This is a DISASTER
The Trump administration is a catastrophe. It doesn’t help matters that Elon Musk is lurking around, laying off federal workers. Suspiciously, he is now focused on the agency that is investigating Tesla. Can you say, “blaring conflict of interest?” It would be in Musk’s best interests to cripple the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which is the agency investigating his vehicles. Surely, Musk can have no complaint about this agency’s work, since they’re investigating multiple crashes that have injured several and killed one. In addition to this agency, 1,400 employees have been fired from the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Hill reported that the administration claims the employees were “non-mission critical” because they are probationary employees who had worked in the agency for less than two years. The firings will allegedly save the department $83 million per year that they claim will be “redirected toward health care, benefits, and services for veterans.” Funny, according to Talking Points Memo, the cuts are causing hardships for veterans. It was already tough for veterans to get the services they need, but this is making it even harder.
To date, the Trump administration has been an unmitigated disaster, and yesterday, Trump learned that he is no king. Judge Amir H. Ali of the Federal Court in D.C. ordered on February 13 that funds for foreign aid were to be paid out until such time as a decision has been made in the pending lawsuit. It became obvious that the administration had done nothing but ignore his order, which pissed him off to no end. Yesterday, Judge Ali hauled them in.
During the hearing, it became obvious to Judge Ali that the administration was not complying. Visibly frustrated, Judge Ali asked Indraneel Sur, a DOJ lawyer, four times to explain what steps the administration had taken to release the funds, but the attorney had no answer for Judge Ali. Ali asked: “I’m not sure why I can’t get a straight answer from you on this. Are you aware of steps taken to actually release those funds?” The attorney had no answer for Judge Ali. Lauren Bateman, an attorney for the groups that sued the administration, told the judge that “associates of Elon Musk” have continued “vetoing” payments. She also shared that many of the grant workers had been suspended or fired. Judge Ali’s response was simple and straightforward: He ruled that foreign aid must be unfrozen and released by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on Wednesday.
This is something else in which Elon Musk should not be involved. He was not elected to office, and just because he donated millions of dollars to Trump’s campaign doesn’t give him the right to lord over government agencies. The Trump administration continues to shoot itself in the foot. Trump might have gotten away with crimes as a private citizen, but he cannot skirt the law when it comes to government money. He has appealed Judge Ali’s ruling, but the law is the law. No, Mr. Trump you are not a king, and your friend Musk was not elected to act on behalf of the people.
Shirley is a former entertainment writer and has worked in the legal field for over 25 years