#SCOTUS ruled in 1935 to uphold a #law that allows #FTC commissioners to be fired ONLY for good #cause, such as neglecting their duties. The ruling shields a number of #independent, bipartisan multi-member agencies from direct control by the #WhiteHouse.

If the #DOJ wins, as many experts predict it will, the entire executive branch would come under #Trump’s direct control, allowing him even greater power over federal policy, & leaving virtually no barriers to his #MassFirings of civil servants in favor of political stooges.

…The WH is the latest govt property on which #Starlink now operates.

In recent weeks, Starlink was also set up at the #GSA, which has served as a hub for #Musk’s government-shrinking efforts…

While several #FederalAgencies contract w/Starlink, the satellite service is typically used to provide internet access in emergency situations & to remote locations — not at federal buildings in DC, which already have ample internet options.

The flights suggest the #Trump admin may be growing more brazen in its defiance of judicial restraint. The #US #Constitution established the #judiciary as a co-#equal & #independent branch of government.

Trump has sought to *push* [illegally expand] the boundaries of #ExecutivePower since taking office in Jan, cutting spending authorized by #Congress, dismantling #FederalAgencies & firing tens of thousands of #FederalWorkers.

The culling of #GSA’s #18F in particular, a specialized #digital services agency tasked w/improving #user experience w/govt services & helping #FederalAgencies build & buy a variety of #tech, has crippled programs that silently but effectively prepared Americans for #weather #disasters or streamlined tasks, like renewing a #passport or filing #taxes. Over the wknd, ~90 technologists at 18F were fired via surprise email that went out shortly before 1AM ET on Sat morning.

As a taste of what we may see in the coming months, the outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas clocked 172,017 #layoffs last month, concentrated among #FederalAgencies. That’s the highest number it had seen since July 2020, in the middle of the #pandemic.

#Trump #economy #Trumpcession
https://www.challengergray.com/blog/job-cuts-surge-on-doge-actions-retail-woes-highest-monthly-total-since-july-2020/

That phase, a so-called reduction in force [#RIF], is supposed to be a process that is extremely specific, deliberative & time consuming. However, #Musk & #DOGE have been working on software to automate the #MassLayoffs in conjunction w/ #AI dubbed #AutoRIF.

The panel of 3 judges from the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit said the govt had met the “stringent requirements” for securing a stay while the court considers the #Trump admin’s appeal in the case.

The brief order had no noted dissents from the judges, who were appointed by presidents from both parties. It said a full opinion would be forthcoming.

#Veterans have been speaking out against the cuts already made at the #VA that so far had included a few thousand employees & hundreds of contracts. More than 25% of the VA’s workforce is comprised of veterans.

The plans underway at the VA showed how the #Trump admin’s #DOGE initiative, led by #billionaire #ElonMusk, is not holding back on an all-out effort to slash #FederalAgencies, even for those that have traditionally enjoyed bipartisan support.

The advisory cmtes’ — typically from universities, think tanks & interest groups, as well as from private companies — provided advice & feedback to #FederalAgencies but had no decision-making authority. But their sudden termination could add to concerns that the #Trump admin is planning on interfering w/govt statistics, especially because the terminations came after #HowardLutnick, the secy of #Commerce, suggested he might change the way the govt reports certain economic data.