DOGE at DoD

[Anonymous]

It sounds like DOGE has arrived or will be there this week.

Anyone have insight into how this works? It seems they get into the computers and make decisions on cuts. Any ideas on how long the process takes and whether contracts will also be eliminated or just the federal work force?

I’ve seen the articles about consolidating offices focused on advancing tech and rapid acquisition and of course no doubt that DEI and climate programs will be cut.

Mostly curious about contract support.

Thanks

[Anonymous]

Doge goes in and will cancel for convivence all contracts that are deemed non-essential.
1st they put a stop work order in - about 2 days later cancel.
If the contract has anything to do with - developing people, strategic communications, meeting facilitation, etc - those are easy for the 20 YO doge to determine that there is no value to them.

[Anonymous]

Yes and their version of what they think is essential is rather interesting. For instance they are demanding agencies cut contracts with legal research engines. There is simply no way to perform current legal research or write briefs or appear in court without them. But DOGE thinks they are “media” as in the news media (versus periodicals, publications, research engines) so they want them canceled.

Good luck to DOJ defending against all these lawsuits if they can’t perform research on Lexis or Westlaw.

[Anonymous]

They also apparently hate shipbuilding which just... what? Couldn't be more transparent about the fact that Putin is paying them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They also apparently hate shipbuilding which just... what? Couldn't be more transparent about the fact that Putin is paying them.

That is kind of odd considering how far behind China we are on that one and the next anticipated combat area is Taiwan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They also apparently hate shipbuilding which just... what? Couldn't be more transparent about the fact that Putin is paying them.

That is kind of odd considering how far behind China we are on that one and the next anticipated combat area is Taiwan.

Exactly. China is the next big problem and our ships are in terrible condition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes and their version of what they think is essential is rather interesting. For instance they are demanding agencies cut contracts with legal research engines. There is simply no way to perform current legal research or write briefs or appear in court without them. But DOGE thinks they are “media” as in the news media (versus periodicals, publications, research engines) so they want them canceled.

Good luck to DOJ defending against all these lawsuits if they can’t perform research on Lexis or Westlaw.

What the hell?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes and their version of what they think is essential is rather interesting. For instance they are demanding agencies cut contracts with legal research engines. There is simply no way to perform current legal research or write briefs or appear in court without them. But DOGE thinks they are “media” as in the news media (versus periodicals, publications, research engines) so they want them canceled.

Good luck to DOJ defending against all these lawsuits if they can’t perform research on Lexis or Westlaw.

What the hell?

Oh wow. Someone is probably building a system with only the case law in their favor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes and their version of what they think is essential is rather interesting. For instance they are demanding agencies cut contracts with legal research engines. There is simply no way to perform current legal research or write briefs or appear in court without them. But DOGE thinks they are “media” as in the news media (versus periodicals, publications, research engines) so they want them canceled.

Good luck to DOJ defending against all these lawsuits if they can’t perform research on Lexis or Westlaw.

What I understand from friends at USAiD is that they looked at the 8000+ workers and contractors for about an hour, decided that most of the work that was mandated/funded by Congress was not essential and then decided only 300 employees were essential to continue with the parts of usaid doge decided were essential. And then patted themselves on the back for having cut 7300 employees-and become more efficient. But what they want to have remain of USAID bears no resemblance to what currently exists…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes and their version of what they think is essential is rather interesting. For instance they are demanding agencies cut contracts with legal research engines. There is simply no way to perform current legal research or write briefs or appear in court without them. But DOGE thinks they are “media” as in the news media (versus periodicals, publications, research engines) so they want them canceled.

Good luck to DOJ defending against all these lawsuits if they can’t perform research on Lexis or Westlaw.

What I understand from friends at USAiD is that they looked at the 8000+ workers and contractors for about an hour, decided that most of the work that was mandated/funded by Congress was not essential and then decided only 300 employees were essential to continue with the parts of usaid doge decided were essential. And then patted themselves on the back for having cut 7300 employees-and become more efficient. But what they want to have remain of USAID bears no resemblance to what currently exists…

The difference is the republicans in congress don’t care about USAID. They care about a lot about DoD. The reaction is going to very different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes and their version of what they think is essential is rather interesting. For instance they are demanding agencies cut contracts with legal research engines. There is simply no way to perform current legal research or write briefs or appear in court without them. But DOGE thinks they are “media” as in the news media (versus periodicals, publications, research engines) so they want them canceled.

Good luck to DOJ defending against all these lawsuits if they can’t perform research on Lexis or Westlaw.

