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

 

[TampaJoe]

Simple question for you pro-doge people that claim they are conducting an audit: who's responsible for making the changes within these government agencies that their "audit" suggest?

That is a good question. DOGE doesn’t have that authority to my understanding.

 

[DJ1BigTymer]

That is a good question. DOGE doesn’t have that authority to my understanding.

Now, how was USAID essentially shut down and who was responsible?

 

[superchuck500]

Man who works from home and golfs 200 times a year says people can’t work from home because they’ll just go golfing.

He’s just so, so awful

 

[TampaJoe]

Now, how was USAID essentially shut down and who was responsible?

That is a good question. DOGE doesn’t not have that authority to my understanding.

 

[DaveXA]

Man who works from home and golfs 200 times a year says people can’t work from home because they’ll just go golfing.

He’s just so, so awful

What a self-absorbed d-bag. I get more work done at home than I do at work, and it's not close. And I take pride in the work I do. And so do most of my co-workers who are professionals. Only dumbarses who have never actually worked for the government think everyone sits on their arses collecting a paycheck.

And I've worked as a volunteer, worked in the private sector in finance and finally the last 5 years a federal employee. I'm putting more work in now than I ever have, and the work rarely ends. There's a pretty good backlog of work that we have to deal with year round. The only truly slow month we have is the first month of the fiscal year in October when the systems are down and we largely use that time for training.

Trump can kiss my arse.

 

[MT15]

That is a good question. DOGE doesn’t not have that authority to my understanding.

And yet, they did it. And Musk bragged about doing it publicly.

It would be nice if DOGE would answer any questions, or announce who is working for them and tell us their qualifications.

They aren’t. Because this isn’t on the level. It’s Musk doing what he wants to do.

 

[MT15]

seeing lots of reports online of federal payments not being made to states and cities still. Also farmers and small companies.

Our Soc Sec deposit is due to be made this Wednesday, and by now I can usually see it in my bank’s app as “pending”, but it’s not there yet.

One lady online said her payment already was showing up as “pending” to her account. Not ours yet.

I’m a little nervous about it, to be honest.

 

[MT15]

This guy describes himself as a “data nerd” and has started a list of agencies not receiving payments:

 

[MT15]

Medical system or hospital in Maine has been denied for the second time the grant money it was awarded, they sent a message to patients that there could be interruptions of service. Screenshot of said message:

 

[MT15]

Best article I’ve seen on Musk/Trump withholding allocated funds:

The Courts Blocked Trump’s Federal Funding Freeze. Agencies Are Withholding Money Anyway.

Agencies continue to suspend funding, despite multiple court orders blocking the federal freeze. Experts say the Trump administration’s actions set the stage for challenges to Congress’ authority — and the limits of the presidency.

www.propublica.org

 

[MT15]

DOGE needs to announce what they are doing and be transparent about it. In their complete absence of transparency you will see this:

 

[superchuck500]

 

[fooferdoggie]

This guy describes himself as a “data nerd” and has started a list of agencies not receiving payments:

come on we all know Head Start is how woke is indoctrinated. some on people wake up.

 

[barbar]

That is a good question. DOGE doesn’t not have that authority to my understanding.

They have no authority but they did it anyway. Do you think that's a problem?