How can that be?!! The NYT had the 2 DOGE appointees listed with all the Cabinet nominees. They couldn’t possibly have missed such a crucial distinction! Or …
There already is an agency that makes sure federal dollars are spent efficiently. It’s full of professionals and they are good at their jobs. It’s the Government Accountability Office. https://www.gao.gov/
I had really hoped before the election that someone would ask Trump or Elon 1) what the GAO was and 2) what the daylight between the GAO and their planned efficiency commission was.
We don't have to believe that fake things are real things. We don't have to grant imaginary authority in advance to something that doesn't have it. Jamelle is right, folks reply like we're naive, instead of clear-eyed. Have some self-respect for crying out loud. https://bsky.app/profile/jamellebouie.net/post/3lbqik56zqc2m
I love this and really want to feel like it's a complete and real wall against the Stupid Circus, but rules & agencies only exist when people with actual authority all agree to follow them, yes? If the Stupid Circus just decides they aren't going to follow the rules, what do we do then?
Oh Logan don’t be naive it’s not like a fascist takeover of government has ever just ignored rules and laws and norms. The guard rails have always saved government!
We cannot gloss over how the media legitimizes DOGE. If regular folks think it's legit, it gives them enough cover to commit crimes and let the Supreme Court back them up.
GAO does excellent work based on requests from Congress. I hope we do not pull them into the Trump/Musk/V mess. We do not need another agency politicized into the Trump agenda.
GAO investigates requests from Congress not Executive. They are not used to do what Trump/Musk is seeking. Gore had a govt efficiency attempt and we all had to document cost savings measures while in civil service.
Well if Trmp and his ppl had any idea of how government worked we all wouldn't be in this situation. More important, if voters knew how, we definitely would not.
If Elon and his ilk aren’t so intellectually lazy and dishonest, I would honestly ask them to take 19-701 (Granger’s version) because they sure are showing they need it
It is not about good government. It is about organizing a clown show so they can establish unchecked billionaire rule to protect their wealth and grow their wealth by submitting everyone else to their needs. Serfdom!
OMB is exec branch and responsible for budget and implementation and has some oversight functions but GAO is independent non-partisan agency that works for Congress
OMB has been used by Carter and Nixon and Reagan to create CBA tests to prevent programs from being established based on “efficiency.” This is a more likely route than GAO.
I guess I’m naive, but didn’t the incoming POTUS (🤢) just give them that job? Is there someone who can just say, ‘sorry you don’t have an official job in govt, so you can’t come in?’ It doesn’t make sense to me to just say we don’t have to take it seriously.
I take your point, but I think you're underestimating the possible impact of the richest man in the world trying to influence administrators (and likely representatives). It's not how things _should_ work, but "I can tell the President you're not playing ball" is a real threat.
OMB's main function is producing the President's annual budget proposal, which Congress typically responds to with, "Looking into it". Afaik, they have absolutely no authority to prevent money appropriated by Congress from being spent as allocated.
If Trump is serious about taking their advice, it will be through Executive Orders. I think some people overestimate the willingness of Congress & SCOTUS to surrender the power of the purse to Elon & Vivek. Fastest way to make an enemy in Congress is mess with their personal pork barrels.
DOGE-> appropriations politics with some losses -> Trump Tweets -> OMB impounding appropriated funds -> lawsuit leading to SCOTUS saying its OK to impound funds = plenty of informal authority in the end.
Maybe SCOTUS doesn't go that far, but a lot of damage could happen while waiting for a maybe.
They might have no actual authority, but all they have to do is whip up appetite for budget cuts to government agencies. It’ll generate political cover for republicans to take votes that cut services.
Doesn't matter.. they will find a way to leech tax money and also give the people in DOGE insane salaries/bonuses for doing nothing... it's a great scam
Problem is we're dealing with not only sheep-like human nature, but a ground psychologically prepared by a bully while disinformation floods the space.
And all so they can "win", no matter that the very earth they stand on is crumbling, flooding, burning.
Comments
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emily_W._Murphy
/s
DOGE's job is to eliminate authorized programs and services.
We need to recognize this and address THAT fact and not get into the nitty gritty of budgets and dollars and efficiency. We lose in the weeds.
Maybe SCOTUS doesn't go that far, but a lot of damage could happen while waiting for a maybe.
We need folks who can say, "Ha ha ha, nice try. No."
Problem is we're dealing with not only sheep-like human nature, but a ground psychologically prepared by a bully while disinformation floods the space.
And all so they can "win", no matter that the very earth they stand on is crumbling, flooding, burning.
Glad you're here tho
O.ligarchs
G.rifting
E.veryone