Law be damned, Trump asserts unilateral control over executive branch, federal service (6 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

 

[MT15]

 

[DJ1BigTymer]

and their voters are so indoctrinated that they refuse to see how all these agencies are there to protect us all. They gut FAA and we are seeing the immediate effects of the loosening of the reins. Now, they want to kill OSHA!!! How many oil rigs or factories will have to "spontaneously" combust before their voters will begin to ask questions? How many more casualties will it take?

 

[TampaJoe]

It’s bad enough that the Supreme Court has given Trump immunity from practically anything he does, and he has fired Comptroller Generals that monitor corruption, and he can pardon anyone who violates Federal laws to essentially give them equal immunity, but he’s also putting a stake in the rule of law by eliminating all fear of FBI investigations during his tenure. Trump is making himself and most of his followers untouchable. I don’t think the majority of his voters wanted this, but it was obvious he was going to do this. Trump will surely also pardon himself, IF he leaves office, so all Federal corruption and crimes going back to his first term will go unpunished. Trump has almost finished the job of converting the U.S. to a much more powerful facsimile of Russia. All that is left is the question of whether he will remain in office. With the firings, who will be left to force him to leave office? Even if congress impeached him, who would enforce that?

His term expires on Jan. 20, 2029 automatically. Nobody has to fire him. His employment as President ends on that date under the Constitution.

 

[faceman]

His term expires on Jan. 20, 2029 automatically. Nobody has to fire him. His employment as President ends on that date under the Constitution.

we can only hope. My Grandfather always said I don't trust that man as far as I can throw a cow by the horns

 

[Optimus Prime]

His term expires on Jan. 20, 2029 automatically. Nobody has to fire him. His employment as President ends on that date under the Constitution.

He has been making “jokes” about running again or staying in office

But we probably shouldn’t take him seriously

 

[faceman]

He has been making “jokes” about running again or staying in office

But we probably shouldn’t take him seriously

I'll take him seriously until he is dead.

 

[Lapaz]

Trump can't pardon himself for the NY crimes. Only the governor can and that's not going to happen. He'll remain a felon
until his death.

Yes, but he won’t do jail time that he deserves. He will not pay for any of his federal crimes he’s already committed and that he will commit during his tenure.

 

[Lapaz]

and their voters are so indoctrinated that they refuse to see how all these agencies are there to protect us all. They gut FAA and we are seeing the immediate effects of the loosening of the reins. Now, they want to kill OSHA!!! How many oil rigs or factories will have to "spontaneously" combust before their voters will begin to ask questions? How many more casualties will it take?

The FAA’s number one priority is safety. They impinged upon the cellular 5G industry because it interfered with aircraft radar altimeter. I don’t know what a private FAA would do, but I think they would’ve allowed more risks, because a privatized FAA’s number one priority will be profit. I think the cellular companies would’ve made fewer accommodations. I can imagine more accidents and the airline industry will suffer. Then there will be a crisis.

 

[Lapaz]

His term expires on Jan. 20, 2029 automatically. Nobody has to fire him. His employment as President ends on that date under the Constitution.

Who will force him to abide by that?

 

[faceman]

Yes, but he won’t do jail time that he deserves. He will not pay for any of his federal crimes he’s already committed and that he will commit during his tenure.

Jail time doesn't matter. You know that's eating his guts out and I'm fine with that.

 

[Lapaz]

Jail time doesn't matter. You know that's eating his guts out and I'm fine with that.

At this point it isn’t about Trump. The problem is Trump can facilitate the end of our system. He is on his way to do so, and Republicans are his accomplices.

 

[Sendai]

Trump can't pardon himself for the NY crimes. Only the governor can and that's not going to happen. He'll remain a felon
until his death.

Or an appeals court reversal.

 

[bird]

I suppose this can go here.

Republicans are irredeemably loony-tunes.

Transportation policy takes a dystopian detour

Who knew that in 2025, America’s highways would be shaped by a fertility contest?

reader.pd.cleveland.com

 

[fooferdoggie]

I suppose this can go here.

Republicans are irredeemably loony-tunes.

Transportation policy takes a dystopian detour

Who knew that in 2025, America’s highways would be shaped by a fertility contest?

reader.pd.cleveland.com

You know this is not poor breeders either. But really, how would you even work this out? Project Christian Hate 2025 is in full swing.

 

[MT15]

Or an appeals court reversal.

You want that so, so bad, don’t you?

 

[Optimus Prime]

Mike Mullett strains to see through sheets of misty rain while driving through working-class neighborhoods of Columbus, a quaint town in southern Indiana.

He’s trying to find the senior center, multi-family homes and rent-assisted properties – more than 530 in total – that he and many other locals hope will receive $4.42m in federal funding for solar electricity projects.

But now that money is at risk.


On 20 January, Donald Trump paused billions of dollars of federal grant funding for clean energy and other projects around the country initiated by the Biden administration’s Green New Deal.

“We’ve been slavishly working on a plan since April 2023 that would provide solar energy to hundreds of households in two low- and moderate-income Columbus neighborhoods,” says Mullett. The project was expected to be rolled out in April, with previously approved funding thought to have been made available by 14 February.

“Unless the Trump administration makes a 180-degree turn on funding, that expectation will obviously not be met.”

The funding is part of the US Environmental Protection Agency’s $7bn Solar for All program, which is meant to help low-income families save money on electricity costs. About $117m was set for solar projects and initiatives in Indiana.

Communities across Indiana, a solidly Republican midwestern state, were set to benefit more than most from the Biden administration’s ambitious clean energy push in what was an ultimately failed effort to win votes in Rust belt states whose voters have abandoned Democratic party politicians in recent decades.

By August 2024, $7.8bn in private investment for a host of clean energy projects including solar and battery production had come to Indiana, spurred in part by the promise of federal grants and local tax-abatement schemes.


But Trump has followed through on his election campaign promise to roll back clean energy initiatives, referring to Biden’s efforts as the “Green New Scam”.

Leading Republicans have backed his move, despite the potential economic risks to states where the president is popular.…….

Solar has taken off in red states. Trump’s funding freeze is causing panic

On his first day in office, the president paused billions of dollars in funding for clean energy projects initiated by Biden

www.theguardian.com

 

[Mr. Blue Sky]

…

.

 

[faceman]

Or an appeals court reversal.

That and me hitting the powerball have the same chance. That's why I didn't include it in my first post. Saying
the jury got it wrong is not a valid reason to appeal. We've been over this before