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Marc Elias: Elon Musk Hollows Government So Trump Can Refill It
Link: https://www.democracydocket.com/opinion/elon-musk-hollows-government-so-trump-can-refill-it/
Looking back, it all makes sense.
First, he fired the internal watchdogs. Only four days after taking office, Donald Trump fired at least 17 inspectors general in a way that defied the law and commonsense. At the time people asked: Why start with them? Why not give Congress 30 days notice as required by law? What was the rush?
We now know the answer. Trump has empowered Elon Musk and his gang to rummage through sensitive databases and access critical information in key federal agencies and departments. They have reportedly gained complete access to the Treasury Departments payment system — a system with detailed information on nearly everyone who has received payments from the federal government. And, presumably, the ability to decide who to pay and who to stiff.
We cannot ignore how shockingly abnormal it is for a private citizen — who himself has contracts with the federal government — to dispatch a private army of executives, data experts and recent high schoolers to dictate policies to federal agencies.
None of this would be possible without protection from law enforcement. But career officials at the FBI and DOJ have been sidelined. Some have been fired, others reassigned or forced into retirement. Those that remain understandably fear for their jobs. While the aggressive attacks on federal agencies might normally raise an eyebrow at the Department of Justice or warrant an inquiry from the FBI, all heads are turned away for fear that even a glance at what Musk is doing might anger those in charge.
- more at link -
First, he fired the internal watchdogs. Only four days after taking office, Donald Trump fired at least 17 inspectors general in a way that defied the law and commonsense. At the time people asked: Why start with them? Why not give Congress 30 days notice as required by law? What was the rush?
We now know the answer. Trump has empowered Elon Musk and his gang to rummage through sensitive databases and access critical information in key federal agencies and departments. They have reportedly gained complete access to the Treasury Departments payment system — a system with detailed information on nearly everyone who has received payments from the federal government. And, presumably, the ability to decide who to pay and who to stiff.
We cannot ignore how shockingly abnormal it is for a private citizen — who himself has contracts with the federal government — to dispatch a private army of executives, data experts and recent high schoolers to dictate policies to federal agencies.
None of this would be possible without protection from law enforcement. But career officials at the FBI and DOJ have been sidelined. Some have been fired, others reassigned or forced into retirement. Those that remain understandably fear for their jobs. While the aggressive attacks on federal agencies might normally raise an eyebrow at the Department of Justice or warrant an inquiry from the FBI, all heads are turned away for fear that even a glance at what Musk is doing might anger those in charge.
Marc Elias warns us that the "newly vacant" jobs are being filled by Chump's toadies. We're back to the bad old days of the patronage system where jobs only exist for political cronies. That's why the Civil Service was created - to rid our government of unqualified, untrained, non-professional people. This absolutely stinks!
Democracy Docket is leading the charge in lawsuits by unfairly fired Civil Servants. So far Chump hasn't won any rulings in his favor, but it's still early.
