pull down to refresh

YIKES
You talk about stepping on a landmine for absolutely no reason well the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) ran by Russell Vought did just that.
Earlier today OMB's website had a small change in it where in the FAQ part of a shutdown the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019 was removed. This is the legislation that was signed into law to ensure all direct federal workers would get back pay even if they were furloughed. Then this afternoon a draft memo circulated by OMB came out.
In this draft memo an unusual reading of the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019 was used to argue that only federal workers deemed essential employees are automatically due back pay. To back it up the memo cited a specific line in the law that states furloughed workers will receive back pay
“subject to the enactment of appropriations Acts ending the lapse.”
Director Vought has become an increasingly public figure the last couple of months for those who did not already know about him. While law's are open to interpretation this attempt wildly misses the mark. Not only are there still a bunch of Congressional Members who worked to pass that law still in Congress but this blows up on the Republican's just as they were starting to gain pretty significant headway in flipping the optics of the Government Shutdown from a Republican issue to something entirely caused by the Senate Democrats.
If the Administration tried to move on this wording they would easily be sunk as the Bill Report for it addresses how it should be interpreted and so the Admin just took a huge L for absolutely no reason as the move has reenergized parts of the Democratic Party that were starting to grow weary.
86 sats \ 25 replies \ @siggy47 7h
We have different perspectives. This is the best news I've heard since the election.
reply
36 sats \ 10 replies \ @Cje95 OP 7h
While it sounds good it runs directly counter to the legislation. Plus the optics for Republicans is super super bad and the Dems have now jumped on this creating an unnecessary distraction.
reply
107 sats \ 9 replies \ @siggy47 7h
I'm not so sure it's clear cut from a PR standpoint. You are "inside the beltway", like many of my friends. Often the mood of the country isn't easily read from there.
The idea of the rank and file drones of the bloated bureaucracy finally suffering a real layoff like the rest of us is powerful optics.
reply
47 sats \ 4 replies \ @Cje95 OP 7h
Omg hearing that makes me feel disgusting.... excuse me as I go wash myself in bleach....
I think that my way of thinking about things like taking this and going okay what are the optics is one of the reasons I do not fit in in DC lol.
reply
47 sats \ 0 replies \ @kepford 7h
I think it might be helpful for anyone that isn't desiring to work for the Dark Lord of Mordor to view the "beltway" as Mordor.
reply
I think siggy has a point here. I often hear things like, "Trump's actions have a real impact on people's livelihoods!" as a justification to anger. But they are just going through a common experience that most other people have to go through. Why do they feel like government work means you're entitled to absolute job stability? The Federal government supposedly exists to serve the people. It is not a jobs program for federal workers.
I understand why federal workers might be upset and they have every right to be. But if agency heads view their primary mission as protecting their subordinates' jobs, then the agencies will quickly devolve into bloated inefficient messes. (Which I think has already happened.)
reply
They need to identify as transgender contractors
Problem solved
Edit: If back pay is approved, make it a paper check so people have to come into the office
reply
Bleach and HCQ
reply
All they're saying is that the backpay is not guaranteed automatically.
I'd say there's no chance of backpay actually being withheld because almost everyone in congress has a bunch of stuff they want the bureaucrats to do for them, which is why they always granted backpay before that law passed.
reply
The draft OMB memo reportedly argues that the 2019 law is not "self-executing" and that the payment would need to be specifically provided by Congress as part of the legislation to fund the government. The argument hinges on a technical reading, suggesting the law created an authorization to pay but not the actual appropriation.
reply
I saw somewhere that OMB hasn't even changed their FAQ, though, and it still says that all furloughed employees will receive backpay.
I think this was just a very feeble bluff.
reply
53 sats \ 0 replies \ @Cje95 OP 5h
Oh I went on the site and it was def missing lol
reply
89 sats \ 11 replies \ @kepford 7h
Indeed it is. It won't happen though.
For all the "work" done by Elon to me the most valuable thing about it all was watching the reactions. I have never seen anything close to the responses to DOGE when private companies reduce their size or make massive cuts to parts of their businesses.
@siggy47 you and I are both old enough to remember people losing their minds at proposed reductions in the size of growth in the past. I stand on my early prediction that DOGE would not make lasting changes to the size and growth of government. And if someone like Trump and Elon can't do it... who can?
The permanent state (deep state) has far more skin in the game than politicians or their appointees. Watch "Yes! Minister". Its funny, entertaining, and educational.
reply
Don't underestimate the impact of reducing the federal workforce by something like 10%.
That's a lot of people who can't implement a regime's goals anymore.
reply
53 sats \ 1 reply \ @kepford 5h
I hope you're right. Also, are we sure that is accurate? Haven't people been brought back? I haven't followed it very closely.
reply
Some have been brought back, but I think that's very limited compared to the hundreds of thousands who have separated.
reply
66 sats \ 4 replies \ @siggy47 7h
Exactly. 100%
reply
One of the highlights of the Reagan years was firing air traffic controllers who went on strike illegally
Reagan gutted that union
reply
11 sats \ 0 replies \ @kepford 5h
Indeed... and the left in all its places hated that man for it. I get tired of reminding my Trump triggered friends of this. Not to mention how they talked about GW Bush.
reply
11 sats \ 1 reply \ @Cje95 OP 5h
Man and Trump has absolutely slaughtered the Federal Government unions across the board just tearing contracts up left and right lol
reply
Left right and center
reply
11 sats \ 2 replies \ @Cje95 OP 7h
Interestingly enough DOGE is still very much active but since Elon isnt around people dont really pay attention. My understanding is a ton of various spending/cancellations from the Admin come in part due to DOGE it just isnt presented that way anymore.
Big example is the AI stuff and the digitizing efforts are being spearheaded (at least I have been told this) by DOGE.
reply
11 sats \ 1 reply \ @kepford 7h
I'm not opposed to that. Glad to hear it. I'm just skeptical.
I wouldn't be surprised if Elon was actually holding it back more than pushing it forward sheerly because he's so visible and has a massive ego.
reply
I agree it’s a PR move
The Tesla arsonists succeeded in removing Elon as the front man for doge
reply
one thousand percent correct
Furloughed federal employees can apply for unemployment
reply
This is the best news I've heard since October 7... never mind, wrong thread
reply
I saw this after I posted in the saloon
reply