Zhi Zhu 🕸️Feb 25, 2025

"DOGE has asserted control over payments systems across the federal government, giving Musk’s team a window into [perhaps control over?] the flows of #money that keep the govt running...

IRS employees are being told to provide information about their work directly to an outside entity."
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/irs-employees-musk-doge

Here begins the 8th Elon Musk thread.

List with links to previous threads:
https://newsie.social/@ZhiZhu/113986946321010763

#ElonMusk #Musk #Coup #Doge #Trump #GOP #Politics #USPol #Government #News #USNews

IRS Employees Told To Comply With DOGE ‘Accomplishments’ Demand

IRS employees must comply with Elon Musk’s demand for five “accomplishments” by...

TPM - Talking Points Memo
Show threadZhi Zhu 🕸️Feb 25, 2025

BIG: DOGE Firings Found Unlawful by Office of Special Counsel
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/big-doge-firings-found-unlawful-by-office-of-special-counsel

"another executive branch lawyer tells me that under civil service #law this finding that the terminations were unlawful can create serious jeopardy for the #government employees who executed (i.e., signed) the terminations, including fines, debarment from government employment and other serious civil sanctions."

#ElonMusk #Musk #Doge #Coup #Trump #GOP #Politics #USPol #News #US #USA

BIG: DOGE Firings Found Unlawful by Office of Special Counsel

There was a very important development today, still only little-noted in the...

TPM - Talking Points Memo
Show threadZhi Zhu 🕸️Feb 25, 2025

A new document undercuts Trump admin's denials about $400 million Tesla deal
https://www.npr.org/2025/02/24/nx-s1-5305269/tesla-state-department-elon-musk-trump

"State Dept planned to spend just $483,000 in the 2025 fiscal year on buying electric vehicles... #Trump administration quietly revised a State Dept procurement document... to advance $400 million worth of govt business to #Tesla...

After... widespread attention... changing the phrase "armored Tesla" to the more generic "armored electric vehicles""

#Musk #Corruption #Politics #USPol #News #US

Show threadZhi Zhu 🕸️Feb 25, 2025

What Elon Musk Isn't Telling You About DOGE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6dZ9qO8V9w

"Time and again, over and across the #government, we see conflicts of interest which are going to, if they haven't already, minimized the degree to which musk's Enterprises are being vetted and and overseen"

#ElonMusk #Musk #Trump #Corruption #Coup #Doge #ConflictsOfInterest #Business #Tesla #SpaceX #Starlink #Tech #News #USA

What Elon Musk Isn't Telling You About DOGE

YouTube
Show threadZhi Zhu 🕸️Feb 25, 2025

Trump Administration, Breaking With Musk’s Directive, Says Replying to His Email Is Voluntary

The response to Elon Musk’s “What did you do last week?” email to federal employees suggests that there may be limits to how far he can push the govt’s work force.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/24/us/politics/elon-musk-email-federal-workers.html

"the #Musk email... fractured Trump’s #cabinet, with the leaders of some depts ordering their employees to comply & others directing workers to ignore the threat."

#ElonMusk #Coup #Trump #Politics #USPol #News #USA

Trump Administration, Breaking With Musk’s Directive, Says Replying to His Email Is Voluntary

The response to Elon Musk’s “What did you do last week?” email to federal employees suggests that there may be limits to how far he can push the government’s work force.

The New York Times
Show threadZhi Zhu 🕸️Feb 25, 2025

Mass Chaos as Trump Officials Tell Workers to Ignore Elon Musk’s Email

Some federal agencies are telling employees to forget about that ominous email ultimatum from #ElonMusk.
https://newrepublic.com/post/191853/agencies-workers-ignore-elon-musk-email-ultimatum

"Musk is exercising some kind of power play across the federal #government with his demand. It remains to be seen whether others in the Trump administration, including the president himself, will ever push back"

#Musk #5Bullets #Email #Coup #Trump #Corruption #Politics #USPol #News #US #USA

Mass Chaos as Trump Officials Tell Workers to Ignore Elon Musk’s Email

Some federal agencies are telling employees to forget about that ominous email ultimatum from Elon Musk.

The New Republic
Show threadZhi Zhu 🕸️

OPM’s Own Guidance Says Fed Employees Never Have to Respond to the Elon Emails
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/opms-own-guidance-says-fed-employees-never-have-to-respond-to-the-elon-emails

"new system [created by #Doge] was given the name Government-Wide Email System (GWES). On February 5th, 2025... OPM published this document... in sections 4.2 and 4.3, federal government employees are never obligated to respond to any GWES emails and are under no obligation to share any information."

