Law be damned, Trump asserts unilateral control over executive branch, federal service (13 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

 

[el caliente]

They are not going after Louisiana rice. Louisiana and Arkansas just happen to be the leading rice producers in the US. Since rice has an indefinite shelf life, it works well for food aid.

Are they paying more for Louisiana/Arkansas rice than they could be paying elsewhere? From a financial standpoint how does this make sense vs the alternative when the end game is being a good steward of the people’s money?

 

[RobF]

Your a government employ Dave. No offense but I don’t trust your employer. Lol

Why do I need to criticize Musk when I have already said that I hope that they put the screws to DOGE so that everything is above board? Is being critical of Musk important to gain credibility?

Do you even hear yourself? "Gosh, I sure hope they can make this contrived department-but-not-actually-a-department headed by a guy with massive conflicts of interest that's already attempted to feed a government agency "into the chipper" and declared the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau dead be above board!"

It's inherently not above board. If there was any intention of it being above board, it wouldn't exist in the first place. Making it "above board" means putting it six feet under. Or, as Musk would put it, "DOGE RIP".

 

[el caliente]

I don't know what you're talking about. I don't spend my days in right wing circles.

If that's even happening, did you need DOGE to tell you that it was happening through illegal means? Could you not see how money was being appropriated through any existing public information? Was there any fraud?

Here are your answers, No, Yes, and No.

Do you have to move in right wing circles to be outraged by wastes of money?

We all know about government waste, some people just want it to be curbed.

 

[J-DONK]

Are they paying more for Louisiana/Arkansas rice than they could be paying elsewhere? From a financial standpoint how does this make sense vs the alternative when the end game is being a good steward of the people’s money?

For the little I know about the ag world, it's socalism essentially. America has a vested interest in domestic food production. Even if our domestic production isn't competitive with global markets. The government will buy it and ship it off as aide.

Look at China, they import most of thier soybean, sugar, wheat and milk.

If China goes to war with Taiwan, and we intervene. We are going to use a naval blockade.

 

[DJ1BigTymer]

Are they paying more for Louisiana/Arkansas rice than they could be paying elsewhere? From a financial standpoint how does this make sense vs the alternative when the end game is being a good steward of the people’s money?

If only there were processes in place to address those concerns.

 

[DaveXA]

Your a government employ Dave. No offense but I don’t trust your employer. Lol

Why do I need to criticize Musk when I have already said that I hope that they put the screws to DOGE so that everything is above board? Is being critical of Musk important to gain credibility?

I've worked in the private sector (finance and self-employed small business plus a lot of other short term employment) a lot longer than the 5 years I've worked in my current position. This one is easily the toughest job, and actually most rewarding jobs I've ever had. I'm not sure where you get your distrust from, but there's a lot more good than bad in the government. There's plenty of issues, and that will happen in any large organization, even well-run businesses.

No, if you're truly objective, being critical of Musk is common sense. If you're serious about putting the screws to DOGE, then good. I hope that's a sincere take.

 

[DaveXA]

No, they just didn’t teach group think. Sorry

So, tell me then, what group think is going on here?

 

[el caliente]

Do you even hear yourself? "Gosh, I sure hope they can make this contrived department-but-not-actually-a-department headed by a guy with massive conflicts of interest that's already attempted to feed a government agency "into the chipper" and declared the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau dead be above board!"

It's inherently not above board. If there was any intention of it being above board, it wouldn't exist in the first place. Making it "above board" means putting it six feet under. Or, as Musk would put it, "DOGE RIP".

The wild thing about this is that you all are so hooked on Elon heading this, that you forget that this iteration of DOGE is the third of its kind.

There was the Truman committee in 1941 which was created for fear of government waste. The group ended up uncovering waste, and saved the government the equivalent of $3trillion.

Truman Committee - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

During the Clinton Administration the National Partnership for Reinventing Government was created in order to investigate and clear up waste in government. Depending on which side of the checkbook you were on, it worked.

