Destroying the US gov't in one week.
He is just starting.

Putin and Xi didn't have to fire a shot.

Felon47 continues his assigned Project 2025 mission to destroy our country and remake it in his own image.

They knew the fix was in and their puppet would be installed into the WH.
And they owned the US.

With political shock and awe Trump can kill a lot more people, mostly civilians.
Instill terror and destroy the entire country without firing a shot.
Destroy democracy and the federal government.
And American values.

You can even destroy the most powerful military in the history of the world in short order.

Trump is not smart enough to pull this off by himself, he had a great deal of help.
This was a long term, expensive plan, with a lot of moving parts and planning.

Trump is to stupid to do any of this. He can not put to sentences together without messing it up.

Reich-wing Billionaire sedition, no different then Smedley Butler era.

Reagan and Newt Gingrich got the ball rolling.

It has been a long term plan.
When the USSR broke apart, Putin blamed the US and vowed revenge.

He got it at long last.
The GOP and billionaires were only too happy to oblige Putin.

For sale to Musk appointees

But sure....everyone would get their lousy eight months check. Sure they will

Which ends in, uh, September.

The money's there--they'd apparently just be furloughed and their official separation date postponed (or there'd be some bureaucratic dodge to accomplish the same artifice).

However, their salaries wouldn't be budgeted as of 10/1. Would there be cost cutting prior to that? Sure. Space, if nothing else.

Shit could get real then.

It's the same expense for eight months and then drops off.

It's only the "same expense" for 8 months, if you buy, or promote the right wing bullshit that these Civil Servants are offering nothing productive to the federal government.

That's right-wing bullshit

Whether they get less productivity out of the now-smaller department (a reasonable assumption) is entirely distinct from how much payroll expense there is.

The question was where the money for severance packages will come from.

“How will the work still get done?” is an entirely different question (to which the answer is equally clear).

But try this at your business. Seriously, just take 10% of your workforce, pay them to do nothing for 9 months, and tell me what you production numbers are.

Not to mention that a lot of what these civil servants do doesn't show up on a spreadsheet. How do you measure an American citizen getting their Social Security questions answered in 15 minutes, or NEVER?

I spent part of my life as a Financial Management Analyst for the Department of the Navy. We wrote and processed financial documents to obligate and expend appropriated funds against contracts and work orders.

If I was not there to process these funds, planes, ships and units didn't function. Supplies, parts, maintenance and training didn't get to where they needed to go.

That has real world consequences.

If you simply look at the cost of payroll/labor, you are parroting right wing talking points.

You're also a pretty lousy "accountant".

You have to realize that you’re having an entirely different conversation.

Whether the company is more profitable or not two years down the road depends on whether they’re right or wrong that a given function can operate with fewer people. If you want to have that discussion - feel free to start your own sub thread. I doubt that we would disagree.

But don’t pretend that it’s the one you replied to and that others are taking the wrong side of that debate.

The question was where the money comes from - hinting that maybe they can’t do this because Congress hasn’t appropriated funds to pay for it. Nobody asked how the work would still get done because we all know the answer to that one

The poster is explaining that the severance package is simply the normal salary and benefits the employee was getting. They will basically be unemployed while they get their salary for eight months and then be done. So if the government doesn’t fill the position, after the severance is done, the government and the taxpayers are saving the money that would have gone to pay that employee. Trump probably plans on not replacing those people which means he’s saving money. Of course this also means that the employees still working are having to bust their butts to cover the loss of much needed coworkers. I know many government agencies are severely understaffed.

