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Welcome to The Logoff. At the moment’s version is a few 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, nevertheless it’s vital for anybody who depends on a useful authorities. It additionally provides an perception into how the courts may derail Donald Trump’s broader agenda — if he complies with their orders.
What’s the most recent? Midnight was alleged to be the deadline for employees to determine whether or not they would take Musk’s DOGE up on the provide to resign on the finish of September, with (probably) 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” provide was even authorized.
So, is it authorized? Nicely, a Georgetown Regulation College professor instructed Vox this: “They’re making a promise that’s opposite to federal regulation — and that has very severe penalties.”
Are folks 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 folks, 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 pace. It’s a wager that Trump’s crew can quickly minimize the workforce with out undermining the federal government’s potential to carry out the important companies we rely on.
What’s the larger context? As an alternative 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 huge chunks of his agenda will disintegrate.
And with that, it’s time to sign off …
Say you, hypothetically, had been experiencing anxiousness lately? And say, on high 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 straightforward act of writing about our emotions is sweet for our brains,” and it’s a pleasant reminder to maintain oneself. See you again right here tomorrow.
