Welcome to The Logoff. Right now, I’m specializing in a battle over management of the Treasury Division’s fee system, a authorized battle with large implications for our democracy. At stake is Congress’s potential to maintain management over authorities spending, a crucial (and constitutional) examine on Donald Trump’s energy.
What’s the most recent? A federal decide on Thursday signed off on an settlement limiting the entry that Elon Musk’s Division of Authorities Effectivity will get to the Treasury Division’s fee system. For now, solely two DOGE staff will have the ability to view the system’s internal workings, however they received’t have the ability to make modifications or cancel funds.
Again up. What’s the context right here? For weeks, DOGE staff have been pushing to entry the system — which handles trillions of {dollars} of federal spending — and sparring with profession (non-political) Treasury staff who oversee it. Authorities staff’ teams sued to dam DOGE’s entry, leading to Thursday’s settlement.
What entry does DOGE need? In the end, DOGE is searching for the flexibility to unilaterally cancel funds. That’s clear after the New York Instances and CNN revealed that Trump’s workforce had tried unsuccessfully to get Treasury to cancel all funds from the US Company Worldwide Improvement, the company Trump has since gutted.
What are the larger stakes right here? There are privateness and safety issues, however that is finally in regards to the steadiness of energy. The power to cancel Treasury funds would successfully give Trump management over authorities spending. The Structure reserves that energy for Congress, and Trump taking it might be an enormous enlargement of his authority. It might additionally permit Trump’s workforce to quickly paralyze spending at authorities businesses that don’t align together with his agenda, making the dismantling of USAID simpler to duplicate.
And with that, it’s time to log out …
Okay! I do know that was loads. Thanks for making it via. It’s Friday, so I’ve a choose-your-own journey set of hyperlinks for you. Should you’re exhausted and simply want fun, right here’s my favourite (and extremely rewatchable) Saturday Evening Reside skit in a great whereas. And should you’re feeling motivated, right here’s a brilliant useful article on easy methods to deliver down your grocery payments. Both manner, I actually admire you studying. Have a satisfying weekend, and I’ll see you again right here subsequent week.