National Partnership for Reinventing Government - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

I can understand people attacking Musk. I’m not here to defend or attack him. I am here for curbing government waste. We should all be for curbing government waste. Place is starting to feel like. Kleptocracy.

 

[el caliente]

So, tell me then, what group think is going on here?

I’m late to the party (so perhaps this has happened already), but everyone is attacking Musk, but not being critical of the groups writing checks for expenses that are unjustifiable.

 

[el caliente]

If only there were processes in place to address those concerns.

Is the process attending “DEI, the musical” and telling the the ticket taker your complaint?

 

[J-DONK]

The wild thing about this is that you all are so hooked on Elon heading this, that you forget that this iteration of DOGE is the third of its kind.

There was the Truman committee in 1941 which was created for fear of government waste. The group ended up uncovering waste, and saved the government the equivalent of $3trillion.

Truman Committee - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

During the Clinton Administration the National Partnership for Reinventing Government was created in order to investigate and clear up waste in government. Depending on which side of the checkbook you were on, it worked.

National Partnership for Reinventing Government - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

I can understand people attacking Musk. I’m not here to defend or attack him. I am here for curbing government waste. We should all be for curbing government waste. Place is starting to feel like. Kleptocracy.

Why would you want a guy who gets a massive amount of government contracts, and kickbacks in charge?

 

[DaveXA]

Do you have to move in right wing circles to be outraged by wastes of money?

We all know about government waste, some people just want it to be curbed.

Actually, if you'd do a little homework, you'd learn that a lot of waste is and has been curbed for a long while. That waste doesn't get curbed overnight. It takes a lot of work and commitment from leadership to reduce government waste. There are numerous programs designed to reduce redundant or unnecessary spending.

Congress probably can and should do more towards that effort, but politics often points the gun at the wrong people and programs.

 

[el caliente]

if it takes a good amount of your time to "comb" thru your expenses, chances are high you are doing it all wrong.

You were equating Rocket Money to DOGE. And some unknown subscriptions to governmental agencies.

If you dont see the difference, i can understand why you need Rocket Money to manage your finances.

Sorry for budgeting bro.

If you don’t understand why having a service comb through expenses to confirm that everything is above board then I’m sorry that you don’t understand the audit industry. It’s a pretty novel industry, and is just getting off the ground, but I promise, it’s taking off in certain industries.

 

[el caliente]

Why would you want a guy who gets a massive amount of government contracts, and kickbacks in charge?

I didn’t pick him. Hell, I didn’t vote for the guy that hired him.

 

[DaveXA]

I’m late to the party (so perhaps this has happened already), but everyone is attacking Musk, but not being critical of the groups writing checks for expenses that are unjustifiable.

Ah, no, many of us have talked extensively about the other side of that for years. The relevant topic right now is DOGE, Musk and their overreach and attempt to seize power, which should belong to Congress. Yes, they've abdicated their responsibilities as stewards of the federal government, but that doesn't justify what Musk and his minions are doing.

 

[bird]

On the contrary, I believe it’s causing people to question what the purpose of government is.

No, you actually believe that certain programs need to be cut, left alone or expanded. The purpose of government is one thing and one thing only which is how society organizes itself. Without government societal organization collapses.

 

[el caliente]

Actually, if you'd do a little homework, you'd learn that a lot of waste is and has been curbed for a long while. That waste doesn't get curbed overnight. It takes a lot of work and commitment from leadership to reduce government waste. There are numerous programs designed to reduce redundant or unnecessary spending.

Congress probably can and should do more towards that effort, but politics often points the gun at the wrong people and programs.

The IRS was wild for that one. Lol.

 

[DJ1BigTymer]

The wild thing about this is that you all are so hooked on Elon heading this, that you forget that this iteration of DOGE is the third of its kind.

And what do those previous efforts have in common??? They were all handled within the boundaries of the democratic process. CONGRESSIONAL ACTIONS.

DOGE is intentionally UNDERMINING CONGRESS, but you are unable or unwilling to acknowledge that. That is disappointing.