#ElonMusk #Musk #5Bullets #email #GWES #OPM #Privacy #Security #Government #News #USA

OPM’s Own Guidance Says Fed Employees Never Have to Respond to the Elon Emails

As you can see we’ve been following this Elon Threat Email drama...

TPM - Talking Points Memo
Feb 25, 2025 at 5:55pmWeb
Show threadZhi Zhu 🕸️Feb 25, 2025

Federal Workers Are Trolling Elon Musk’s Latest Attempt to Fire Them

Elon Musk asked federal employees to tell him what they did the previous week.
https://newrepublic.com/post/191881/elon-musk-trolled-email-federal-workers

"Elon Musk’s open-reply “What did you do last week?” email to federal employees invited a flood of fictionalized fireable offenses that hilariously undercut the unelected bureaucrat’s ultimatum to reply."

#ElonMusk #5Bullets #Email #Humor #Funny #Trump #GOP #Politics #News #USA

Federal Workers Are Trolling Elon Musk’s Latest Attempt to Fire Them

Elon Musk asked federal employees to tell him what they did the previous week.

The New Republic
Show threadZhi Zhu 🕸️Feb 25, 2025

Elon Musk Faces Massive Lawsuit After Menacing Email Ultimatum

#ElonMusk sent an #email to every federal worker asking them to explain their accomplishments. He got sued instead.
https://newrepublic.com/post/191875/elon-musk-lawsuit-email-ultimatum-accomplishments

“No #OPM rule, regulation, policy, or program has ever, in #UnitedStates history, purported to require all federal workers to submit reports to OPM,” the #lawsuit states, calling the threat of mass terminations “one of the most massive employment frauds in the #history of this country.”

#Musk

Elon Musk Faces Massive Lawsuit After Menacing Email Ultimatum

Elon Musk sent an email to every federal worker asking them to explain their accomplishments. He got sued instead.

The New Republic
Show threadZhi Zhu 🕸️Feb 25, 2025

Republican Lawmaker’s Town Hall Goes Sideways Thanks to Trump & Musk

Republican voters are livid at #ElonMusk and Donald Trump’s cuts to govt funding.
https://newrepublic.com/post/191891/republicans-town-hall-voters-donald-trump-elon-musk

"Republican lawmakers across the country are coming face-to-face with droves of angry constituents in the wake of #DonaldTrump & Elon Musk’s upending of the federal #government

“We didn’t elect Elon!” one person screamed.

“You don’t represent us, you represent Elon Musk!” cried another."

#Musk #Trump #USPol #News #US

GOP Lawmakers’ Town Halls Derailed by Voters Furious at Trump and Musk

Republican voters are livid at Elon Musk and Donald Trump’s cuts to government funding.

The New Republic
Show threadZhi Zhu 🕸️Feb 25, 2025

Freshman Congressman tells constituent he is powerless to stop Musk's budget cuts
https://popular.info/p/freshman-congressman-tells-constituent

"Begich said he was "not in a position to approve or deny the cuts."

It was a remarkable statement from the freshman #Congressman, sworn into office in January. The #Constitution vests the "power of the purse" with #Congress — not an unelected billionaire appointed to a position in the executive branch."

#ElonMusk #Musk #Coup #Trump #Politics #USPol #Government #News #Alaska #USA

Freshman Congressman tells constituent he is powerless to stop Musk's budget cuts

At an open house in Fairbanks on Monday, Alaskan Congressman Nick Begich (R) told constituents that there was nothing he could do to stop agency budget cuts being implemented by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and Elon Musk.

Popular Information
Show threadZhi Zhu 🕸️Feb 25, 2025

Breaking Through: Vets Hit Hard by Elon Firing Spree
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/breaking-through-vets-hit-hard-by-elon-firing-spree

"veterans are hugely overrepresented among federal civil servants... They’re getting hit hard by these erratic and needless firings...

explicit hiring preferences both for #veterans and military spouses who are often themselves veterans... #Government policy also creates specific imperatives for creating hiring opportunities for #disabled veterans."

#ElonMusk #Doge #Coup #Trump #GOP #Politics #USPol #News #US #USA

Breaking Through: Vets Hit Hard by Elon Firing Spree

One point about the Musk firing spree that was barely getting any...

