this post was submitted on 03 Feb 2025
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Summary

Elon Musk claims his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is shutting down payments to federal contractors, including a Lutheran charity, asserting it is eliminating corruption.

This suggests DOGE has access to Treasury’s payment systems, though officials have not confirmed the extent.

Senator Ron Wyden warned that DOGE may interfere with Social Security, Medicare, and government contracts.

Musk also called USAID “a criminal organization” that should “die,” amid DOGE’s growing influence over federal financial operations.

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[–] [email protected] 45 points 22 hours ago* (last edited 22 hours ago) (5 children)

Can I ask? Why does Musk suddenly have this authority? "DOGE" isn't even a real Department, right? And also, Musk hasn't been elected or officially confirmed for any government position. Why the fuck is he giving orders and leading departments and having any power whatsoever over the U.S. Treasury and such? I don't understand how this works. Why doesn't the U.S. have any... I don't know, safeguards against this sort of shit? It's absolutely bonkers to watch this unfold from across the pond.

Musk just walked up, said "I'm in charge now" and everyone's just complying? Please ELI5.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 19 hours ago

He doesn't. However, that is only according to this pesky technicality called "the law". If the President does not want to follow the law, and appoints people who also do not care for following the law, then the law stops being a thing to look for for authority; and Musk can do this because Trump says he can.

In the short term, expect this to be shut down by the courts. In the medium term, a bunch of these orders will end up in front of the Supreme Court that unironically said "if the president does it, it might be illegal, but he is absolutely immune from prosecution". Even if the SC come down on the only legally defensible position, Trump could still say "them and what army"

This is 100% a coup by Trump to centralize power in the executive. When staging a coup, "authority" is merely an inconvenience.

[–] ILikeBoobies 18 points 21 hours ago (1 children)

Trump said he’s in charge in a private capacity

The Supreme Court is yet to say it’s not allowed

[–] [email protected] 7 points 21 hours ago (1 children)

It takes months if not years for a case to be appealed to the supeme court. They don't even accept most cases.

Any court federal can issue an order on this if a case is brought. Courts cannot do anything unless asked. That's kind of how the legal process works. Someone, or some AG will file a suit. Might take a few days or weeks.

[–] ILikeBoobies 4 points 20 hours ago

It takes months if not years for a case to be appealed to the supeme court. They don’t even accept most cases.

I’m old enough to know how Bush beat Gore

They will keep doing this through the appeals process

[–] [email protected] 11 points 21 hours ago

Everyone is not "just complying," two security directors of USAID were dismissed when they tried to stop the musky henchmen.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 19 hours ago (1 children)

We do have safeguards. They're all being removed one by one by the party in charge. I'm guessing that some just comply because they figure it's inevitable. On the other hand we have a long history of allowing people in power to do what they want. Bush walked into Iraq, we've had many military actions in many countries but haven't declared war since world war III.

Or maybe Musk is just pushing the boundaries before he's deported. LOL.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 18 hours ago

Apropos typo on the WW3 part.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 19 hours ago

Because our government is filled with a bunch of geriatric FUCKS who don't give a shit and whose whole personality is 'fuck you I got mine'. There are checks and balances and this could be stopped if anyone was fucking useful to any capacity. We shouldn't have to rise up in the streets or deal with this as that's the whole god damn point of the gov. But because we allowed corporate interests to infiltrate and line the pockets of these assholes, along with there being no term limits, this is what we get.