Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)

[RunningMn9]

If DOGE has no authority to fire anyone, how did DOGE manage to accidentally fire the people who mantain nuclear weapons?

DOGE didn’t fire them. Their Agency fired them.

[RunningMn9]

The point is, if my Agency told me to ignore the email, they aren’t going to fire me for ignoring the email. If they told me to respond to the email, and I ignored the email? Different story.

But I received no fewer than 7 emails today from every level of my actual chain of command directing me to ignore it. And that’s that. Until they tell me to not ignore it.

Interesting that HHS not only reversed their decision, but also warned that if you did respond, assume that it will be read by malignant foreign actors. Ouch.

[Smoove_B]

Interesting that HHS not only reversed their decision, but also warned that if you did respond, assume that it will be read by malignant foreign actors. Ouch.

Now with news link:

The email said employees who wish to respond should keep “a high level of generality and describe your work in a manner to protect sensitive data.”

“Assume that what you write will be read by malign foreign actors and tailor your response accordingly," the email read.

[hepcat]

Leon’s list would consist primarily of 5 friends’ wives he’s impregnated this week.

[Isgrimnur]

as he told me in his office, data doesn't lie.

[Blackhawk]

I wonder how much of that was simply people remembering 'mozilla.org' after the tenth time?

[Isgrimnur]

Judge: US gov’t violated privacy law by disclosing personal data to DOGE

A federal judge today blocked DOGE from accessing personal data held by the US Department of Education and Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Today's ruling follows one on Friday in a different court that blocked DOGE's access to Department of Treasury information.

The American Federation of Teachers and other "plaintiffs have shown that Education and OPM likely violated the Privacy Act by disclosing their personal information to DOGE affiliates without their consent," said the order issued today by US District Judge Deborah Boardman in the District of Maryland.

"This continuing, unauthorized disclosure of the plaintiffs' sensitive personal information to DOGE affiliates is irreparable harm that money damages cannot rectify," she wrote.

Boardman granted a temporary restraining order that's in place until March 10. She declined to extend the temporary restraining order to Department of Treasury data, but only because a different court issued a preliminary injunction blocking that access on Friday.

"On February 21, 2025, a district judge in the Southern District of New York granted a preliminary injunction that effectively gives the plaintiffs in this case the relief they seek against Treasury," Boardman wrote.
...
But in the American Federation of Teachers lawsuit, Boardman decided that the disclosure of personal data is an injury. "To say that the plaintiffs suffer no cognizable injury when their personal information is improperly disclosed to government employees would nullify their interest in preventing unlawful government intrusion into their private affairs. The unauthorized disclosure of the plaintiffs' sensitive personal information is an injury in fact," Boardman wrote.

[Smoove_B]

This really is absolute insanity:

Elon Musk, the tech billionaire, has told federal employees they must respond to an email about their weekly work accomplishments or risk being fired.

Musk sent an email asking workers to list five things they completed the previous week and demanded a response by 11:59 p.m. on Monday. If employees don’t respond, they could face removal.

“Subject to the discretion of the President, they will be given another chance,” Musk said on X, referring to those who did not reply to the first email. However, if they fail to answer again, Musk warned that they would be fired.

This move goes against recent advice from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), which told federal agencies on Monday that responding to Musk’s email was not mandatory. OPM clarified that not responding would not count as resigning from the job.

[El Guapo]

Some state AG with plausible jurisdiction needs to launch a criminal probe on DOGE people - I feel like that's the only thing that might scare them at this point. Maybe Maryland - at least one of them probably resides there.

[hepcat]

It has zero chance of going anywhere, but kudos to the creativity behind making Elon Musk into an acronym.

U.S. Representative Mark Pocan (WI-02) announced plans to introduce the Eliminate Looting of Our Nation by Mitigating Unethical State Kleptocracy (ELON MUSK) Act. The legislation would direct Federal Agencies to terminate any contracts held by a Special Government Employee, similar to bans for Members of Congress and other federal employees.

[Zaxxon]

Rapidly approaching "now let him enforce it" territory.

[jztemple2]

Nearly 40% of contracts canceled by Musk's DOGE are expected to produce no savings

Nearly 40% of the federal contracts that President Donald Trump's administration claims to have canceled as part of its signature cost-cutting program aren’t expected to save the government any money, the administration's own data shows.

The Department of Government Efficiency Service, run by Trump adviser Elon Musk, last week published an initial list of 1,125 contracts that it terminated in recent weeks across the federal government. Data published on DOGE's “Wall of Receipts” shows that more than one-third of the contract cancellations, 417 in all, are expected to yield no savings.

That’s usually because the total value of the contracts has already been fully obligated, which means the government has a legal requirement to spend the funds for the goods or services it purchased and in many cases has already done so.