TPM - Talking Points Memo
Show threadZhi Zhu 🕸️Feb 25, 2025

Judge Blocks Elon Musk’s DOGE From Getting Its Hands on Everything

Elon Musk just got some terrible news in court.
https://newrepublic.com/post/191862/judge-blocks-elon-musk-doge-opm-doe

"Elon Musk’s #Doge effort experienced a setback in #court Monday when a federal judge blocked the Office of Personnel Management and Dept of #Education from sharing sensitive #information with the pseudo-agency.

...[Doge] hasn’t exactly been careful with sensitive data in the past. Its own website was hacked"

#Musk #Coup #Trump #USPol #News #US #USA

Judge Blocks Elon Musk’s DOGE From Getting Its Hands on Everything

Elon Musk just got some terrible news in court.

The New Republic
Show threadZhi Zhu 🕸️Feb 25, 2025

HUD TVs Hacked With Wild Video of Trump Kissing Feet of “Real King”

The AI-generated brutally mocks Donald Trump’s relationship with Elon Musk.
https://newrepublic.com/post/191890/federal-tvs-hacked-video-donald-trump-elon-musk-kissing-feet

"Some 4,000 employees are expected to lose their jobs at the federal #housing agency—about half of HUD’s workforce. The mass layoffs are likely to upend the already fragile #US housing market and complicate mortgage transactions"

#ElonMusk #Musk #Trump #Coup #Corruption #Politics #USPol #HUD #Veterans #News #USNews #US #USA

HUD TVs Hacked With Wild Video of Trump Kissing Feet of “Real King”

The AI-generated brutally mocks Donald Trump’s relationship with Elon Musk.

The New Republic
Show threadZhi Zhu 🕸️Feb 25, 2025

Federal technology staffers resign rather than help Musk and DOGE
https://apnews.com/article/doge-elon-musk-federal-government-resignations-usds-6b7e9b7022e6d89d69305e9510f2a43c

"about 65 [USDS] staffers, were integrated into DOGE’s government-slashing effort. About a third of them quit Tuesday.

“We will not use our skills as technologists to compromise core #government systems, jeopardize #Americans’ sensitive data, or dismantle critical public services,” they wrote. “We will not lend our expertise to carry out or legitimize DOGE’s actions.”"

#Musk #Coup #Corruption #News #USA

DOGE staffers resign en masse to protest Musk's slashing of federal government

Twenty-one civil service employees have resigned from Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, saying they're refusing to use their technical expertise to “dismantle critical public services.” The staffers wrote Tuesday in a joint resignation letter obtained by The AP they “swore to serve the American people" and uphold their oath to the Constitution across presidential administrations but it has become clear they “can no longer honor those commitments.” The staffers who resigned worked for what was once known as the United States Digital Service. Musk called the story “fake news” and said the staffers would have been fired if they didn't resign.

AP News
Show threadZhi Zhu 🕸️Feb 25, 2025

Musk - who is not a secretary - will attend the first Trump cabinet meeting, White House says

The billionaire is leading the Dept of Govt Efficiency in dismantling federal agencies
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/elon-musk-cabinet-meeting-trump-b2704543.html

The [South African immigrant] is merely an employee of the White House... and has “no actual or formal authority to make government decisions himself,” according to a sworn statement...

But this week many questioned who was really in charge"

#Musk #Trump #Politics #USPol #News #US #USA

Musk - who is not a secretary - will attend the first Trump cabinet meeting, White House says

The billionaire is leading the Department of Government Efficiency in dismantling federal agencies

The Independent
Show threadZhi Zhu 🕸️Feb 25, 2025

Nearly 40% of contracts canceled by Musk’s DOGE are expected to produce no savings
https://apnews.com/article/doge-federal-contracts-canceled-musk-trump-cuts-a65976a725412934ad686389889db0df

"because the total value of the contracts has already been fully obligated, which means the #government has a legal requirement to spend the funds for the goods or services it purchased and in many cases has already done so...

“Their terminating so many contracts pointlessly obviously doesn’t accomplish anything for saving money.”

#Musk #Coup #Trump #Corruption #USPol #News #USA

Nearly 40% of contracts canceled by Musk's DOGE are expected to produce no savings

Nearly 40% of the federal contracts that President Donald Trump’s administration claims to have canceled as part of its signature cost-cutting program aren’t expected to save the government any money, the administration’s data shows. The Department of Government Efficiency, run by Elon Musk, published an updated list Monday of nearly 2,300 contracts that agencies terminated in recent weeks across the federal government. Data published on DOGE’s “Wall of Receipts” shows that more than one-third of the contract cancellations, 794 in all, are expected to yield no savings. That’s usually because the total value of the contracts has already been fully obligated, which means the government is required to spend the funds for the goods or services it purchased.