He wants to slash worker bees

The loss of experience, institutional memory and integrity will be massive

It makes sense for people really close to retirement, but otherwise its not that big of an incentive. And one thing that keeps getting ignored in all of this, I'm pretty sure that they will not be allowed to immediately force everyone back into the office 5 days a week. An awful lot of employees are teleworking under labor agreements which were collectively bargained and can't just be unilaterally rescinded. They will have to wait until the contracts are up or renegotiate which would probably result in significant additional compensation for the employees.

and those that did were long term employees with plenty of savings and no mortgages and second careers already planned. This was about 25 years ago. The rest of us who weren't eligible to retire were offered lots of Saturday overtime as our agency was downsizing staff despite having increased workloads. I wonder if there will be overtime to help get the work done or if this bunch of incompetent fanatics just want our government to fail.

Fortunately or unfortunately, the vast majority of the population would be hurt by the total failure of the government (even though most MAGAs don't think they would be) so the worse things get in terms of basic governmental services, the outrage will start increasing , even among the MAGA cult.

Actively sabotaging the government so they can say the government doesn't work so we should just get rid of it.

Yes - it could be appealing for those close to retirement. But there are also quite a few federal employees that didn't want to work for this guy in the first place (and probably at least as many who worry that they're going to be cut anyway).

An eight-month "thanks for your service" may be just the thing to ease the transition... particularly while there are still private-sector jobs to be had.

What do you do with a drunken Hegseth?
What do you do with a drunken Hegseth?
Early in the morning?
Toss him into trash and let him fall over.
Early in the morning?

Park service rangers keeping a lookout for dangerous fires, air traffic controllers, USPS workers delivering mail, local Social Security staff helping people sign up for Social Security and Medicare, and many more who help keep government functioning and the country afloat by collecting and disbursing taxes. Trump is creating a failed state in less than a month.

The federal workforce is not excessive. It is currently 1.9% of all workers, lower than it’s been in years. But Russell Vought of Project 2025 is jumping with glee because he wrote that Trump should negate Congress’s will by simply allocating money as he wants, not according to the laws and budget allocations Congress establishes. Once Vought is confirmed as head of OMB, he will do much worse.

put their own partisan, easily-manipulated people in their place. They have their own vetted lists prepared.

There will be new hires, but they will have to sign a loyalty oath, not to the Constitution, but to Trump.

Okay. NOW I'm surprised. Did not see this doozie coming.

They felt the letter wasn't just a buyout offer, it sounded like a threat. After I read it, I agree.

What are we going to do? How do we survive this?

A friend who is a fed employee received an email from their union saying don't do it. There is pushback. This hasn't even hit the courts yet--or has it? So many lawsuits are being filed so fast that I can't keep up.

We must persist. That's all we can do.

I shouldn't ID myself as a Fed Employee, but earlier this week we got a test from a new email system. Guess this is what it was set up for, to blast all federal employees at once. I'll also read this as an indicator that Trump and his cronies don't trust Executive Branch heads to send out an email to all of their employees.

Nuts

And likely no pension.

Recently read that it will take more than a year to pay the back pay and set up the new pay for those of us that included in the Social Security Fairness Act. If these people take that option how long will be for them to get paid? Needless to say I wouldn't trust Trump as far I could throw him which is none at all.

Link to tweet

nt

make them fire me before I would quit.

- He doesn't have the authority to make the offer
- There is no appropriation of funds for buyouts
- He will not pay
IT'S A SETUP!

Link to tweet

From inside an Angecy:


Forwarded from a non BUE. Not sure if this applies to BUE. They are not screwing around and are focused on eliminating enemies of the state, and tax cuts.

From: HR 
Sent: Tuesday, January 28, 2025 2:33 PM

Subject: Fork in the Road

Importance: High
 
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Do not click on links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
 
During the first week of his administration, President Trump issued a number of directives concerning the federal workforce. Among those directives, the President required that employees return to in-person work, restored accountability for employees who have policy-making authority, restored accountability for senior career executives, and reformed the federal hiring process to focus on merit. As a result of the above orders, the reform of the federal workforce will be significant.

