Welcome to The Logoff. Immediately, I’m specializing in a combat over management of the Treasury Division’s cost system, a authorized battle with large implications for our democracy. At stake is Congress’s potential to maintain management over authorities spending, a vital (and constitutional) test on Donald Trump’s energy.
What’s the newest? 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 cost system. For now, solely two DOGE workers will be capable to view the system’s internal workings, however they gained’t be capable to make modifications or cancel funds.
Again up. What’s the context right here? For weeks, DOGE workers have been pushing to entry the system — which handles trillions of {dollars} of federal spending — and sparring with profession (non-political) Treasury workers who oversee it. Authorities workers’ teams sued to dam DOGE’s entry, leading to Thursday’s settlement.
What entry does DOGE need? Finally, DOGE is looking for the flexibility to unilaterally cancel funds. That’s clear after the New York Occasions and CNN revealed that Trump’s group 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 could be an enormous enlargement of his authority. It might additionally enable Trump’s group 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 sign off …
Okay! I do know that was quite a bit. Thanks for making it via. It’s Friday, so I’ve a choose-your-own journey set of hyperlinks for you. If you happen to’re exhausted and simply want fun, right here’s my favourite (and extremely rewatchable) Saturday Night time Stay skit in a very good whereas. And if you happen to’re feeling motivated, right here’s an excellent useful article on how one can carry down your grocery payments. Both approach, I actually recognize you studying. Have a satisfying weekend, and I’ll see you again right here subsequent week.
