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Of Course, USAID’s Fingerprints Are All Over the Russian Collusion Hoax– townhall.com

Of Course, USAID’s Fingerprints Are All Over the Russian Collusion Hoax– townhall.com

pgnewser February 13, 2025

Of Course, USAID’s Fingerprints Are All Over the Russian Collusion Hoax– townhall.com
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USAID is no more. What’s left of the desiccated corpse of this agency has been absorbed into the State Department, with most of its workers laid off and its overseas missions shut down. The veneer of aid work has been obliterated, thanks to the work of President Donald J. Trump and DOGE, which uncovered a litany of wasteful spending. It was a primary driver of favors and pork for the political class. The gravy train derailed, and the vehicle for moving slush funds was deactivated. That’s why the Left freaked out about the end of USAID.

The agency also played a part in the impeachment of Trump, subsidizing and being a quasi-lord protector at the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), which is supposed to be independent but was anything but when you review the dynamics. USAID approved its staff hires and action plan, and OCCRP was cited numerous times in a CIA whistleblower’s complaint that launched the Ukraine quid pro quo circus. So, it’s not too shocking that USAID was also involved in the Russian collusion delusion. Public’s Michael Shellenberger and Alex Gutentag once again dove into this sordid world of (supposed) NGO activity and government funding: they found that OCCRP pushed the Trump-Russian bank/money laundering myth.

New York State Democrats Want to Delay Special Election to Replace Stefanik Until November – PJ Media– pjmedia.com ?u=https%3A%2F%2Fupload.wikimedia.org%2Fwikipedia%2Fcommons%2Fthumb%2Ff%2Ffe%2FElise_Stefanik_official_congressional_photo_114th_congress.jpg%2F800px-Elise_Stefanik_official_congressional_photo_114th_congress.jpg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=8dc69443d9f60f50ec550cf8aad45856f8ae07c03ddcd6d12350413f872ad2b0&ipo=images

New York State Democrats Want to Delay Special Election to Replace Stefanik Until November – PJ Media– pjmedia.com

pgnewser February 12, 2025

The State Democrats of New York are looking to demonstrate to the world what little regard they have for “democracy” as they move to pass a bill that would prevent a special election for Elise Stefanik’s (R-NY) current House seat. The representative looks to soon be confirmed as the U.S.’s next Ambassador to the UN.

The New York Dems are looking to avoid a law that would force them to hold a special election in short order. It would delay the special election until November. The Republicans have a 218-215 majority in the House, counting Stefanik’s currently held seat. The Democrats are desperate to gain a House majority before the next midterm to trigger more impeachments and kangaroo courts.

New York State Democrats Want to Delay Special Election to Replace Stefanik Until November – PJ Media– pjmedia.com
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The party that claims to want to “defend democracy” has decided to abandon the struggle in New York.

New York state Democrats are going to pass a bill that allows Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul to delay scheduling special elections until November. Current law requires Hochul to schedule a special election 90 days after a vacancy is declared.

The nomination of former Rep. Elise Stefanik to be UN ambassador will create a vacancy in her deep red district once the Senate confirms her nomination. Once the bill passes (Democrats have large majorities in both Houses), Hochul could deny citizens of New York’s 21st Congressional District any representation for an extra six months.

The move has profound national implications. Speaker of the House Rep. Mike Johnson will have one fewer vote to pass Trump’s agenda. Currently, Johnson has a 218-215 majority with two vacancies, as well as Stefanik’s seat once she’s confirmed. In addition to Stefanik’s seat, Florida’s Mike Walz resigned to become Trump’s national security advisor, and Rep. Matt Gaetz resigned when Trump nominated him for attorney general.

Trump Escalates DOGE Battle with New Executive Order ?u=https%3A%2F%2Fupload.wikimedia.org%2Fwikipedia%2Fcommons%2Ff%2Ffb%2FMusk_DOGE_logo.jpg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=188d681b02464213694070f06ce896a3d70a050312d09e6be89763223009dd39&ipo=images

Trump Escalates DOGE Battle with New Executive Order

pgnewser February 12, 2025

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order that requires the executive branch to work in cooperation with DOGE in its efforts to purge the government of waste. The order is called “Implementing the president’s ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ workforce optimization initiative.”

Of note is the section on “Reduction of Force,” which states “Agency Heads shall promptly undertake preparations to initiate large-scale reductions in force (RIFs), consistent with applicable law, and to separate from Federal service temporary employees and reemployed annuitants working in areas that will likely be subject to the RIFs.  All offices that perform functions not mandated by statute or other law shall be prioritized in the RIFs, including all agency diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives…”

Trump supercharges DOGE with new executive order, sets stage for ‘large-scale’ layoffs– www.theblaze.com
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Excerpt:

 

President Donald Trump signed an
executive order Tuesday setting the stage for “large-scale” layoffs and requiring federal agencies to further aid the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency with the governmental streamlining process, further empowering the Elon Musk-led outfit.