The reformed federal workforce will be built around four pillars:
1)
Return to Office: The substantial majority of federal employees who have been working remotely since Covid will be required to return to their physical offices five days a week. Going forward, we also expect our physical offices to undergo meaningful consolidation and divestitures, potentially resulting in physical office relocations for a number of federal workers.
2)
Performance culture: The federal workforce should be comprised of the best America has to offer. We will insist on excellence at every level — our performance standards will be updated to reward and promote those that exceed expectations and address in a fair and open way those who do not meet the high standards which the taxpayers of this country have a right to demand.
3)
More streamlined and flexible workforce: While a few agencies and even branches of the military are likely to see increases in the size of their workforce, the majority of federal agencies are likely to be downsized through restructurings, realignments, and reductions in force. These actions are likely to include the use of furloughs and the reclassification to at-will status for a substantial number of federal employees.
4)
Enhanced standards of conduct: The federal workforce should be comprised of employees who are reliable, loyal, trustworthy, and who strive for excellence in their daily work. Employees will be subject to enhanced standards of suitability and conduct as we move forward. Employees who engage in unlawful behavior or other misconduct will be prioritized for appropriate investigation and discipline, including termination.

Each of the pillars outlined above will be pursued in accordance with applicable law, consistent with your agency's policies, and to the extent permitted under relevant collective-bargaining agreements.

If you choose to remain in your current position, we thank you for your renewed focus on serving the American people to the best of your abilities and look forward to working together as part of an improved federal workforce. At this time, we cannot give you full assurance regarding the certainty of your position or agency but should your position be eliminated you will be treated with dignity and will be afforded the protections in place for such positions.

If you choose not to continue in your current role in the federal workforce, we thank you for your service to your country and you will be provided with a dignified, fair departure from the federal government utilizing a deferred resignation program. This program begins effective January 28 and is available to all federal employees until February 6. If you resign under this program, you will retain all pay and benefits regardless of your daily workload and will be exempted from all applicable in-person work requirements until September 30, 2025 (or earlier if you choose to accelerate your resignation for any reason). The details of this separation plan can be found below.

Whichever path you choose, we thank you for your service to The United States of America.
*********************************************************************

Upon review of the below deferred resignation letter, if you wish to resign:
1)
Select “Reply” to this email. You must reply from your government account. A reply from an account other than your government account will not be accepted.
2)
Type the word “Resign” into the body of this reply email. Hit “Send”.


THE LAST DAY TO ACCEPT THE DEFERRED RESIGNATION PROGRAM IS FEBRUARY 6, 2025.

Deferred resignation is available to all full-time federal employees except for military personnel of the armed forces, employees of the U.S. Postal Service, those in positions related to immigration enforcement and national security, and those in any other positions specifically excluded by your employing agency.
DEFERRED RESIGNATION LETTER
January 28, 2025
Please accept this letter as my formal resignation from employment with my employing agency, effective September 30, 2025. I understand that I have the right to accelerate, but not extend, my resignation date if I wish to take advantage of the deferred resignation program. I also understand that if I am (or become) eligible for early or normal retirement before my resignation date, that I retain the right to elect early or normal retirement (once eligible) at any point prior to my resignation date.
Given my impending resignation, I understand I will be exempt from any “Return to Office” requirements pursuant to recent directives and that I will maintain my current compensation and retain all existing benefits (including but not limited to retirement accruals) until my final resignation date.
I am certain of my decision to resign and my choice to resign is fully voluntary. I understand my employing agency will likely make adjustments in response to my resignation including moving, eliminating, consolidating, reassigning my position and tasks, reducing my official duties, and/or placing me on paid administrative leave until my resignation date.
I am committed to ensuring a smooth transition during my remaining time at my employing agency. Accordingly, I will assist my employing agency with completing reasonable and customary tasks and processes to facilitate my departure.
I understand that my acceptance of this offer will be sent to the Office of Personnel Management (“OPM”) which will then share it with my agency employer. I hereby consent to OPM receiving, reviewing, and forwarding my acceptance.
*********************************************************************
Upon submission of your resignation, you will receive a confirmation email acknowledging receipt of your email. Any replies to this email shall be for the exclusive use of accepting the deferred resignation letter. Any other replies to this email will not be reviewed, forwarded, or retained other than as required by applicable federal records laws.
Once your resignation is validly sent and received, the human resources department of your employing agency will contact you to complete additional documentation, if any.
OPM is authorized to send this email under Executive Order 9830 and 5 U.S.C. §§ 301, 1103, 1104, 2951, 3301, 6504, 8347, and 8461. OPM intends to use your response to assist in federal workforce reorganization efforts in conjunction with employing agencies. See 88 Fed. Reg. 56058; 80 Fed. Reg. 72455 (listing routine uses). Response to this email is voluntary. Although you must respond to take advantage of the deferred resignation offer, there is no penalty for nonresponse.