“It’s like confiscating used ammunition after it’s been shot when there’s nothing left in it. It doesn’t accomplish any policy objective,” said Charles Tiefer, a retired University of Baltimore law professor and expert on government contracting law. “Their terminating so many contracts pointlessly obviously doesn’t accomplish anything for saving money.”

Dozens of them were for already-paid subscriptions to The Associated Press, Politico and other media services that the Republican administration said it would discontinue. Others were for research studies that have been awarded, training that has taken place, software that has been purchased and interns who have come and gone

[hepcat]

What I'd be curious to know is whether or not any of the contracts that were cancelled were in some way competitive with Musk's own government contracts/future contracts.

[Alefroth]

Sounds like they weren't new DOGE hires, but staff of the former U.S. Digital Services.

https://www.npr.org/2025/02/25/nx-s1-53 ... -elon-musk

"We will not use our skills as technologists to compromise core government systems, jeopardize Americans' sensitive data, or dismantle critical public services. We will not lend our expertise to carry out or legitimize DOGE's actions," the anonymous staffers write in a letter posted publicly, and first reported by The Associated Press.

[hepcat]

I'm enjoying some of the proposed responses on bluesky to the request for 5 things you did last week from Doge.

Dear Manager,
1. I drank a whiskey drink.
2. I drank a vodka drink.
3. I drank a lager drink.
4. I drank a cider drink.
5. I sang the songs that remind me of the good times; I sang the songs that remind me of the better times

[El Guapo]

Sounds like they weren't new DOGE hires, but staff of the former U.S. Digital Services.

https://www.npr.org/2025/02/25/nx-s1-53 ... -elon-musk

"We will not use our skills as technologists to compromise core government systems, jeopardize Americans' sensitive data, or dismantle critical public services. We will not lend our expertise to carry out or legitimize DOGE's actions," the anonymous staffers write in a letter posted publicly, and first reported by The Associated Press.

I hope these guys are also providing info to reporters on anything and everything they saw at DOGE.

[hepcat]

I would have to imagine an NDA was involved before Musk stepped foot in those offices. But I am neither a lawyer nor have I occupied a Holiday Inn Express recently.

[Skinypupy]

Nearly 40% of contracts canceled by Musk's DOGE are expected to produce no savings

Nearly 40% of the federal contracts that President Donald Trump's administration claims to have canceled as part of its signature cost-cutting program aren’t expected to save the government any money, the administration's own data shows.

The Department of Government Efficiency Service, run by Trump adviser Elon Musk, last week published an initial list of 1,125 contracts that it terminated in recent weeks across the federal government. Data published on DOGE's “Wall of Receipts” shows that more than one-third of the contract cancellations, 417 in all, are expected to yield no savings.

That’s usually because the total value of the contracts has already been fully obligated, which means the government has a legal requirement to spend the funds for the goods or services it purchased and in many cases has already done so.

“It’s like confiscating used ammunition after it’s been shot when there’s nothing left in it. It doesn’t accomplish any policy objective,” said Charles Tiefer, a retired University of Baltimore law professor and expert on government contracting law. “Their terminating so many contracts pointlessly obviously doesn’t accomplish anything for saving money.”

Dozens of them were for already-paid subscriptions to The Associated Press, Politico and other media services that the Republican administration said it would discontinue. Others were for research studies that have been awarded, training that has taken place, software that has been purchased and interns who have come and gone

As someone on the "cancelled" side of several of those contracts, I can 100% confirm that the numbers DOGE are claiming as "savings" are completely made up bullshit.

[LawBeefaroni]

A close friend of mine works for a company that contracts with the VA for developmental support. They lost 100% of their VA contracts, which is 100% of their business. 150+ jobs poof.

This is going to be a huge self-pwn for Musk but as always, he'll survive it. As we head into the next great depression, maybe this will be called rhe DOGE Bowl era.

[El Guapo]

The SEC ordered all of its employees back to the office full time, as of April 14th, which is clearly contrary to terms of their collective bargaining agreement. The Union has vowed to sue.

[Skinypupy]

A close friend of mine works for a company that contracts with the VA for developmental support. They lost 100% of their VA contracts, which is 100% of their business. 150+ jobs poof.

This is going to be a huge self-pwn for Musk but as always, he'll survive it. As we head into the next great depression, maybe this will be called rhe DOGE Bowl era.

Yeah, but they don't need any of that stinking "support". The only "training" or "development" they should need is to ask their boss what to do.
That's according to the new Secretary of the VA.

https://x.com/SecVetAffairs/status/1894 ... gr%5Etweet

Love how he also has to quantify all of this with "don't believe what any elected official or the media tells you!"

(Also, that seriously sucks for your friend)

[raydude]

Interesting notes on how AI could be tripped up if trained on email. Just posting for discussion purposes. I don't know if AI is that easy to trip up; but would be curious to know if there's a possibility it can.

