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Welcome to The Logoff. At present’s version is a couple of court docket order pushing again Elon Musk’s deadline for federal employees to take him up on his provide for a deferred resignation. Which may sound area of interest, however it’s essential for anybody who depends on a practical authorities. It additionally affords an perception into how the courts would possibly derail Donald Trump’s broader agenda — if he complies with their orders.
What’s the newest? Midnight was presupposed to be the deadline for employees to resolve whether or not they would take Musk’s DOGE up on the provide to resign on the finish of September, with (probably) paid day without work till then. However a federal decide suspended that deadline till Monday, organising a per-deadline listening to to find out whether or not the “deferred resignation” provide was even authorized.
So, is it authorized? Properly, a Georgetown Legislation Faculty professor informed Vox this: “They’re making a promise that’s opposite to federal legislation — and that has very critical penalties.”
Are individuals taking the DOGE provide? The White Home says about 40,000 federal employees have accepted the provide — the federal authorities employs about 2.4 million individuals, although not all of them have been supplied the buyout.
What’s the purpose of the provide? Comparatively few employees have taken it up to now, however the provide is a part of a broader plan — alongside threats of coming mass layoffs — to shrink the federal workforce at breakneck velocity. It’s a wager that Trump’s crew can quickly lower the workforce with out undermining the federal government’s skill to carry out the important companies we rely on.
What’s the larger context? As a substitute of pushing his agenda by Congress, Trump is claiming large new powers for the chief department and, particularly, for himself. However for that to work, he wants the courts to go alongside. In the event that they received’t, Trump will both need to defy the courts — triggering a constitutional disaster even bigger than the one we’re in already — or watch as massive chunks of his agenda will collapse.
And with that, it’s time to sign off …
Say you, hypothetically, had been experiencing nervousness nowadays? And say, on prime of that, you had 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 easy act of writing about our emotions is nice for our brains,” and it’s a pleasant reminder to deal with oneself. See you again right here tomorrow.