Following.

The way the refs are written, there are various retiremrr Ed not buyout authorities that can be offered. I’ve never heard of a six month “you don’t have to work anymore”, but yes, the Agrncy head can offer buyouts.

The President can’t- but he can direct agencies to downsize.

He's doing this so he can fill the positions with his people. Imagine the impact this can create?

This will cost a lot more than $100 billion in losses of institutional memory to a functioning U.S. government and it will burn our economy and governments to the ground. This is planned
insanity by Musk, the GRU, the Crypto boys, shits like Bannon, and various Oligarchical mother
Fuckers. After which they will declare an economic emergency and bring on the next step in
our descent into Fascism which will require the acceptance of Crypto Crap into our economy.

America needs those federal workers in place in order to have a functioning Nation.

I had an idea that States controlled by Dem Governors and Legislatures (California, Michigan, New York, etc.) should demand their citizen's tax dollars back so that the States can fund programs and services that Trump is going to cut. For example, the cuts to CDC and NIH could be offset by expanding funding in the State's Department of Health. Former CDC and NIH workers could be offered positions in the expanded State Department of Health. Dems in Congress could propose a Bill to return federal taxes to the States in the form of a block grant. It would not get anywhere in a MAGA controlled House, but it would make a good story in the Media War that Trump and MAGA are ripping off Taxpayers in Blue States. Which is the truth.

which means this is all about a large effort in 'messaging'. (IF in fact anybody actually wanted to sign on) And would almost certainly be trashed (both high and low) as exactly that.

It's really not worth any degree of discussion.

All I see on this board is a lot of fear, crying, and complaining and very few constructive ideas about fighting back. What do you suggest we do? I would really like to know.

States clawing back federal taxes (by some imaginary, yet to be determined, and almost certainly bogus mechanism) - doesn't make that cut.

You're right about there currently being a lot of (mostly pointless) wailing and gnashing of teeth. That doesn't make silly sophomoric ideas any more palatable or germane.

My suggestion (while I don't in any way feel obligated in offering .. ) is that I think our greatest opportunity might be in contesting every single piece of paper (and hall monitor appointment) coming out of the executive - in the courts. Injunction filing, followed by stays, then appeals - - virtually ad nauseam. Relentlessly - and with absolutely no quarter.

But as Tim Walz said on Rachel Maddow tonight, what do we do if Trump just ignores the courts orders? I am all for fighting him in the courts, but that alone will maybe slow Trump down and not stop him. I think a federal tax strike and an attempt to get federal tax money back from the federal government and to the states is not impossible. Much federal funding is already sent back to states in exactly that manner. It is a longstanding federal funding mechanism. You may for whatever reason view that idea as silly or sophmoric, but I do not.

And if we demand federal money back to the states but don't get it, we can use that as a weapon in the media war to mobilize more opposition to Trump and his MAGA Regime. When Trump voters don't get their SNAP benefits, their Medicaid, and any other supports, we will be chipping away at Trump's popularity. When their grandmothers are not being fed in their nursing homes and are unable to get their medicine, you can be damned sure that a lot of these Trump voters will turn against him.

