Summary

Vivek Ramaswamy, recently appointed to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has proposed defunding federal programs that lack current congressional authorization.

This could affect programs like veterans’ healthcare, NASA, and early education initiatives, which still receive funding despite expired authorizations.

Ramaswamy argues that cutting these programs could save billions, and he’s committed to targeting expenditures that “don’t advance the interests of American citizens.”

DOGE, co-led by Elon Musk, aims to curb government spending, with Musk estimating potential cuts of up to $2 trillion.

  • RememberTheApollo_@lemmy.world
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    1 month ago

    “This bloated liberal socialist program is inefficient and doesn’t work. Because it’s liberal and socialist. So we’re going to get rid of it. We’re planing to plan a replacement plan, but we haven’t planned on when to plan it. But we’ll blame the libs for that too, even though we have essentially captured all branches of the government at this point.”

    • captainlezbian@lemmy.world
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      1 month ago

      They’ve learned their lesson from 4 years of failure to repeal and replace Obamacare. “Replacing was hard and expensive and anything that addresses people’s concerns or doesn’t ensure failure to re-elect was to the left of this, so we’ve decided to just repeal and not replace. Get over it loser.”

    • NutWrench@lemmynsfw.com
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      1 month ago

      "And Goober Nation will believe it when we say that ‘the libs’ are responsible. Despite the fact that we control the presidency, the House, the Senate, the Supreme Court and the news media, because they have the collective memory of a goddamn goldfish. "

  • MagicShel@lemmy.zip
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    1 month ago

    As someone with just as much federal authority as the non-existent DOGE, I also propose defunding expenditures that “don’t advance the interests of American citizens.”

    And I would like to start with fucking Vivek Ramaswamy and Elon fucking Musk.

    • FuglyDuck@lemmy.world
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      1 month ago

      as equal authority, I propose we just lock them up.

      I’m sure we can find something to actually justify it. Like, you know, betraying classified secrets to the russians, as well as providing intelligence and military aid;

        • FuglyDuck@lemmy.world
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          1 month ago

          grab a shovel and start digging. Also, bring the tigerbalm, there’s gonna be a lot of nasty shit.

      • adarza@lemmy.ca
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        1 month ago

        if elon lied on immigration forms, strip his citizenship, seize his wealth and assets ‘earned’ after committing that crime, and kick him tf out.

      • boydster@sh.itjust.works
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        1 month ago

        Wait long enough, and neither will pass the nationalist purity test. The leopards will turn inwards for face-eating sooner than some fasc-allies think, I suspect

      • Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world
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        1 month ago

        If we’re all just doing things without authority, why does it even need a legalized justification? Home Depot sells dog cages and padlocks.

        • FuglyDuck@lemmy.world
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          1 month ago

          Because kidnapping is one thing and seeing them convicted is another.

          I want him convicted in a court of law. Legitimately.

          All of these stupid fucks, to be clear. Musk. Trump. Vivek. There’s a long list of assholes that need some justice.

          • Viking_Hippie@lemmy.world
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            1 month ago

            I want him convicted in a court of law. Legitimately.

            And I want a pet pig that flies. There’s nothing legitimate about how the US courts treat the rich and powerful.

            Even the ones that get convicted tend to go to cushy Club Fed prison resorts unless they mess with the money of other rich and powerful people like Bernie Madoff did.

  • fadingembers@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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    1 month ago

    I am terrified at them defunding the VA. I’ve had a much easier time getting good medical care from VA doctors than I ever did going private and I’d be bankrupt without the VA. It’s because of the VA that I have any savings at all

    • 🖖USS-Ethernet@startrek.website
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      1 month ago

      Agreed. They must have gotten better in the last decade too, because I don’t see the horrible things that people have said about the VA. Yes there are long wait times for appointments, but that’s happening in private care now as well.

  • pineapple_pizza@lemmy.dexlit.xyz
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    1 month ago

    Okay I agree with the other comments here but I’m a bit confused on this.

    How are we still spending money on these things if congress doesn’t approve it? The legislature sets the budget, did they just forget to make it official and extend these? Also why even have a phase out period in the first place?

