(I realize the twitter thread is mostly about Musk, but I think the emanations and penumbras around Musk have far outstripped twitter. This thread is for that.)
Other than perhaps Musk himself, did anyone on this earth have "Musk will be a powerful, quasi-presidential force within a Trump administration" on their bingo card a year ago?
WASHINGTON, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Aides to Elon Musk charged with running the U.S. government human resources agency have locked career civil servants out of computer systems that contain the personal data of millions of federal employees, according to two agency officials.
People working for, or with, Elon Musk are reportedly taking over the inner workings of multiple government agencies, including the Office of Personnel Management and the Treasury Department.
The Washington Post reported Friday that the highest-ranking career official at Treasury is leaving the department after “a clash” with people working for Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) over “access to sensitive payment systems,” citing three unnamed sources.
The DOGE officials have been asking for access to the system — which controls the flow of more than $6 trillion annually to programs like Social Security and Medicare — since after the election in November. The Trump administration has been looking for ways to stop the flow federal money appropriated by Congress, including hastily ordering a confusing spending freeze, which experts say violates the constitution.
We were just discussing the implications of all this. Hubby works as a public servant here, resolving users’ complex issues. My brother is relatively high up in a major federal govt department, tightening security and keeping the massive national database working. Both also teach business leadership. None of us can imagine being a US public servant, of any description, over the next few months. It’ll take a looong time to resolve.
(I realize the twitter thread is mostly about Musk, but I think the emanations and penumbras around Musk have far outstripped twitter. This thread is for that.)
Other than perhaps Musk himself, did anyone on this earth have "Musk will be a powerful, quasi-presidential force within a Trump administration" on their bingo card a year ago?
WASHINGTON, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Aides to Elon Musk charged with running the U.S. government human resources agency have locked career civil servants out of computer systems that contain the personal data of millions of federal employees, according to two agency officials.
People working for, or with, Elon Musk are reportedly taking over the inner workings of multiple government agencies, including the Office of Personnel Management and the Treasury Department.
The Washington Post reported Friday that the highest-ranking career official at Treasury is leaving the department after “a clash” with people working for Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) over “access to sensitive payment systems,” citing three unnamed sources.
The DOGE officials have been asking for access to the system — which controls the flow of more than $6 trillion annually to programs like Social Security and Medicare — since after the election in November. The Trump administration has been looking for ways to stop the flow federal money appropriated by Congress, including hastily ordering a confusing spending freeze, which experts say violates the constitution.
Agreed that this report is alarming. However, the NY Times report on the story links to this GAO report:
Improper payments—those that should not have been made or were made in the incorrect amount—have consistently been a government-wide issue. Since fiscal year 2003, federal agencies reported about $2.7 trillion in total improper payments. In FY 2023 alone, federal agencies made $236 billion in improper payments, a decrease of about $11 billion from the prior fiscal year.
This Q&A report shows that this estimate doesn't include the Department of Health and Human Services' Temporary Assistance for Needy Families—a program that is susceptible to significant improper payments. We covered this issue in a prior report.
(I realize the twitter thread is mostly about Musk, but I think the emanations and penumbras around Musk have far outstripped twitter. This thread is for that.)
Other than perhaps Musk himself, did anyone on this earth have "Musk will be a powerful, quasi-presidential force within a Trump administration" on their bingo card a year ago?
WASHINGTON, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Aides to Elon Musk charged with running the U.S. government human resources agency have locked career civil servants out of computer systems that contain the personal data of millions of federal employees, according to two agency officials.
People working for, or with, Elon Musk are reportedly taking over the inner workings of multiple government agencies, including the Office of Personnel Management and the Treasury Department.
The Washington Post reported Friday that the highest-ranking career official at Treasury is leaving the department after “a clash” with people working for Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) over “access to sensitive payment systems,” citing three unnamed sources.
