this post was submitted on 20 Jan 2025
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Summary

A lawsuit filed within minutes of Donald Trump’s swearing-in challenges the legality of Elon Musk’s "department of government efficiency" (Doge), alleging it violates federal transparency rules.

The suit claims Doge functions as a federal advisory committee but lacks balanced representation, public meeting access, and record-keeping.

Doge, which reportedly operates from SpaceX offices and uses encrypted communication, aims to streamline government by cutting programs and jobs.

Critics argue the project is shrouded in secrecy, while supporters label it a branding exercise for Trump’s government reform efforts.

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[–] adarza@lemmy.ca 110 points 1 day ago (2 children)

the first of many, many lawsuits.

[–] SquishyPandaDev@yiffit.net 44 points 1 day ago

And I've a bad feeling that they won't go anywhere/do anything. God I need a stiff drink

[–] agamemnonymous@sh.itjust.works 23 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Give him a taste of his own medicine. Absolutely bury the administration in lawsuits. Drag up ancient case law, twist the language of the Constitution beyond all reason, pepper in some frivolous ones to clog the system. Challenge everything; don't let them so much as rename a bridge without a protracted legal battle.

[–] CosmicTurtle0@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 1 day ago (1 children)

This only wastes government money. For the next four years (hopefully), Trump is literally untouchable. Any personal suit will be punted until he's out of office. And even then, he can hide behind "official acts".

We need a different solution.

[–] skulblaka@sh.itjust.works 12 points 1 day ago

I'm much more comfortable wasting government money at this time rather than letting them enact what they actually plan for. I support my tax dollars going to this right now.

[–] Bieren@lemmy.world 52 points 1 day ago

But we all know what will happen. Nothing. Nothing will happen. Nothing will be done to stop it. Nothing will be done to enforce to laws of this country.

[–] IHeartBadCode@fedia.io 32 points 1 day ago (1 children)

One, the filing can be found here. Because this story basically links over to the WSJ's copy of the PDF file. A PDF file that's on their CDN which is paywalled.

Two, yeah I was absolutely expecting this to happen and it's likely we are going to see a ton of this. The law requires a bit of transparency. I fully expect Trump to counter with "national security" and tell the courts to fuck off because Congress is spineless as fuck. And Trump calling everything an emergency or nation security to prevent any kind of judicial oversight was like his whole MO last go round.

Three, we've got to reform emergency powers in the United States. It's got to be a one and done for 90-days. Post that, Congress has to step in. As the law is now, every 90-days the President can renew the emergency and basically the other two branches can suck his dick which is quite possibly the dumbest function we've got in our laws.

All that said, I fully expect Trump to tell all the courts to go to hell and the case to be dismissed for lack of everything because it's "top secret" shit they're doing in DOGE. Filing in the Courts ain't going to do shit to stop the guy. Only Congress can check the guy at this point and they are all too busy sucking his dick. So for at least the next two years, Trump will get away with literally everything.

[–] kn0wmad1c@programming.dev 5 points 1 day ago (1 children)

"national security" records are still public via FOIA, but can be redacted. Either way, if it's government, there needs to be transparency and a paper trail.

[–] DancingBear@midwest.social 1 points 1 day ago

Yea I think even if they make it classified or top secret or whatever folks in congress on committees can review and get updates etc and possibly justices I don’t know but yea even with security clearance that’s better than having it be some random thing in space x although nsa will have access to their communications

[–] CurlyWurlies4All@slrpnk.net 19 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

There is a stream of thought that political theatre has no value on its own. I'm not sure that's true. If you can make a big hullabaloo about a few critical issues you drive the news cycle. Just look at the way the republicans weaponised Benghazi.

Dems massive failures to put on a big song and dance about the supreme court scandals of the last term is what you give up when you only go after cases you know you can win. They also failed to make any substantive efforts to enforce the law which is the other side of the equation. So I guess I'll admit that in a lot of cases you can't have one without the other.

[–] d00phy@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago

Those who think political theater has no value have no understanding of politics. If it had no value, they wouldn’t do it because it would be a waste of time. It’s not that Dems don’t do it, it’s that they’re amateurs at it, especially compared to the GOP.

[–] d00phy@lemmy.world 10 points 1 day ago

Congress will be overturning those rules in three, two…

[–] snausagesinablanket@lemmy.world 12 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

BREAKING NEWS:

Trump says he can't lower the price of eggs!

He can't end the Ukraine war on day one!

He can't round up "criminals" like Nancy Pelosi and "all the other democratic criminals" on day one either!

Can you imagine that he was talking to all the rednecks that he needed to vote for him and he knows how to channel their hate into votes?

nah

[–] floofloof@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

He says he can still persecute trans people though, so his supporters will be pleased that he's prioritizing hurting vulnerable minorities.

[–] snekerpimp@lemmy.world 9 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I don’t see what this actually will accomplish. Won’t this just set new, bad precedent with corrupt and crooked judges on the federal and Supreme Courts? Does this have any teeth at all, or all just cabaret?

[–] Carnelian@lemmy.world 16 points 1 day ago (1 children)

If people chill and just let him do whatever he wants without challenging it it also sets bad precedent

[–] snekerpimp@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I agree with that, and not saying we shouldn’t try, just looking for probability of this making a difference.

[–] OhNoMoreLemmy@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Probably the best way to think about this is as stalling.

The administration can only get so much done before the mid terms provide a chance to block them. Just by fighting them on everything you reduce the amount they will do, even if you end up losing most of the initial battles.

This is something the Republicans have been really good at. Fight everything, prevent any progress, and play to your base. It would be nice if the Dems did the same for once.

This is also probably gonna be the goal of the State government here in California. Remember we have a long martial history meaning we can stall like no other, also malicious compliance and fragging are never off the table.

[–] refurbishedrefurbisher@lemmy.sdf.org 5 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Can't wait to see what the consequences of his actio- wait...

[–] Valorie12@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago

We will be the only ones to see the consequences of his actions.