    • dhork@lemmy.world
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      1 month ago

      I think it’s because there is a difference between the Budget and Appropriations in Congress. The budget is a plan, where programs are authorized and an overall budget is set. The appropriations process is what assigns particular dollars to particular discretionary programs. (Certain programs deemed “mandatory” by Congress, like Social Security, Medicare, and interest on the debt, get allocated money automatically and are not involved in appropriations)

      If I had to guess, I would say that once a program is authorized once under a budget, it can continue as long as it (or the Federal department it is part of) is not specifically de-authorized, and as long as it continues to receive appropriations specifically for that program.

      So, it is likely that this is all about Ramaswamy’s total ignorance of how Congress works. Which tracks pretty well with what this DOGE is all about.

      • prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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        1 month ago

        So, it is likely that this is all about Ramaswamy’s total ignorance of how Congress works. Which tracks pretty well with what this DOGE is all about

        How Congress worked.

        • dhork@lemmy.world
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          1 month ago

          It still works that way, until the rules change. Republicans have the votes to change how Congress works, if they act in unison. But they will have just a slim a margin as last time, and they had trouble electing a Speaker. Even in the next Congress, they needed a secret vote to elect the Senate Majority Leader because they didn’t want any receipts on who voted for whom to make it back to Dear Leader.

          It is possible that the Republican Party turns into a oroboros of spite, eating itself from within because of perceived grievances. That might be the best possible outcome we can hope for.

          • prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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            1 month ago

            Did the rules need to change to allow a convicted felon to become President? Why would they need to change for anything else?

            Fascism means “might makes right,” and Trump will be commander in chief of the US Military. Which, by the way, is larger than the next 9 largest combined (I believe, gonna double check real quick)

            Edit: yarp. Next ten countries combined actually: https://www.pgpf.org/chart-archive/0053_defense-comparison

            • yeather@lemmy.ca
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              1 month ago

              Actually there are only 3 requirements to be president in thr United States. Be 35 or older, be a natural citizen of the United States, and have lived in the United States for the last 14 years. People have ran from prison in the past, and there is legally nothing stopping a person from being president while also being in prison.

  • Grogon@lemmy.world
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    1 month ago

    The clown is inviting more clowns and they are building up the circus, this could be funny if it wasn’t so serious.

  • Noite_Etion@lemmy.world
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    1 month ago

    America: Our soldiers are heroes! Also America: But they don’t deserve a penny and should pay exorbitant prices for healthcare…

    I know this isn’t all Americans, but it’s more than I thought.

  • Asafum@feddit.nl
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    1 month ago

    Touching NASA very well might be the thing that finally pushes me to actual violence.

    Scientific endeavors, but specifically research and exploration of space are pretty much the only things in life I really have a passion for.

    • someguy3@lemmy.world
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      1 month ago

      Back in the day they funded NASA because they were worried about being eclipsed by the USSR. Now they may worry about belong eclipsed by China. But yes they might move a shit ton to spacex.

    • teawrecks@sopuli.xyz
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      1 month ago

      NASA is and has always been a way for the US to maintain a literal military high ground. If it gets defunded, I don’t think you’ll have to resort to violence, our rivals will do it for us.

    • WashedOver@lemmy.ca
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      1 month ago

      The last conservative government silenced the government scientists from discussing climate change and destroyed decades of research as they didn’t believe in it and it didn’t fit their Alberta oil jobs first objectives.

      We are looking at another Conservative government coming our way again in the next year and it’s going to be a super shit storm when our Cons and the US Cons are firing on all cylinders destroy everything they don’t like or believe in. I fear it’s going to take decades again to come back on the science again.

  • m-p{3}@lemmy.ca
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    1 month ago

    Please, keep pissing off the military, sounds like a FAFO-prone strategy.

    • Mog_fanatic@lemmy.world
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      1 month ago

      Is the tide changing? I feel like the GOP has been dicking the veterans over my whole life and they’re still like their biggest and strongest supporters. Leopards and faces and all that.

    • prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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      1 month ago

      There is a reason Trump is talking about replacing all of our generals (can you imagine the national security risk?) and replacing them.

      I’ll let you work it out on your own…

      • wanderingmagus@lemm.ee
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        1 month ago

        I don’t think he’s ever heard of “fragging”, “mutiny” and the extreme disdain the enlisted already have for REMFs.

  • WatDabney@fedia.io
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    1 month ago

    Entirely typical.

    Republicans have already dicked veterans over so hard that private charities have to try to make up for all of the broken promises.

    And it’s still not enough for them.

