Anonymous wrote:When DOGE walks in the door, what does it look like? Is it a handful of kids accompanied by mercenary looking guys? That’s my impression so far.

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.

Farmers aren’t their lifeblood any longer. Elections will not matter going forward, so they don’t need to worry about their base.

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.

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.

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

It's not just DOJ, it's any agency that employs lawyers. And realistically I doubt any or many will agree to cancel. But it's just an example - one among many - of the stupid decision-making by DOGE and their lack of understanding of what they're doing.

I’m pp, and I agree. Saying that there is massive taxpayer fraud and then firing IRS staff makes no sense. Firing inspector generals makes no sense if you want to root out fraud. Same with whistleblowers.

Anonymous wrote:They get into the computer systems and then decide to fire most probationary employees OP.

In my dh's agency, they actually went for firing some of our best people who were American citizens with regular GS probationary status first, with made up "low performance." For some reason, the H1B visa holders we hired in temporary positions (because we couldn't find Americans willing to move here for these salaries) were kept.

Anonymous wrote:They get into the computer systems and then decide to fire most probationary employees OP.

In my dh's agency, they actually went for firing some of our best people who were American citizens with regular GS probationary status first, with made up "low performance." For some reason, the H1B visa holders we hired in temporary positions (because we couldn't find Americans willing to move here for these salaries) were kept.

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.

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

It's not just DOJ, it's any agency that employs lawyers. And realistically I doubt any or many will agree to cancel. But it's just an example - one among many - of the stupid decision-making by DOGE and their lack of understanding of what they're doing.

I’m pp, and I agree. Saying that there is massive taxpayer fraud and then firing IRS staff makes no sense. Firing inspector generals makes no sense if you want to root out fraud. Same with whistleblowers.

They are going after anyone who Musk has had issues with/investigated him. Its to detract from his and Trump and other's misconduct and bring money to their businesses. He's now proposing a new system for FAA run by Space X.

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.

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

It's not just DOJ, it's any agency that employs lawyers. And realistically I doubt any or many will agree to cancel. But it's just an example - one among many - of the stupid decision-making by DOGE and their lack of understanding of what they're doing.

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.

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

It's not just DOJ, it's any agency that employs lawyers. And realistically I doubt any or many will agree to cancel. But it's just an example - one among many - of the stupid decision-making by DOGE and their lack of understanding of what they're doing.

I’m pp, and I agree. Saying that there is massive taxpayer fraud and then firing IRS staff makes no sense. Firing inspector generals makes no sense if you want to root out fraud. Same with whistleblowers.

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.

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

It's not just DOJ, it's any agency that employs lawyers. And realistically I doubt any or many will agree to cancel. But it's just an example - one among many - of the stupid decision-making by DOGE and their lack of understanding of what they're doing.

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.

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

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.