this post was submitted on 03 Feb 2025
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Summary

Elon Musk claims his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is shutting down payments to federal contractors, including a Lutheran charity, asserting it is eliminating corruption.

This suggests DOGE has access to Treasury’s payment systems, though officials have not confirmed the extent.

Senator Ron Wyden warned that DOGE may interfere with Social Security, Medicare, and government contracts.

Musk also called USAID “a criminal organization” that should “die,” amid DOGE’s growing influence over federal financial operations.

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[–] [email protected] 26 points 18 hours ago (5 children)

Contractors handle Medicare.

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[–] [email protected] 40 points 19 hours ago (2 children)

Remember when people were posting articles on how stupid and ridiculous DOGE is because it wouldn't have the authority to do anything?

[–] Killer 19 points 18 hours ago (2 children)

He doesn't need the authority if he just forces his way in.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 16 hours ago

Grabbed America by the pussy

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[–] [email protected] 15 points 16 hours ago* (last edited 15 hours ago) (1 children)

So, time to stop paying federal students loans and income taxes, eh?

Edit: student loans would be more difficult because loan default but the W4 can be adjusted so no income is deducted for Federal taxes. One would just have to be sure to put that money aside in a savings account ~~to pay next year with no current impact in this tax year~~. Looks like there would have to be some quarterly payments or one would otherwise incur penalties. So it'd be a bit tricky to pull off cleanly. Maybe someone better at tax code could figure out a way to just do this quarterly.

[–] Maggoty 8 points 14 hours ago

Oops that was a paperwork fuck up. I'm sorry IRS, I'll hand over the amount owed from my savings.

And life continues.

The IRS doesn't want to prosecute people, it wants to get paid. A massive tax strike would be very effective because the IRS is getting short staffed under a trump administration. So they might actually take a few years to get to you. This is, of course, contingent on you having that money in savings and being willing to pay them when they show up for it.

This isn't legal advice, I'm not a lawyer, just an old guy who pays attention, if you're going to do this I highly recommend not responding or voting this comment. (It's evidence)

[–] [email protected] 16 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

I wonder at what point people are going to use force to stop this coup, at this point everyone is just watching laws and systems being broken and dimantled with no regard.

Is the media in the US that controlled that their people just don't see what is happening?

[–] [email protected] 7 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

I wonder at what point people are going to use force to stop this coup

Historically, it should start in about 30 days, or so, internally with rapid succession authoritarianism settling in.

Then, it takes a year or so after the first territorial grab. The first one is called "appeasement" strategy.

After that, then the rest of the world bombs us into desolation.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 13 hours ago

then the rest of the world bombs us into desolation.

Happy to, but you guys have nuclear weapons.

[–] Treczoks 28 points 19 hours ago (5 children)

I see lawsuits flooding the US government for not paying for things they ordered.

[–] [email protected] 19 points 18 hours ago (1 children)

Sorry the number you are trying to reach has been disconnected.

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[–] [email protected] 34 points 20 hours ago (6 children)

I sure hope this was worth it to hate on the trans and the browns. That's the only thing dumb ass Americans voted for in 2024.

[–] Maggoty 8 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

Looking at exit polls and post election polls it was the economy. Trump was very direct in his promise to lower prices. Harris ran over a hundred different messaging lines which clouded her economic message. Then she got caught on national TV defending Biden's economy and saying nothing would change.

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[–] ansiz 46 points 21 hours ago

Musk is himself a giant government contractor via Space X and Starlink. Odds are he's just trying to clear the board to funnel the money to his businesses. Especially when it comes to defense money!

[–] MothmanDelorian 50 points 22 hours ago (8 children)

How is anyone permitting any of these people to have authority?

[–] LePoisson 14 points 19 hours ago

Because we're all just people and at the end of the day some person is agreeing to not dispense the funds or not provide aid or to round up individuals ... Until there is meaningful pushback by people who actually are carrying this bullshit out it won't change.

Idk same as how the Nazis managed the Holocaust, at the end of the day thousands of individuals agreed and did their part to exterminate the Jews. Same as how Israel now is committing an ongoing genocide in Gaza with their military and all those individuals are carrying out their orders.

Authority, like many other things in our society, is an emphemeral concept we all agree to. Authority is given when we agree to abide by what that authority says. Same like our laws, sure we have laws against things but it's not like those actually mean anything if they're not obeyed by the majority. Nothing stopping you from doming Elon with the a large brick if you got one and can get close enough, you know what I mean?

[–] cultsuperstar 25 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

Trump's government is basically pay-to-play and Elon paid the most so he gets to do whatever he wants.

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[–] twistypencil 30 points 21 hours ago
[–] [email protected] 310 points 1 day ago (20 children)

At what point do we declare this a coup? This isn't what even the most diehard conservatives out there voted for, I don't understand how this isn't considered a hostile takeover.

[–] Sanctus 5 points 15 hours ago

Now, arm up

[–] [email protected] 34 points 22 hours ago (6 children)

It’s stressing me out to no end. I think the average person doesn’t even know this is currently happening.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

Very rural area dweller, here, two towns over doing errands. Just spoke with an elderly Mango Mussolini voter/Faux News consumer who already regrets his choice.. I commented it's time to stop voting to hurt others and vote for taxpayer dollars to help the common people, rather than billionaires. He agreed.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

Not to shit on the guy too hard, but it's a bit late on that front. I hope he's around/remembers the next time someone courts his vote.

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[–] njm1314 136 points 1 day ago (4 children)

Oh please start halting payments to government contractors. This guy starts holding payments to Lockheed Martin and Raytheon he's going to wind up real Dead real quick

[–] FlyingSquid 82 points 1 day ago (5 children)
[–] Aeri 82 points 1 day ago
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[–] [email protected] 52 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

Does anyone know what the story is behind this charity he's mentioning?

Edit: looks like they feed and provide shelter for asylum seekers, and obviously he's against that.

[–] [email protected] 18 points 19 hours ago* (last edited 19 hours ago) (1 children)

Because Putin wants rid of it.

U.S.A.I.D. funds democracy-promotion programs around the world, including in European countries where right-wing populist movements are thriving. Mr. Musk has become an ally of those movements, some of whose leaders have specifically targeted the agency’s pro-democracy programs in recent years.

Supporters of Viktor Orban, the right-wing leader of Hungary and a darling of pro-Trump conservatives in the United States, have personally criticized Samantha Power, who led U.S.A.I.D. during the Biden administration, for trying to import American values into their country.

NY times gift link

[–] [email protected] 2 points 13 hours ago

I'm talking about the Lutheran charity mentioned. USAID is part of the soft power projection and regime change machine of the state department.

[–] reddig33 66 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Great way to get sued for breach of contract. This administration is going to be tied up in court for the next four years

[–] [email protected] 25 points 21 hours ago (1 children)

Do you really think this is going to play out in a court? They don't care about the law and are actively plowing through them at will.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

Yeah I don't see LockMart and Raytheon taking that sitting down. Musk thinks he has power, he doesn't really. The MIC runs American finance.

[–] chronicledmonocle 7 points 16 hours ago (2 children)

My understanding is they exempted police and military

[–] Maggoty 3 points 14 hours ago

That's not going to matter. There are some absolute giants in the contracting world and they're not going to take this lying down.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 16 hours ago

Ah of course they did

Maybe the one intelligent decision this group has ever made

[–] [email protected] 55 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Unfortunately, when all this stuff is resolved, it's still the government that's on the hook, not Musk personally. Although the new admin should probably just impound all of his and Trump's assets to pay for the fallout, but obviously Democrats would never do anything this based.

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