  • randon31415@lemmy.world
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    1 month ago

    Trump: “What is the worst idea we can implement?”

    Ramaswamy:“Let’s make all the people that know how to use the most complex and deadly weapons mad at us as quickly as possible!”

  • Cris@lemmy.world
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    1 month ago

    As a US citizen, paying for veterans healthcare and early education programs advance my interests a whole fucking lot more than paying this jackass.

    Stupid piece of shit, you don’t speak for us.

    • krashmo@lemmy.world
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      1 month ago

      I know what you mean but he does, quite literally, speak for us now. This is what we asked for.

      • Cris@lemmy.world
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        1 month ago

        I sure as fuck didn’t, I voted against every single fascist asshole on my balot. I’m just angry.

        • Kalkaline @leminal.space
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          1 month ago

          Thanks for voting. You’re justified in being angry. There’s a lot to be angry about. Right now we need to focus on blocking every action of this government. We need to shine a light on candidates doing the right thing and bring them up to positions of leadership.

            • MonkRome@lemmy.world
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              1 month ago

              Pick an issue, or a few, you care about. Find the local or regional group that is already fighting for that issue. Join their newsletter. When they have events or meetings near you, go. Meet people and network. Someday you will find a way you can help in a way that fits your skill set, say yes.

              It really is that easy to get involved, and these organizations need volunteers way more than they need money. People make the world move forward, not money, not votes. I mean voting and giving helps too, but giving your time is often way more important with activism.

                • MonkRome@lemmy.world
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                  1 month ago

                  One more thing I might suggest is to start attending some of your town/city council meetings. You can also ask the clerk to put you on their mailing list for meeting minutes. Some have a sign up on their website. Just getting a feel for what your locality is dealing with can help you to understand what the local issues are. Local politics are often more accessible to change.

              • Cris@lemmy.world
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                1 month ago

                This is an unusual question, but do you know any way I can get more involved if I’m not awake when people meet and organize?

                I have a severe circadian rhythm disorder and as a result am not awake during the day. All I’ve been able to come up with in terms of contributing is writing cards to potential voters (I got a couple in the mail when I updated my voter registration), and maybe calling potential voters on the other side of the country who are in a different timezone.

                I feel really powerless to contribute, but I don’t wanna sit back and do nothing, disability or not :( if you can’t think of anything, that’s okay, I will keep looking for way to be involved

                • MonkRome@lemmy.world
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                  1 month ago

                  Voting is a small part of political change, it needs to be done but that’s not where the work is. Getting involved in your community and pushing for changes is far more productive, activism of all types.

                  I would start by getting on mailing lists for things you care about and email for local city council meeting minutes. You might be surprised by some of the meeting times of local orgs. Some events are evening, but you can still learn about what is needed if you are staying engaged with local things. I can’t tell you what will work, but I reiterate I would start by getting on mailing lists for things you care about and take opportunities when they come.

                  Edit: and don’t be so hard on yourself, you can only do what you can do. Take your wins when they come and focus on those.

        • krashmo@lemmy.world
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          1 month ago

          So did I but unfortunately we lost. That’s democracy in action. The country we live in (the collective we) asked for this.

        • skuzz@discuss.tchncs.de
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          1 month ago

          Collectively protest the most American way possible. Stop buying anything but the essentials. Don’t cut out life enjoyment, but make sure it’s for as few dollars as possible. This fucks with the supply chains and their precious stocks.

          • Cris@lemmy.world
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            1 month ago

            I already do that cause I’m broke as shit 😅 most of what I let myself buy is stuff that makes it a little easier to manage my sleep disorder

  • pdxfed@lemmy.world
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    1 month ago

    This next two years of “FO” realizations for the FA crowd will bring me no pleasure. Unfortunately we’re past the point of return now in participative democracy due to a menially literate population that has had the capacity for rational and forethought drowned out for 3+ generations.

    Time, yet again history, to teach people lessons the same, hard way. 😔

    • prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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      1 month ago

      The problem is that it appears as though there are tens of millions of Americans who are literally unable to FO. Or they FO, but are entirely unable (or perhaps unwilling at this point) to connect it to all the FA they’ve been doing.

    • prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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      1 month ago

      Days after the election, I was talking to coworkers who literally said that was just propaganda and he’s not actually going to do it. Because he said that.

      Turns out all people needed was a little bit of plausible deniability…