The order titled “Implementing the president’s ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ workforce optimization initiative” builds on Trump’s
Jan. 20 order establishing the DOGE and requires federal agency heads to make “preparations to initiate large-scale reductions in force (RIFs), consistent with applicable law, and to separate from Federal service temporary employees and re-employed annuitants working in areas that will likely be subject to the RIFs.”

In the order, Trump tasked Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought with producing a master plan outlining how to reduce the federal bureaucracy through “efficiency improvements and attrition.” The plan must require that each agency can hire only one employee for every four employees kicked to the curb — a ratio that won’t apply to jobs related to immigration, public safety, or law enforcement.

Agency heads must in turn develop hiring plans in consultation with the DOGE team leader assigned to their agency, ensuring the strategic and timely placement of new career appointment hires as well as continued absences in positions the DOGE figures better left unmanned.

Trump further made clear that offices that “perform functions not mandated by statute or other law,” especially those surviving offices that engage in DEI initiatives, should be prioritized for house cleaning.

‘It’s just something we’ve got to fix.’

Trump Admin Moves To Dissolve “Impermissible and Anti-Constitutional” Weekend TRO Against Treasury– legalinsurrection.com

Trump Admin Moves To Dissolve “Impermissible and Anti-Constitutional” Weekend TRO Against Treasury– legalinsurrection.com

pgnewser February 11, 2025

Trump Admin Moves To Dissolve “Impermissible and Anti-Constitutional” Weekend TRO Against Treasury– legalinsurrection.com
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The emergency and ex parte Temporary Restraining Order entered just after midnight Friday night (1 a.m. Saturday, reportedly) by the emergency duty judge in the Southern District of New York, without any opportunity for the government to be heard, has created what legitimately is a constitutional crisis. In addition to the gamesmanship by New York and other blue states of a Friday night filing where there was no legitimate emergency requiring a ruling that night, the Judge effectively decapitated the Treasury Department by forbidding any political appointee from having access to the Treasury payment system. The documents and analysis are in our post, Judge Issues Emergency Order Halting DOGE Access To Treasury Payment Systems.

It’s worse than I thought. In an Emergency Motion to Dissolve the TRO, filed early this morning, the Trump administration demonstrates not just the legal impropriety of the Judicial Branch removing political control from the Executive Branch, but also that there was no widespread access by political appointees. The Emergency Motion only addresses the removal of authority from political appointees, the underlying merits will be addressed in papers in opposition to the plaintiffs’ overall motion.

Judge stops USAID layoffs amid backlash from government workers, unions | The Post Millennial– thepostmillennial.com

Judge stops USAID layoffs amid backlash from government workers, unions | The Post Millennial– thepostmillennial.com

pgnewser February 11, 2025

Judge stops USAID layoffs amid backlash from government workers, unions | The Post Millennial– thepostmillennial.com
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The judge noted in his order that the unions had presented a “strong showing of irreparable harm” if the court did not intervene.

A judge has temporarily put a halt on the Trump administration’s attempt to downsize the US Agency for International Development (USAID), making it so that approximately 2,700 employees who were placed on leave can return to work.

US District Judge Carl Nichols, a Trump appointee, issued the order on Friday in response to a lawsuit filed by the largest US government workers’ union and an association of foreign service employees. The unions argued that the administration’s actions overstepped executive authority and caused undue harm to USAID personnel.

Nichols’ ruling, which remains in effect until February 14, prevents the administration from placing an additional 2,200 USAID employees on paid leave starting Saturday and reinstates 500 workers who had already been furloughed. It also blocks the administration from moving USAID humanitarian workers stationed overseas.

The judge noted in his order that the unions had presented a “strong showing of irreparable harm” if the court did not intervene. However, Nichols declined to grant other union requests, such as reopening USAID offices and restoring funding for agency grants and contracts. A hearing scheduled for Wednesday will determine whether a longer-term injunction will be put in place.

Trump challenges order barring DOGE from Treasury– www.washingtonexaminer.com

Trump challenges order barring DOGE from Treasury– www.washingtonexaminer.com

pgnewser February 11, 2025

Trump challenges order barring DOGE from Treasury– www.washingtonexaminer.com
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The Justice Department late on Sunday asked a federal court to overturn or modify an emergency order blocking the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency from accessing the Treasury Department’s payment system.

“Basic democratic accountability requires that every executive agency’s work be supervised by politically accountable leadership, who ultimately answer to the president,” DOJ attorneys told Manhattan-based U.S. District Judge Jeannette Vargas, calling a judge’s weekend order barring DOGE personnel from accessing the payment system “impermissible” and “anti-constitutional.”

Elon Musk Has a Great Idea To Get Rid of Activist Judges – PJ Media– pjmedia.com

Elon Musk Has a Great Idea To Get Rid of Activist Judges – PJ Media– pjmedia.com

pgnewser February 11, 2025

Elon Musk Has a Great Idea To Get Rid of Activist Judges – PJ Media– pjmedia.com
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A federal judge dropped a bombshell on Saturday, issuing an order that no only temporarily blocks the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing essential data on federal payments but also bars Treasury officials from accessing data managed by the agency.

