Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and Russell Vought (author of Project 2025 and Office and Management And Budget Director) have declared war on the Federal Civil Servants, with more than 10,000 fired, without cause, from a multitude of federal agencies that are crucial to Americans’ welfare, health, and safety.
In addition, 75,000 have accepted resignations with the supposed guarantee of being paid and keeping their benefits until September of this year, but with doubts that the agreement for their resignation will be upheld.
This series of firings and resignations is shocking, and will do great harm to the American people.
Many ignorant people will figure that what has happened will not affect them in any way, but they will see the deleterious effect that the Trump Presidency will have on American prosperity and national security.
The lack of respect and appreciation for the contributions and sacrifices of federal civil servants is stunning.
The whole concept of a competent federal work force, first enunciated in the passage of the Pendleton Act in 1883 under President Chester Alan Arthur, after the tragic assassination of President James A. Garfield by an incompetent and crazy office seeker, was to insure that federal government workers would be competent and qualified, rather than politically corrupt employees under a “spoils system”.
There has never been the kind of corruption and incompetence that now is being promoted by the most corrupt President in American history, who is already breaking laws in so many ways, with an arrogance and abusive attempt unmatched even by Richard Nixon!
I agree with you, but trump will be in power for four years.
Democrats need to win back Congress and impeach his fascist butt!
Social Security head steps down over DOGE access of recipient information.
https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/17/politics/social-security-head-steps-down-doge-access/index.html
The ‘Wayback Machine’ is preserving the websites Trump’s White House took down.
https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/18/tech/internet-archives-deleted-websites-wayback-machine/index.html
Texas is having a measles outbreak. It’s the state’s worse in nearly 30 years.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/texas-measles-outbreak-what-to-know/
Four Adams Deputy Mayors Quit Following Trump Deal
https://www.thecity.nyc/2025/02/17/joshi-torres-springer-williams-isom-eric-adams-trump/
If voters had done the bare MINIMUM of research prior to the NY City Democratic mayoral primary four years ago, they would NOT have nominated Adams, because it was obvious the guy was a slimeball. But god forbid many voters educate themselves before casting their ballots.
There are many ways Trump could trigger a global collapse. Here’s how to survive if that happens.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/feb/18/donald-trump-global-collapse-wildfires-pandemic-financial-crisis
A team from SpaceX is being brought in to overhaul the FAA’s air traffic control system.
https://www.theverge.com/news/614078/faa-air-traffic-control-spacex-elon-musk-layoff-staff-shortage
People who can build rockets without them exploding would surely be a better choice.
After claiming remote workers are actually golfing, Trump again hits the links in Florida.
https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/18/politics/mar-a-lago-trump-remote-work-golf/index.html
While they destroy the lives of Americans by firing half the federal workforce in the name of eliminating waste, they are spending it on stuff like this:
https://www.financialexpress.com/world-news/cool-trump-wasting-american-taxpayers-money-potus-takes-air-force-one-to-daytona-500-leaving-fans-and-critics-divided/3751495/
US President Donald Trump on Sunday attended the Daytona 500 which is a NASCAR Cup Series motor race, but more than his attendance, it was his mode of transport that gathered quite the chatter online and offline. Trump took his Air Force One to attend the sports event at the Daytona beach. NASCAR fans were thrilled to see the Air Force One flyover the area before Trump rode in the presidential limousine onto the Daytona International Speedway.
Air Force One took off from Palm Beach International Airport shortly after noon. The White House in a statement said that he was accompanied by his son Eric, grandson Luke, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum among others.
While some were relishing in their fan moment, others were not so happy about the whole show. @CalltoActivism shared the disappointment and pointed out how American taxpayers’ money was being wasted. “Since we’re on the topic of government waste, Donald Trump’s joyride around the Daytona 500 cost American taxpayers around $5,000,000,” the tweet said. Giving further breakdown, the user wrote,
“Air Force One Costs: estimated $800,000 – $1,000,000. Presidential Motorcade & Transport: estimated $200,000 – $500,000, Secret Service & Security estimated $1 million – $2 million., FAA & Airspace Restrictions: estimated $100,000 – $300,000, Staffing & Logistical Support: estimated $200,000 – $500,000, Additional Emergency & Military Resources: estimated $100,000 – $500,000.
The government is being run on a day to day basis by Prime Minister Elon Musk and various henchmen. King Donald appears to be mostly doing ceremonial duties, as monarchs tend to do.
Musk is falsely claiming that 150-year-old people are getting Social Security.
Musk is full of bullsh__.
You can keep up with stuff Musk is doing at Musk Watch: https://www.muskwatch.com/
Judge Chutkan rejects call from Democratic AGs for temporary restraining order blocking DOGE’s access to federal data.
https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/18/politics/doge-temporary-restraining-order-chutkan/index.html
About 30 federal workers who help build and maintain the power grid for the Pacific Northwest have been asked to return to work after being terminated just two days earlier, according to the union that represents them.
The employees hold mission critical roles at the Bonneville Power Administration, a division within the Department of Energy that serves electricity to nearly 3 million people in the Pacific Northwest. Despite their mission-critical roles, they received termination letters on Thursday, the union said.
