Petrilli, president of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, a conservative think tank. “It is ridiculous to threaten professionals’ livelihoods because they attended a training. Most of America attended a DEI training in 2020. This policy by keyword search will lead to all kinds of dumb outcomes and, I hope, a real backlash.”

A spokeswoman for the Education Department, Madi Biedermann, defended the decisions to place the employees on leave as a part of the Trump administration’s shake-up of the federal civil service. “We are evaluating staffing in line with the commitment to prioritize meaningful learning ahead of divisive ideology in schools and putting student outcomes above special interests,” she said...............

They trained on DEI under Trump. Now he’s punishing them for it.​

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2025/02/10/education-department-dei-devos/

 

[DaveXA]

They aren’t taking their time though, are they? They’ve already bragged about shutting down two agencies. In a week.

Why are you ignoring UTJ’s questions?

He simply doesn't give 2 sheets whether it's suspect or not. He thinks it's business as usual amd that Trump and Elon are somehow trustworthy and credible.

 

[superchuck500]

Not ignoring.

Seems to me it’s more of a highly unique and rather in depth audit of federal agencies. And I admit to being curious as to what the audit discloses.

And it could end up being a bust.

An audit being conducted by Elon Musk and some software engineers?

Do you know what an audit is? It's not just a generic word - there's a whole discipline behind proper auditing, with general standards, methods, and core principles. Genuine audits follow forensic routines that can be verified and produced as transparent.

There's no basis to believe that DOGE is conducting a legitimate audit. And audits take months, the idea that whatever these guys are doing is "in-depth" is even less realistic.