Law be damned, Trump asserts unilateral control over executive branch, federal service (5 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]

That must be the one the Politico article is talking about. The article didn’t mention it was encouraged by DeVos, so good for Yamiche to track that part down.

 

[superchuck500]

 

[DaveXA]

So, now you get put on leave when you actually do your job. So much for merit based criteria for judging how you do your job.

 

[wardorican]

They'd have to fire or place on leave almost every federal employee because diversity training is part of the annual required training courses for most if not all federal employees.

And I'd assume it was mandatory training.

 

[DaveXA]

And I'd assume it was mandatory training.

It was, definitely.

 

[wardorican]

It's wild, because the security officials were absolutely in the right. The DOGE folks didn't have the proper security clearances to access the information. Seems like a simple enough fix for the admin... ok, get those folks the right clearance or change who is asking for the info.

Chuck, what's the recourse for violating access to sensitive information? Isnt it criminal?

 

[fooferdoggie]

Chuck, what's the recourse for violating access to sensitive information? Isnt it criminal?

nope, trump made it ok and he will let it happen under his watch.

 

[J-DONK]

It's wild, because the security officials were absolutely in the right. The DOGE folks didn't have the proper security clearances to access the information. Seems like a simple enough fix for the admin... ok, get those folks the right clearance or change who is asking for the info.

Chuck, what's the recourse for violating access to sensitive information? Isnt it criminal?

I assume Elon will be getting a blanket pardon in 4 years. There is nothing that can be done until then.

Also, it's illegal to withold aid, but that's also something they've gone through before withholding Ukraine aid. It takes a while to essentially force the executive.

The only recourse really will be elections. You have 3 special elections coming up that can decide the fate of the house that no one is talking about. They are in safe Republican districts obviously, but Republicans just lost a special election in a +22 Trump district for state senate.

P.S. If Elon does a fraction of what I think, we will probably end up with a lot of violence. Some of it is going to be organized towards the very top as well. Private security can do nothing, esp if the person is trained. Luigi was a complete amatuer, and he will probably be copied soon.

 

[SFIDC3]

It's wild, because the security officials were absolutely in the right. The DOGE folks didn't have the proper security clearances to access the information. Seems like a simple enough fix for the admin... ok, get those folks the right clearance or change who is asking for the info.

Chuck, what's the recourse for violating access to sensitive information? Isnt it criminal?

If this guardrail doesn't hold up, I predict there will be violence....

 

[J-DONK]

If this guardrail doesn't hold up, I predict there will be violence....

Elon is a moron. He is a grifter just like Trump who spends all day rotting his brain on social media.

If he wasn't so narcissistic he would realize him being the face of all the cuts, and upsurping, and illegally siezing agencies will lead to what American elites have dreaded: class consciousness, and then warfare.