AP News
Show threadZhi Zhu 🕸️Feb 25, 2025

FOIA

DOGE tries to expand use of pseudo-secrets
https://freedom.press/the-classifieds/doge-tries-to-expand-use-of-pseudo-secrets/

"Last week, employees at #USAID noticed the bottom of their emails contained the phrase “sensitive but unclassified.” The warning, which only appeared after #Doge took control of the agency, is reportedly not visible until after an email is sent. It cannot be deleted and is applied to all USAID emails, whether they contain sensitive #information or not."

#Musk #Coup #Trump #Corruption #Politics #USPol #News #US #USA

DOGE tries to expand use of pseudo-secrets

Plus: Two upcoming secrecy fights and how to prepare for them

Freedom of the Press
Show threadZhi Zhu 🕸️Feb 25, 2025

Who Is Running the US DOGE Service?

At a recent hearing, no one—not even the Trump administration’s own lawyers—seemed to know.
https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/who-is-running-the-u.s.-doge-service

"The #Trump administration’s own #lawyers say that they don’t know who is in charge of the US #DOGE Service—or whether an administrator for the organization even exists...

the judge raised doubts about the constitutionality of DOGE’s structure and operations under the Appointments Clause."

#ElonMusk #Musk #Coup #Corruption #USPol #News #US

Who Is Running the U.S. DOGE Service?

At a recent hearing, no one—not even the Trump administration’s own lawyers—seemed to know.

Default
Show threadZhi Zhu 🕸️Feb 25, 2025

"The #AppointmentsClause of the #Constitution requires that principal officers be nominated by the president & confirmed by the #Senate...

When #DOGE officials provide high-level policy direction to a high-ranking employee at #Treasury, are they exercising significant authority & discretion? If so, does that make them “officers” under the Appointments Clause? Were they nominated by the president & confirmed by the Senate?"
https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/who-is-running-the-u.s.-doge-service

#Musk #Doge #Coup #Politics #Law #News #USA

Who Is Running the U.S. DOGE Service?

At a recent hearing, no one—not even the Trump administration’s own lawyers—seemed to know.

Default
Show threadZhi Zhu 🕸️Feb 26, 2025

How to Make the GOP Pay a Price for DOGE

Trump made a huge mistake by putting #Musk in charge of implementing deeply unpopular policy
https://www.messageboxnews.com/p/how-to-make-the-gop-pay-a-price-for

"The angry #townhalls are back... voters are furious about the chaotic, clumsy, & counter-productive cuts from Elon Musk’s #DOGE Commission.

...Some #Republican MoCs are complaining publicly; & many more are privately expressing their concerns...

a grassroots backlash to #DonaldTrump and #ElonMusk assault on our #government"

#Resist

How to Make the GOP Pay a Price for DOGE

Trump made a huge mistake by putting Musk in charge of implementing deeply unpopular policy

The Message Box
Show threadZhi Zhu 🕸️Feb 26, 2025

Make #Tesla Toxic

And other ways to beat fascists
https://www.altrightdelete.news/p/make-tesla-toxic

"Clearly, everyone involved in #Trump 2.0 believes they can fuck around & will never have to find out. It’s up to us to change that.

...No one who’s lived their whole life in the #UnitedStates has ever faced something like this, & none of us knows for sure what’s going to derail the march toward #fascism. In times like these, we should foster creative actions, not wag our fingers or tut-tut ideas."

#Resist #Resistance

Make Tesla Toxic

And other ways to beat fascists

Ctrl Alt Right Delete
Show threadZhi Zhu 🕸️Feb 26, 2025

Acting IRS Commissioner Is Expected to Announce His Retirement

Doug O’Donnell, a 40-year veteran of the IRS, was elevated last month after the last commissioner stepped down at the beginning of Trump’s term.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/24/us/politics/acting-irs-commissioner-retire.html

"departure comes at a turbulent time... w/ore than 6,700 employees dismissed last week. #Musk has suggested the #IRS should be abolished... deployed a member of his so-called #DOGE to the agency

...moves that #tax experts warn could increase the #deficit"

#News

Acting I.R.S. Commissioner Doug O’Donnell to Announce Retirement

Doug O’Donnell, a 40-year veteran of the I.R.S., was elevated last month after the last commissioner stepped down at the beginning of President Trump’s term.