Furthermore, if you think that court orders alone are going to stop this Fascist Regime from rolling over the whole country, I think that you are very mistaken. The courts have no enforcement power. That is entirely in the Executive's control, and Trump MAGA has taken over the Federal government. If we are locked out of the Federal Government one of the only alternatives will be to assert States Rights. That and a large scale uprising of the mass of the American people.

What I am sure of, is that the idea of the states somehow strong arming additional (and extra-legal) funds from the federal government - is an absolute non-starter. Ain't gonna happen.

It is not extra-legal if it is a law. It will not pass in the current Congress. It is a common tactic in the Congress for the minority party to introduce bills that are designed to get the other party to vote against it. This is a common practice in the Congress. This forces the Republicans to take unpopular positions. If large segments of the population are suffering from these cuts and freezes (which they will, if and when they go through), then the Republicans are going to look like bastards for voting against a bill designed to give the people some relief. Again, this is a long standing practice in the Congress- the minority party proposing legislation as a statement, knowing that it is not going to pass. When it does not pass, it provides talking points for Dems in the media, and allows them to develop an argument for voting against the Republicans in the next round of elections, and voting for Democrats. This is standard operating procedure in the Congress.

That’s all

Who will direct the airplanes.

Are his MAGAloon lining up for these jobs?

I guess he wants to destroy the travel industry!

That's nothing if not fitting.

agreements - do these employees think they will actually see any of the $$$?

What is the solution? What actions can we take to fight back?

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100219958563

for it. They will cheat you out of that money and probably do away with your pension. Trump and his administration lie, lie, lie.

There will be no replacements, but the ones who stay will be expected to do twice as much work for the same money. Kind of like corporate America.....

(with department or agency head signed on)
Then run the same by your lawyer ...
And then, final - compare against a projected scenario of involuntary termination.

Unfortunately - I can see a lot of 'work the job' performance stemming as a result ....

And offer it to the Felon to resign?

I think we get setup some fake crypto account and he may go for it.

He did the same thing with Twitter when he took it over, he did it to avoid lawsuits and other things. He told them to return to the office and if they didn't want to they could take a buyout, which he then tried to stiff them on but then had to pay. Either way it's Musk's idea to cull the herd, his theory is if you get people to leave and/or fire them then you see what breaks and who you need to hire to fix what broke but if nothing breaks then you saved money.

The problem is that works with a single platform system like Twitter it doesn't work with something like the federal government. If Twitter goes out for 30 minutes because engineer #5 doesn't exist anymore it's not the end of the world. Musk's problem and Trump's too is that they think that all systems work the same.

I’ve been away from the gov a long time, but I wonder if “resign” means forfeiting your retirement. Would that even be legal (she said with a laugh)?

I’m not a Fed worker but I am a public employee. I’ve got 9 years left and my first reaction if I got this offer would be SCREW YOU.

I pay in 5% to my pension. If I were to leave/quit I get everything back but I wouldn’t have a professionally managed and guaranteed retirement income.

Vance and trump are trying to implement the plan of an asshole named Curtis Yarvin to reduce the size of the Federal government

Link to tweet

First, because there is no legal authority. Current law case buyout at $25,000.

Sign a paper saying you quit, and he promises to pay?

He can’t. So you are out of a job. And not even the cash till September. It’s not legal.

Make them drag it out. It will take time. I’m just

If Trump does not work the required 40 hrs/week at his official office he will resign. No five day weekends at Trump resorts playing golf or phoning it in remotely to Hannity or Fox n Friends. Taking to social media to threaten and taunt considered personal time and thus doesn't count as work.

And I don't care to even try. Go ahead, and Find Out.

I'm retirement eligible now, but if this is their first offer, let's see what comes next.

Honestly, this sounds too good to be true so I'm thinking it probably is.