According to the order, only “civil servants with a need for access to perform their job duties within the Bureau of Fiscal Services who have passed all background checks and security clearances and taken all information security training called for in federal statutes and Treasury Department regulations” can access the data, while “all political appointees, special government employees, and government employees detailed from an agency outside the Treasury Department” cannot, pending a hearing scheduled for February 13.

The judge also ordered that any Treasury data that has already been collected must be destroyed.

Since the Treasury secretary is a political appointee, this outrageous ruling essentially bars him from viewing or managing the sensitive financial data of his own department. This unprecedented act not only strips the Treasury secretary of a fundamental responsibility but also undermines the executive branch’s authority to effectively oversee its financial operations.

Immigrant group suing Trump receives federal funds– www.washingtonexaminer.com

Immigrant group suing Trump receives federal funds– www.washingtonexaminer.com

pgnewser February 11, 2025

Immigrant group suing Trump receives federal funds– www.washingtonexaminer.com
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An immigrant group behind a major lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump’s executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship receives millions of dollars in government funding annually, a Washington Examiner analysis of public records has found.

CASA, an organization that helps migrants find work regardless of their legal status, filed the lawsuit alongside the Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project and five pregnant noncitizens in January, arguing that Trump’s attempt to end birthright citizenship is unconstitutional. The pro-immigration group received roughly $5 million in government grants and $7 million in government contracts between July 2022 and June 2023, according to its most recent tax disclosures.

Tax filings from prior years show that CASA has long relied on millions of dollars in government funding to keep its programs running. In a review of federal spending records, the Washington Examiner identified grants from the Departments of Education, Housing and Urban Development, Labor, Justice, Health and Human Services, and Homeland Security funding a variety of programs offered by CASA.

Some of the grants to CASA are even ongoing, per federal records.

HUD, for instance, granted CASA $1.5 million in 2023 as part of its “economic development initiative” program to fund a project that will stretch well into 2031. Grants offered under this program cover a “wide variety of projects such as housing, homelessness prevention, workforce training, public facilities, parks, resilience planning and other critical infrastructure and services,” according to the agency’s website.

Rogue Judge Blocking Trump Agenda Exposed As Democrat Megadonor– trendingpoliticsnews.com

Rogue Judge Blocking Trump Agenda Exposed As Democrat Megadonor– trendingpoliticsnews.com

pgnewser February 11, 2025

Rogue Judge Blocking Trump Agenda Exposed As Democrat Megadonor– trendingpoliticsnews.com
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New revelations show that a federal judge responsible for blocking key Trump administration policies is a longtime Democratic mega-donor. Judge John J. McConnell Jr., appointed by former President Barack Obama, has a history of contributing hundreds of thousands of dollars to Democratic campaigns and political action committees.

Judge McConnell, who has served as a U.S. District Judge in Rhode Island since 2011, was previously a personal injury lawyer. Records from the Federal Election Commission (FEC) indicate that before taking the bench, he made significant donations to Democratic politicians, including former Presidents Barack Obama, Joe Biden, and Hillary Clinton.

His contributions also extended to Democratic PACs and various Senate and House campaigns. Public filings show that McConnell’s donations amount to several hundred thousand dollars, making him one of the more politically active federal judges in terms of campaign contributions.

McConnell has been a consistent donor to Democratic candidates and committees over multiple election cycles. His contributions primarily support Democratic congressional campaigns, national committees, and political action committees.

Dems And Judges Shredding Article II Are A Threat To Democracy– thefederalist.com

Dems And Judges Shredding Article II Are A Threat To Democracy– thefederalist.com

pgnewser February 11, 2025

Dems And Judges Shredding Article II Are A Threat To Democracy– thefederalist.com
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Excerpt:

For a solid week, blue states, labor unions, and non-profit organizations have descended on federal courts up and down the East Coast seeking to halt President Donald Trump’s agenda. And they have found receptive partners in a handful of federal judges willing to enter temporary restraining orders, or TROs, to immediately — and sometimes without any notice — prohibit the normal functioning of the executive branch.

To be clear, the TROs entered are not addressing specific disputes between Trump and the litigants, where the plaintiffs allege a particular action injures them in some concrete way. Rather, the country is seeing large coalitions of plaintiffs who oppose the president’s agenda filing lawsuits challenging the broad policies and the management of the executive branch.

Consider, for instance the lawsuit more than twenty states, led by New York, filed in a federal court in Rhode Island: In that case, New York v. Trump, the states initially challenged an Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Directive to agencies to temporarily pause activities and disbursement of federal funds that conflict with various executive orders. The OMB later rescinded that directive. Yet federal judge John J. McConnell, Jr., a Barack Obama appointee, entered a TRO ordering the President of the United States not to “pause, freeze, impede, block, cancel, or terminate” federal financial assistance to the states.