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]

It’s also obvious to me that people around Trump aren’t even informing him of what they are doing. He doesn’t care about anything but himself anyway.

These zealots are just moving on their own and very quickly. We are going to need somebody to step up and I don’t see any likely candidates to do so.

 

[superchuck500]

 

[DaveXA]

The official OPM account that Musk has taken control of? Musk is intending to stop all federal payments that Trump doesn’t like. Musk and his employees have basically invaded federal agencies and are accessing their data and computer systems.

Source? I have not heard anything about Musk actually taking control of OPM's official HR email account.

 

[RobF]

Source? I have not heard anything about Musk actually taking control of OPM's official HR email account.

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/musk-aides-lock-government-workers-out-computer-systems-us-agency-sources-say-2025-01-31/

The acting head of OPM, Charles Ezell, has been sending memos to the entire government workforce since Trump took office, including Tuesday's offering federal employees the chance to quit with eight months pay.​

"No-one here knew that the memos were coming out. We are finding out about these memos the same time as the rest of the world," one of the officials said.​

Among the group that now runs OPM is Amanda Scales, a former Musk employee, who is now OPM's chief of staff. In some memos sent out on Jan. 20 and Jan. 21 by Ezell, including one directing agencies to identify federal workers on probationary periods, agency heads were asked to email Scales at her OPM email address.​

 

[superchuck500]

Are they govt employees? Contractors? I thought Musk was only an advisor. This seems way beyond that.

I just don’t understand what’s going on

 

[Heathen]

Jesus Christ

 

[DaveXA]

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/musk-aides-lock-government-workers-out-computer-systems-us-agency-sources-say-2025-01-31/

The acting head of OPM, Charles Ezell, has been sending memos to the entire government workforce since Trump took office, including Tuesday's offering federal employees the chance to quit with eight months pay.​

"No-one here knew that the memos were coming out. We are finding out about these memos the same time as the rest of the world," one of the officials said.​

Among the group that now runs OPM is Amanda Scales, a former Musk employee, who is now OPM's chief of staff. In some memos sent out on Jan. 20 and Jan. 21 by Ezell, including one directing agencies to identify federal workers on probationary periods, agency heads were asked to email Scales at her OPM email address.​

Yeah, I'm aware of that. But that's not Musk taking control of the OPM HR email account. That said, I do agree that who has been taking things over makes me pretty nervous.

 

[Heathen]

So could he be starting that process of freezing govt funding?

 

[DaveXA]

I just don’t understand what’s going on

Idk if this is real, but...

 

[MT15]

I honestly don’t know what to believe anymore. But I know I don’t trust Musk to do the right thing, only the thing that will help him. And I am damn sure Trump doesn’t even know what the right thing is.