What I understand from friends at USAiD is that they looked at the 8000+ workers and contractors for about an hour, decided that most of the work that was mandated/funded by Congress was not essential and then decided only 300 employees were essential to continue with the parts of usaid doge decided were essential. And then patted themselves on the back for having cut 7300 employees-and become more efficient. But what they want to have remain of USAID bears no resemblance to what currently exists…

The difference is the republicans in congress don’t care about USAID. They care about a lot about DoD. The reaction is going to very different.

They're starting to care because farmers are selling their goods to USAID. Farmers are the lifeblood of the GOP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes and their version of what they think is essential is rather interesting. For instance they are demanding agencies cut contracts with legal research engines. There is simply no way to perform current legal research or write briefs or appear in court without them. But DOGE thinks they are “media” as in the news media (versus periodicals, publications, research engines) so they want them canceled.

Good luck to DOJ defending against all these lawsuits if they can’t perform research on Lexis or Westlaw.

What I understand from friends at USAiD is that they looked at the 8000+ workers and contractors for about an hour, decided that most of the work that was mandated/funded by Congress was not essential and then decided only 300 employees were essential to continue with the parts of usaid doge decided were essential. And then patted themselves on the back for having cut 7300 employees-and become more efficient. But what they want to have remain of USAID bears no resemblance to what currently exists…

The difference is the republicans in congress don’t care about USAID. They care about a lot about DoD. The reaction is going to very different.

They're starting to care because farmers are selling their goods to USAID. Farmers are the lifeblood of the GOP.

Where are you seeing this? I certainly haven't seen anything to suggest the GOP is speaking up about anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes and their version of what they think is essential is rather interesting. For instance they are demanding agencies cut contracts with legal research engines. There is simply no way to perform current legal research or write briefs or appear in court without them. But DOGE thinks they are “media” as in the news media (versus periodicals, publications, research engines) so they want them canceled.

Good luck to DOJ defending against all these lawsuits if they can’t perform research on Lexis or Westlaw.

What I understand from friends at USAiD is that they looked at the 8000+ workers and contractors for about an hour, decided that most of the work that was mandated/funded by Congress was not essential and then decided only 300 employees were essential to continue with the parts of usaid doge decided were essential. And then patted themselves on the back for having cut 7300 employees-and become more efficient. But what they want to have remain of USAID bears no resemblance to what currently exists…

The difference is the republicans in congress don’t care about USAID. They care about a lot about DoD. The reaction is going to very different.

They're starting to care because farmers are selling their goods to USAID. Farmers are the lifeblood of the GOP.

Where are you seeing this? I certainly haven't seen anything to suggest the GOP is speaking up about anything.

NP and I saw that too. Whatever those farming states are their reps are seeking to keep those food-based programs and it sounds like they will be keeping those programs. Pretty small part of the agency though so I wouldn't celebrate just yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes and their version of what they think is essential is rather interesting. For instance they are demanding agencies cut contracts with legal research engines. There is simply no way to perform current legal research or write briefs or appear in court without them. But DOGE thinks they are “media” as in the news media (versus periodicals, publications, research engines) so they want them canceled.

Good luck to DOJ defending against all these lawsuits if they can’t perform research on Lexis or Westlaw.

What I understand from friends at USAiD is that they looked at the 8000+ workers and contractors for about an hour, decided that most of the work that was mandated/funded by Congress was not essential and then decided only 300 employees were essential to continue with the parts of usaid doge decided were essential. And then patted themselves on the back for having cut 7300 employees-and become more efficient. But what they want to have remain of USAID bears no resemblance to what currently exists…

Sounds about right. They have no understanding of what legally mandated means or that support functions it specifically enumerated in the statute may be necessary to enable the work that is legally mandated. So if an agency’s statutes don’t say “agency must perform HR work and hire janitorial staff” DOGE says “oh that’s not legally mandated, fire the HR and janitorial staff.” Without considering that without HR you can’t hire, fire, promote, or carry out a lot of reporting functions that are specified in government wide statutes not just the statute for a particular agency. And that without janitorial staff you can maintain the building leading to problems with the work. Etc etc repeat repeat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes and their version of what they think is essential is rather interesting. For instance they are demanding agencies cut contracts with legal research engines. There is simply no way to perform current legal research or write briefs or appear in court without them. But DOGE thinks they are “media” as in the news media (versus periodicals, publications, research engines) so they want them canceled.

Good luck to DOJ defending against all these lawsuits if they can’t perform research on Lexis or Westlaw.

Honestly, this is fine. They’ll lose in court, though we’ll be paying for it, so it will cost us in the end.