[LordMortis]

No conflict of interests here

https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/27/business ... index.html

Elon Musk says upgrade of FAA’s air traffic control system is failing and SpaceX needs take over Verizon’s contract


New York CNN —

Elon Musk said Thursday that Verizon’s efforts to provide a critically needed upgrade to the FAA’s air traffic control system is failing. And he said that it is important that Starlink, a unit of his SpaceX satellite and rocket company, take over.

“The Verizon communication system to air traffic control is breaking down very rapidly,” he said in a post on his social media platform X. “The FAA assessment is single digit months to catastrophic failure, putting air traveler safety at serious risk.”

“The situation is extremely dire,” Musk added.

It was not immediately clear what FAA risk assessment Musk was referring to in his post.

Verizon has a massive $2.4 billion contract to provide a long-sought upgrade to the FAA’s communications system, known as the FAA Enterprise Network Services, or FENS, program. Asked about Musk’s statement, the FAA issued a statement saying “Regarding the FENS program, no decisions have been made.”

Earlier this week the FAA confirmed it is testing three Starlink terminals. Musk said those terminals were sent to the FAA at no cost to the agency or taxpayers at this time. He added that the shipment of terminals was done “on an emergency basis to restore air traffic control connectivity.”
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying a payload of 23 Starlink internet satellites soars into space after launching from Vandenberg Space Force Base earlier this month.

Verizon said another company - not Verizon - is running the FAA systems currently in place.

Robber Baron's gonna Robber Baron. Also the same Starlink that Leon turned off on Ukraine? No fucking thank you.

[LawBeefaroni]

He added that the shipment of terminals was done “on an emergency basis to restore air traffic control connectivity.”

I highly doubt the FFA deployed a handful of test terminals to handle live, production communications or data. Such a fucking bullshitter.

[GreenGoo]

Lol.

[Scuzz]

My daughter who works for the treasury department received an email today informing all employees that the leases on will be ended as of June.

There was no indication what that meant regards the hundreds of employees in those 3 buildings.

[Isgrimnur]

Federal judge invalidates OPM’s directives to terminate federal probationary workers

A federal judge in San Francisco ruled Thursday that Office of Personnel Management directives telling federal agencies to fire their probationary employees were illegal, likely requiring at least some agencies to put a stop to the mass terminations that have been underway across the government.

In a case brought by federal unions and advocacy groups, Senior District Judge William Alsup ruled that communications from OPM to federal agencies on Jan. 20 and Feb. 14 regarding the termination of probationary workers amounted to illegal directives, and held that they have no legal effect with regard to at least six federal agencies.

“OPM does not have any authority whatsoever, under any statute in the history of the universe to hire and fire employees within another agency,” Alsup said in a ruling from the bench Thursday afternoon. “It can hire its own employees, yes, but it cannot direct some other agency to do so. “That is a crystal clear starting point for the analysis here.”

The overall effect of the order was not immediately clear. Because of jurisdictional issues involved in the lawsuit, Alsup said that for now, his order could only be applied to affected employees in the National Park Service, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Bureau of Land Management, the National Science Foundation, the Small Business Administration, and the Department of Defense.

However, without directly issuing an order to other agencies, he asked that attorneys communicate the general message of his ruling across the government.

[Zaxxon]

Rapidly approaching "now let him enforce it" territory.

[Grifman]

https://khanna.house.gov/media/in-the-n ... nment-jobs

They voted for Donald Trump for president and for a change in the direction of the federal government. But this wasn’t the kind of change they had in mind.

Laid off by the administration in recent days from their U.S. government jobs, the Trump voters expressed dismay at what they said has been an unfocused, counterproductive and callous slashing of the federal workforce.

Rather than advancing the efficiency President Trump has said he desires, the fired workers said taxpayers will be losing important services that, for example, helped military veterans cope with financial hardships, searched for drought- and pest-tolerant crops and assured that medical providers got Medicare reimbursements.

Some of the workers are appealing to get their jobs back, while others said they are not sure what to do — deeply discouraged that their attempts at public service appeared to be spurned by the new president and some of the public.

[RunningMn9]

They got what they voted for, good luck to them.

[Skinypupy]

This one flew under the radar yesterday, but a new EO was issued that essentially gives Elon and DOGE the final say on EVERY federal government contract moving forward. It basically says that any contract has to be reviewed by the "agency DOGE lead" who can approve or deny as they see fit. They also froze all government purchase cards along with all non-essential travel.

This will all - by design, I'm sure - simply grind the entire government contracting process to a complete halt. Except for contracts to Elon's companies, of course. I'm sure those will said right on through.

[stessier]

The administration has repeatedly said Musk is not the DOGE lead in court, so that could be interesting.

[Skinypupy]

The administration has repeatedly said Musk is not the DOGE lead in court, so that could be interesting.