The DOGE officials have been asking for access to the system — which controls the flow of more than $6 trillion annually to programs like Social Security and Medicare — since after the election in November. The Trump administration has been looking for ways to stop the flow federal money appropriated by Congress, including hastily ordering a confusing spending freeze, which experts say violates the constitution.
Agreed that this report is alarming. However, the NY Times report on the story links to this GAO report:
Improper payments—those that should not have been made or were made in the incorrect amount—have consistently been a government-wide issue. Since fiscal year 2003, federal agencies reported about $2.7 trillion in total improper payments. In FY 2023 alone, federal agencies made $236 billion in improper payments, a decrease of about $11 billion from the prior fiscal year.
This Q&A report shows that this estimate doesn't include the Department of Health and Human Services' Temporary Assistance for Needy Families—a program that is susceptible to significant improper payments. We covered this issue in a prior report.
and do you somehow think that these improper payments are what Musk is looking at? are we to trust his judgement on what is fraud and what is not? on what is improper? and on what authority?
and again, the point of this thread is why the **** is he even involved? How? Why?
we face a far bigger threat from the fact that he's involved than we face from some improper payments.
WASHINGTON, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Aides to Elon Musk charged with running the U.S. government human resources agency have locked career civil servants out of computer systems that contain the personal data of millions of federal employees, according to two agency officials.
Improper payments—those that should not have been made or were made in the incorrect amount—have consistently been a government-wide issue. Since fiscal year 2003, federal agencies reported about $2.7 trillion in total improper payments. In FY 2023 alone, federal agencies made $236 billion in improper payments, a decrease of about $11 billion from the prior fiscal year.
This Q&A report shows that this estimate doesn't include the Department of Health and Human Services' Temporary Assistance for Needy Families—a program that is susceptible to significant improper payments. We covered this issue in a prior report.
Your "however" has nothing to do with the point of the concern. You're engaging in the same kind of misdirection as people who rant about Venezuelan gang members in response to concern about the deportation of families.
The fixes to problems with government computer systems will be expensive, time-consuming and complex. What they won't be is exciting new stories. Musk is all about the headlines and not about the detail. Anybody who believes that his current theatrics are part of any real solution is delusional.
Perhaps you're a fan of his attempt to import his anti-worker policies to the federal work force? Cancel culture is all good so long as it's middle class jobs you're canceling, right?
What leads you to use the phrase "Perhaps you're a fan of" to introduce this idea of yours.
I know someone who is freaking out because her scholarship funds have been frozen. People are going through some **** now. This man is going to create a situation in this country that will make people lose their minds. This is not gonna end well at all.
Musk and his guys having access to all the info at Treasury has me freaked out. I do think, though, that while i've authorized Treasury to deposit $ to my checking account, i haven't authorized them (or anyone) to draw from it. Cmon credit union, hold firm!
Does anybody know whether Musk et al. are federal employees? Subject to any confidentiality regulations? Sort of seems like something they wouldn't prioritize, doesn't it?
eta: looks like they're now Treasury employees, with (fast? i dunno) security clearances
Did you know that USAID, using YOUR tax dollars, funded bioweapon research, including COVID-19, that killed millions of people? https://t.co/YVwyKA7ifs
Your post doesn't contain any acknowledgement of Musk's past and current role in the transition to an emissions-free world via Tesla and Tesla Energy, therefore you're just trying to cancel him and your point will be ignored.
[Edited to add] As for USAID, what you may naively call "doing your job" is criminalized under our New Order. Most recently -
He is right about that. I don’t understand why he is somehow authorized to be in these systems but shutting down USAID is a step in the right direction for our country. That money was used for nefarious purposes such as regime change operations and probably money laundering also. This is truly draining the swamp. I never thought I’d see that. They dumped Samantha Powers too!! Good move.
He is right about that. I don’t understand why he is somehow authorized to be in these systems but shutting down USAID is a step in the right direction for our country.
He doesn't have the authority to shut it down -- that's up to Congress. Presidents flagrantly ignoring the constitution is a step in a very bad direction, regardless on whether one agrees with the goal.