The New York Times
Show threadZhi Zhu 🕸️Feb 26, 2025

"DOGE’s actions... are not compatible with the mission we joined the US Digital Service to carry out: to deliver better services to the #American people through #technology and design.

‘We will not use our skills as technologists to compromise core #government systems, jeopardize Americans’ sensitive #data, or dismantle critical public services. We will not lend our expertise to carry out or legitimize DOGE’s actions."
https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/25544180/usds-resignation-letter.pdf

#Musk #Doge #Coup #Tech #USPol #Resignation #US

Show threadZhi Zhu 🕸️Feb 26, 2025

Elon Musk Gets Brutal Setback as Dual Legal Losses Block DOGE

The rulings are major roadblocks to Musk’s agenda.
https://newrepublic.com/post/191923/elon-musk-double-whammy-legal-losses-doge

"The American checks & balances system is waking up.

On Monday, two different decisions—one from a federal judge and the other from an independent government watchdog agency—came down to limit the power of #ElonMusk and #Doge ...

These are the first of many lawsuits against DOGE and the broader #Trump administration."

#Resist #Musk #Coup #News #USA #US

Elon Musk Hit With Brutal Double Whammy of Legal Losses

The rulings are a major setback to Musk’s agenda for DOGE.

The New Republic
Show threadZhi Zhu 🕸️Feb 26, 2025

Republicans Are Starting to Panic About DOGE
https://www.thebulwark.com/p/republicans-starting-to-panic-doge-townhalls-musk-cuts

" #Trump & Elon Musk’s tool for mass-firing #government employees & shuttering independent agencies without consulting #Congress, is setting up #Republican lawmakers for political calamity by rapidly boosting #unemployment & negating key services on their watch...

People across the country are angry, & that anger has come out at a handful of #townhalls... the booing & hissing had an impact."

#Resist #Musk #Coup #News #US

Republicans Are Starting to Panic About DOGE

Plus: Another Russian propagandist gets ready to join the Trump administration.

The Bulwark
Show threadZhi Zhu 🕸️Feb 26, 2025

BREAKING: Elon’s Epic Email Rake-Stomp Finally Explained!
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/breaking-elons-epic-email-rakestomp-finally-explained

"On January 27th, a lawyer... filed a #lawsuit... pursuant to several federal laws over GWES [Govt Wide Email System]... under these various federal laws, if #DOGE /OPM wanted to set up this new #email system... they had to make various promises & representations about how GWES would be used...anything to do with the #GWES emails would be voluntary. You can look, not look..."

#Musk #Coup #Tech #News #USA

BREAKING: Elon’s Epic Email Rake-Stomp Finally Explained!

Winston Churchill once said, “nothing in life is so exhilarating as to...

TPM - Talking Points Memo
Show threadFrank Bennett 🇯🇵Feb 25, 2025
@ZhiZhu There was a promise of transparency. That apparently means things are invisible.
Show threadlevampyreFeb 25, 2025
@ZhiZhu I don't think you have to point out the obvious. It was never meant to save money. It was always meant to erode the government and constitutional principles from within.
Show threadRalfMaximusFeb 25, 2025

@ZhiZhu

Hmm. What a conundrum. Stay and quietly fuck with the invaders every chance you get, risking persecution for 'treason' or whatever... or get the fuck out? I'm honestly conflicted.

Show threadZhi Zhu 🕸️Feb 25, 2025

@ralfmaximus

Indeed.

Specific Suggestions:
Simple Sabotage for the 21st Century
https://specificsuggestions.com/share/EN/9280.html

Simple Sabotage Field Manual by US Office of Strategic Services:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/26184

#Resist #Resistance #Sabotage #USA

Specific Suggestions: Simple Sabotage for the 21st Century

The most potent tools for fighting injustice are the ones already in your hands.

Specific Suggestions: Simple Sabotage for the 21st Century
Show threadBlort™ 🐀Ⓥ🥋☣️Feb 28, 2025

@ZhiZhu
Those last two sentences... that's what real patriotism looks like.

I just wish the others had just refused illegal orders rather than quitting. Quitting creates no liability for Elon/Trump, and let's them just replace people with loyalists.

Never quit.

Just refuse the illegal/immoral parts so they need to justify why they fired you. Don't give them the easy elimination. Make them give you grounds for wrongful dismissal.

Show threadQybatFeb 25, 2025
@ZhiZhu I have to wonder though... what happens if Duh Fuhrer just directs court staff to throw away the paperwork? It would surely result in some outrage, but there's fuck-all his opponents could do about it.