They have identified a specific DOGE "lead" (i.e. liason) for every agency. So it wouldn't be Elon personally rubber-stamping every contract, but rather one of his minions that sits within each agency.

Funny thing happened today that gives you an idea of how well this is all going. Got an e-mail from a large agency's contracting office this morning that basically says they were not copied on the contract termination notices that were sent to vendors for contracts that were axed by DOGE. So they - they people who were actually running the programs - have no idea whether their contracts have been cancelled or not.

They were asking for us - the vendors - to please forward any cancellation notices we receive for contracts with them so they can try and figure out what is/isn't still in place.

[raydude]

The administration has repeatedly said Musk is not the DOGE lead in court, so that could be interesting.

They have identified a specific DOGE "lead" (i.e. liason) for every agency. So it wouldn't be Elon personally rubber-stamping every contract, but rather one of his minions that sits within each agency.

Funny thing happened today that gives you an idea of how well this is all going. Got an e-mail from a large agency's contracting office this morning that basically says they were not copied on the contract termination notices that were sent to vendors for contracts that were axed by DOGE. So they - they people who were actually running the programs - have no idea whether their contracts have been cancelled or not.

They were asking for us - the vendors - to please forward any cancellation notices we receive for contracts with them so they can try and figure out what is/isn't still in place.

So, maybe this is a "let's not burn bridges" question, but why the hell would you comply? In the first place, the government (maybe not the Agency itself, but DOGE) terminated your contract, so you're not really under an obligation to respond, no? In the second place, why make the Agency's job easier? Make the Agency go to DOGE for clarification and maybe this will be publicly recognized.

[RunningMn9]

This one flew under the radar yesterday, but a new EO was issued that essentially gives Elon and DOGE the final say on EVERY federal government contract moving forward. It basically says that any contract has to be reviewed by the "agency DOGE lead" who can approve or deny as they see fit. They also froze all government purchase cards along with all non-essential travel.

This will all - by design, I'm sure - simply grind the entire government contracting process to a complete halt. Except for contracts to Elon's companies, of course. I'm sure those will said right on through.

One lesson I am learning through this process. Stop listening to media interpretation of these orders. Listen to agency interpretation of these orders when available. At the agency level, they will know the exemptions baked in, and how they interpret or implement them. I don’t want to provide specific examples, but there are a few examples that I am aware of where particular agencies have different rules than what the EO claims, or how it’s been reported. Because again, Executive Orders aren’t laws.

[Zarathud]

They’re still policy statements of what Trump wants to do. Every exception, every misstep needs to be publicized so people might realize the disruptive scope of DOGE and Trump’s plan.

[RunningMn9]

They’re still policy statements of what Trump wants to do. Every exception, every misstep needs to be publicized so people might realize the disruptive scope of DOGE and Trump’s plan.

I’m not saying to not amplify the stupidity of the plain language. I’m saying that if you know people potentially affected by the stupidity, it is better for your mental health to wait to determine how it actually impacts their agency, or their sub-command within the agency.

[pr0ner]

They’re still policy statements of what Trump wants to do. Every exception, every misstep needs to be publicized so people might realize the disruptive scope of DOGE and Trump’s plan.

I’m not saying to not amplify the stupidity of the plain language. I’m saying that if you know people potentially affected by the stupidity, it is better for your mental health to wait to determine how it actually impacts their agency, or their sub-command within the agency.

+infinity

[Skinypupy]

The administration has repeatedly said Musk is not the DOGE lead in court, so that could be interesting.

They have identified a specific DOGE "lead" (i.e. liason) for every agency. So it wouldn't be Elon personally rubber-stamping every contract, but rather one of his minions that sits within each agency.

Funny thing happened today that gives you an idea of how well this is all going. Got an e-mail from a large agency's contracting office this morning that basically says they were not copied on the contract termination notices that were sent to vendors for contracts that were axed by DOGE. So they - they people who were actually running the programs - have no idea whether their contracts have been cancelled or not.

They were asking for us - the vendors - to please forward any cancellation notices we receive for contracts with them so they can try and figure out what is/isn't still in place.

So, maybe this is a "let's not burn bridges" question, but why the hell would you comply? In the first place, the government (maybe not the Agency itself, but DOGE) terminated your contract, so you're not really under an obligation to respond, no? In the second place, why make the Agency's job easier? Make the Agency go to DOGE for clarification and maybe this will be publicly recognized.

Because I really like the people I worked with there. I don't want to make their lives any harder that they already are just because DOGE is full of incompetent assholes.

[RunningMn9]

Because I really like the people I worked with there. I don't want to make their lives any harder that they already are just because DOGE is full of incompetent assholes.

Those people appreciate your compassion, even (or especially) as you are caught up in the collateral damage. I feel comfortable speaking on their behalf.