He doesn't have the authority to shut it down -- that's up to Congress. Presidents flagrantly ignoring the constitution is a step in a very bad direction, regardless on whether one agrees with the goal.
We will see what happens. I doubt Congress would agree to shut it down. Quite revolutionary. Was not on my BINGO card.
He doesn't have the authority to shut it down -- that's up to Congress. Presidents flagrantly ignoring the constitution is a step in a very bad direction, regardless on whether one agrees with the goal.
We will see what happens. I doubt Congress would agree to shut it down. Quite revolutionary. Was not on my BINGO card.
To make sure I'm understanding you correctly -- you're in favor of Trump flouting the constitution and unilaterally shutting down USAID?
He doesn't have the authority to shut it down -- that's up to Congress. Presidents flagrantly ignoring the constitution is a step in a very bad direction, regardless on whether one agrees with the goal.
We will see what happens. I doubt Congress would agree to shut it down. Quite revolutionary. Was not on my BINGO card.
To make sure I'm understanding you correctly -- you're in favor of Trump flouting the constitution and unilaterally shutting down USAID?
You're arguing with someone who literally has no clue what shutting down USAID means, in terms of harms to people around the world, and just spouts some nonsense like "That money was used for nefarious purposes such as regime change operations and probably money laundering also." Unfortunately, too many voters have been similarly and deliberately misinformed about what Trump and Musk planned and are doing.
To make sure I'm understanding you correctly -- you're in favor of Trump flouting the constitution and unilaterally shutting down USAID?
Well I guess I can’t be because next time he could shut down something I actually think we need. It’s like when I had to stand up for Alex Jones after he got banned from twitter because I knew they would move on to people I cared about and they did. But getting rid of USAID is awesome. Samantha Power getting fired! Can’t I have a little joy in my life? For two seconds?
He doesn't have the authority to shut it down -- that's up to Congress. Presidents flagrantly ignoring the constitution is a step in a very bad direction, regardless on whether one agrees with the goal.
We will see what happens. I doubt Congress would agree to shut it down. Quite revolutionary. Was not on my BINGO card.
To make sure I'm understanding you correctly -- you're in favor of Trump flouting the constitution and unilaterally shutting down USAID?
You're arguing with someone who literally has no clue what shutting down USAID means, in terms of harms to people around the world, and just spouts some nonsense like "That money was used for nefarious purposes such as regime change operations and probably money laundering also." Unfortunately, too many voters have been similarly and deliberately misinformed about what Trump and Musk planned and are doing.
Yeah and you were totally ignorant about all the harm they cause. You probably still deny the regime change in Ukraine. USAID was a governmental house of ill repute.
(I realize the twitter thread is mostly about Musk, but I think the emanations and penumbras around Musk have far outstripped twitter. This thread is for that.)
Other than perhaps Musk himself, did anyone on this earth have "Musk will be a powerful, quasi-presidential force within a Trump administration" on their bingo card a year ago?
two stories, just from today. 1/31/2025
Exclusive: Musk aides lock government workers out of computer systems at US agency, sources say
WASHINGTON, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Aides to Elon Musk charged with running
the U.S. government human resources agency have locked career civil
servants out of computer systems that contain the personal data of
millions of federal employees, according to two agency officials.
Elon Musk is reportedly taking control of the inner workings of US government agencies
People working for, or with, Elon Musk are reportedly taking over the inner workings of multiple government agencies, including the Office of Personnel Management and the Treasury Department.
The Washington Post reported Friday that the highest-ranking career official at Treasury is leaving the department after “a clash” with people working for Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) over “access to sensitive payment systems,” citing three unnamed sources.
The DOGE officials have been asking for access to the system — which controls the flow of more than $6 trillion annually to programs like Social Security and Medicare — since after the election in November. The Trump administration has been looking for ways to stop the flow federal money appropriated by Congress, including hastily ordering a confusing spending freeze, which experts say violates the constitution.