“Per OPM instructions, DOE finds that your further employment would not be in the public interest,” the letter said. “For this reason, you are being removed from your position with DOE and the federal civil service effective today.”
Thousands of probationary federal employees — those on the job for less than one or two years — were terminated at agencies across the government last week. AFGE Local union 928, which represents the workers, said a total 130 of its members who help run the power grid were dismissed, including employees responsible for fixing transmission lines and expanding powerlines and infrastructure to remote areas.
The terminations were in addition to 250-300 of its union members who took the Trump administrations buyout offer, and the 30 employees coming back is not enough to properly maintain and operate the power grid, the union said.
The agency does not receive congressional appropriation funds and employee salaries are recovered through its energy rates.
FDA food chief Jim Jones resigns
Jim Jones, who oversaw food safety and nutrition at the US Food and Drug Administration, has resigned from the agency over apparent disagreements with the Trump administration and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The Trump administration has started the process of firing roughly 130 personnel at the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
They’re firing workers without giving any thought as to what they do.
USDA accidentally fired officials working on bird flu and is now trying to rehire them
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/doge/usda-accidentally-fired-officials-bird-flu-rehire-rcna192716
Trump voters are regretting their vote.
https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/trump-voter-regrets-presidential-election-7b4fc43d
Great job by Rachel Maddow, skewering the godawful MAGA Governor Glenn Youngkin:
https://bluevirginia.us/2025/02/video-rachel-maddow-mocks-glenn-youngkin-for-supporting-donald-trump-1000-including-in-devastating-cuts-that-will-harm-virginia-but-supposedly-feels-deep-concern-for-federal-workers
Senate Democrats have the power to slow Trump’s agenda — if they’re willing to use it.
https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/senate-democrats-rules-trump-agenda-filibuster-rcna192147
Trump says he will introduce 25% tariffs on autos, drugs and chips.
https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/trump-auto-tariff-rate-will-be-around-25-2025-02-18/
This will result in prices going up for American consumers.
The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston was forced to close Tuesday due to the “sudden dismissal of federal employees,” the library’s foundation said.
RFK ‘s plan to make America healthy again? Round up people with mental health conditions in camps.
“Robert F. Kennedy wants to replace standard psychological care with unpaid labor on ‘wellness farms’”.
https://www.salon.com/2025/02/19/rfk-s-plan-to-make-america-healthy-again-round-up-people-with-mental-health-conditions-in-camps/
Kennedy says panel will examine childhood vaccine schedule after promising not to change it.
https://apnews.com/article/childhood-vaccines-schedule-kennedy-trump-hhs-4d5e6c52c602f5edbcd837748605e9d0
We’re really, really screwed.
This is wildly corrupt and unacceptable!
Musk and DOGE Might Soon Have Access to the Most Lucrative Defense-Contract Database of All
https://zeteo.com/p/musk-and-doge-might-soon-have-access
Musk Ally Demands Admin Access to System That Lets Government Text the Public
https://www.404media.co/musk-ally-demands-admin-access-to-system-that-lets-government-text-the-public/
If Musk texts me, I’m going to block him!
Steve Bannon Calls Musk a ‘Parasitic Illegal Immigrant’
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/18/us/politics/steve-bannon-elon-musk-feud.html
I agree with Bannon on this one! LOL
Musk and Trump put on lovefest in Sean Hannity interview
“Pair spoke about each other in glowing terms, rejecting accusations of the billionaire usurping the president’s limelight – and power”
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/18/musk-trump-interview-fox-news-sean-hannity
In a social media post about ending congestion pricing in NYC, Trump called himself a “king”.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/long-live-the-king-trump-says-quiet-part-out-loud/
The Department of Veterans Affairs is reinstating about a dozen people Wednesday who worked on the Veterans Crisis Line and had previously been fired by the agency, according to both a veteran and Sen Tammy Duckworth who was advocating for their reinstatement. CNN previously reported the VA fired more than 1,000 employees last week. The agency touted a cost savings of $98 million per year and said that more than 43,000 were exempt from dismissal at the time.
Trump says DOGE could return 20% of its savings directly to taxpayers. That could reignite inflation.
https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/20/business/doge-dividend-checks-plan-inflation/index.html
Walmart warns of a slower 2025. That’s a bad sign for America’s economy.
https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/20/business/walmart-stock-earnings/index.html
CNN Poll: Americans worried by Trump’s push to expand power.
https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/20/politics/cnn-poll-trump-approval/index.html
Trump’s appeal on birthright citizenship order rejected by court.
https://www.axios.com/2025/02/20/trump-birthright-citizenship-order-blocked-court-appeal
The acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia wants to investigate Chuck Schumer for threats against DOGE.
https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a63845653/trump-attorney-ed-martin-investigation-chuck-schumer/
Trump wants to abolish the IRS!
https://www.axios.com/2025/02/20/commerce-secretary-lutnick-irs-abolish
RFK Jr., Onetime Environmentalist, Kills NIH Climate Change Programs
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/02/robert-f-kennedy-jr-climate-change-health-national-institutes-of-health-ken-callahan/
The Senate has voted to confirm Kash Patel. The vote was 51-49. Republican Sens. Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski joined Democrats in voting against his confirmation.
https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/20/politics/senate-patel-confirmation-vote/index.html