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Welcome to The Logoff. At the moment’s version is a couple of courtroom order pushing again Elon Musk’s deadline for federal employees to take him up on his supply for a deferred resignation. That may sound area of interest, however it’s necessary for anybody who depends on a useful authorities. It additionally affords an perception into how the courts may derail Donald Trump’s broader agenda — if he complies with their orders.
What’s the newest? Midnight was alleged to be the deadline for employees to determine whether or not they would take Musk’s DOGE up on the supply to resign on the finish of September, with (presumably) paid time without work till then. However a federal choose suspended that deadline till Monday, organising a per-deadline listening to to find out whether or not the “deferred resignation” supply was even authorized.
So, is it authorized? Effectively, a Georgetown Legislation Faculty professor informed Vox this: “They’re making a promise that’s opposite to federal legislation — and that has very severe penalties.”
Are folks taking the DOGE supply? The White Home says about 40,000 federal employees have accepted the supply — the federal authorities employs about 2.4 million folks, although not all of them have been supplied the buyout.
What’s the purpose of the supply? Comparatively few employees have taken it up to now, however the supply is a part of a broader plan — alongside threats of coming mass layoffs — to shrink the federal workforce at breakneck pace. It’s a wager that Trump’s group can quickly lower the workforce with out undermining the federal government’s skill to carry out the important providers we rely on.
What’s the larger context? As an alternative of pushing his agenda by Congress, Trump is claiming huge new powers for the manager department and, particularly, for himself. However for that to work, he wants the courts to go alongside. In the event that they gained’t, Trump will both must defy the courts — triggering a constitutional disaster even bigger than the one we’re in already — or watch as huge chunks of his agenda will disintegrate.
And with that, it’s time to log out …
Say you, hypothetically, have been experiencing nervousness lately? And say, on prime of that, you have been struggling to focus? I can relate, which is why I discovered this Vox piece on journaling so useful. It’s concerning the “stable scientific proof that the straightforward act of writing about our emotions is nice for our brains,” and it’s a pleasant reminder to maintain oneself. See you again right here tomorrow.
