The Direct Executive Pen: Trump 2025

[1Zach1]

There is a another new EO, this time about contract invoicing, contract review and credit card usage. Most of what is in here already appears to be things that DOGE has been working on, I'm assuming some lawyer got to the Trump team and told them they needed to at the very least put out an EO authorizing the work that was being done. I'm going to focus on the contracting side here, but there are sections on government credit card freeze, building a system for approving travel (this already exists), and property information for reducing leases/ownership of buildings.

Section 3 is where the real details are.

Cutting Costs to Save Taxpayers Money. each Agency Head shall, with assistance as requested from the agency’s DOGE Team Lead, build a centralized technological system within the agency to seamlessly record every payment issued by the agency pursuant to each of the agency’s covered contracts and grants, along with a brief, written justification for each payment submitted by the agency employee who approved the payment. This system shall include a mechanism for the Agency Head to pause and rapidly review any payment for which the approving employee has not submitted a brief, written justification within the technological system.

I'm not aware of any government agency that doesn't already have some sort of invoicing system, that requires COR/CO/Approval Authority to submit justification for payment. I would assume this is really just to let DOGE get into these systems.

Once the system described in subsection (a) of this section is in place, the Agency Head shall issue guidance, in consultation with the agency’s DOGE Team Lead, to require that the relevant agency employee promptly submit a brief, written justification prior to that employee’s approval of a payment under covered contracts and grants, subject to any exceptions the Agency Head deems appropriate.

Again, this is already the system in place, so I'm again assuming this is about authorizing DOGE to get involved.

To the maximum extent permitted by law, and to the maximum extent deemed practicable by the Agency Head, the payment justifications described in subsection (a)(i) of this section shall be posted publicly.

Places like USASpending.gov and GovTribe exist currently because of the transparency of contracts and invoicing. So again, what is the point of this?

Review of Covered Contracts and Grants. Each Agency Head, in consultation with the agency’s DOGE Team Lead, shall review all existing covered contracts and grants and, where appropriate and consistent with applicable law, terminate or modify (including through renegotiation) such covered contracts and grants to reduce overall Federal spending or reallocate spending to promote efficiency and advance the policies of my Administration. This process shall commence immediately and shall prioritize the review of funds disbursed under covered contracts and grants to educational institutions and foreign entities for waste, fraud, and abuse. Each Agency Head shall complete this review within 30 days of the date of this order.

These reviews are already underway, and terminations/modifications already being done, without much thought or care about how it's impacting Agencies (see here)

Contract and Grant Process Review. Each Agency Head, in consultation with the agency’s DOGE Team Lead, shall conduct a comprehensive review of each agency’s contracting policies, procedures, and personnel. Each Agency Head shall complete this process within 30 days of the date of this order and shall not issue or approve new contracting officer warrants during the review period, unless the Agency Head determines such approval is necessary.
(d) CoveredContract and Grant Approval.
(i) Following the review specified in subsection (c) of this section, and prior to entering into new contracts, each Agency Head shall, in consultation with the agency’s DOGE Team Lead, issue guidance on signing new contracts or modifying existing contracts to promote Government efficiency and the policies of my Administration. The Agency Head may approve new contracts prior to the issuance of such guidance on a case-by-case basis.
(ii) Each DOGE Team Lead shall provide the Administrator with a monthly informational report on contracting activities. As soon as an agency’s contract and grant justification process described in subsection (a) of this section is established, this report shall include all payment justifications provided pursuant to that process, to the extent consistent with law.

This feels like we are deep into FAR territory here, where policies, procedures are coded into law for consistent procurement and fair treatment of contracting companies and competition. I don't know how it is around the whole government, but where I work we are massively understaffed for Contracting Officers, Contracting Specialists, Contracting Officer Representatives and other acquisition staff. This feels like that's all on the chopping block.

Executive Order is here

 

[Shavano]

OPM has released their guidance on implementing this EO. First phase is supposed to be submitted to OPM by 3/13, second phase mostly seems to be "how great everything is now that you've cut all these employees" plan, due by 4/14.

It's outlines pretty much what is in the EO, using employee exempt status as a driver for RIFs, workforce with "direct services to citizens" should be excluded along with LEO, uniformed military and immigration.

There is a heavy emphasis on using statutory requirements to RIF employees, with this outlining what looks like a narrow definition of statues.

Guidance Document here

First order of business - find where in your authorizing legislation it says you're subject to Executive Orders or the Office of Personnel Management.

It was nice being part of the United States while it existed.

 

[linnen]

OPM has released their guidance on implementing this EO. First phase is supposed to be submitted to OPM by 3/13, second phase mostly seems to be "how great everything is now that you've cut all these employees" plan, due by 4/14.

It's outlines pretty much what is in the EO, using employee exempt status as a driver for RIFs, workforce with "direct services to citizens" should be excluded along with LEO, uniformed military and immigration.

There is a heavy emphasis on using statutory requirements to RIF employees, with this outlining what looks like a narrow definition of statues.



Guidance Document here

What is the statutory basis for DOGE?

 

[ahmerali]

What is the statutory basis for DOGE?

"Because we can, and who's going to stop us?"

 

[Shavano]

"Because we can, and who's going to stop us?"

In 2026, States will hold elections for Congress if the US government doesn't try to stop them by force. If they do try, there will be a civil war of any law abiding states vs. the US military, if the military chooses to violate their oaths of office and enforce obviously illegal orders. If states don't hold elections, they will have no legal representatives in the House of Representatives and will not be able to elect Senators to terms that have expired. If there is less than a quorum, they cannot even be in session and cannot pass laws or appropriations. If they pretend to do so, the Constitution will not be in force.

If the Constitution is not in force, the former United States will become lawless and anybody's oath to uphold it is an oath to whom, exactly?

There is a high likelihood we are headed for a civil war or a military coup.

 

[ahmerali]

In 2026, States will hold elections for Congress if the US government doesn't try to stop them by force. If they do try, there will be a civil war of any law abiding states vs. the US military, if the military chooses to violate their oaths of office and enforce obviously illegal orders. If states don't hold elections, they will have no legal representatives in the House of Representatives and will not be able to elect Senators to terms that have expired. If there is less than a quorum, they cannot even be in session and cannot pass laws or appropriations. If they pretend to do so, the Constitution will not be in force.

If the Constitution is not in force, the former United States will become lawless and anybody's oath to uphold it is an oath to whom, exactly?

There is a high likelihood we are headed for a civil war or a military coup.

I get what you are saying.

But for all practical purposes, I would argue that you're already there. You are post-Constitution right now.

For example, what recourse do you have against Trump, Musk, or someone affiliated with them coming to your home and searching it without a warrant? From whom would you seek redress?

 

[Thank You and Best of Luck!]

I get what you are saying.

But for all practical purposes, I would argue that you're already there. You are post-Constitution right now.

For example, what recourse do you have against Trump, Musk, or someone affiliated with them coming to your home and searching it without a warrant? From whom would you seek redress?

This person gets it.

 

[BurntToShreds]

We were in post-Constitution when SCOTUS decided to hand Trump the gifts of being able to be on the ballot in spite of being an insurrectionist, and kingly immunity powers to the office of the President that they knew an institutions-are-sacred type like Biden would never use. Every executive order right now is just another pile of nonsense as our institutions are being gutted by Musk.

 

[Diabolical]

And yet another executive order, this one designating English as the "official language of the United States".
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presiden...s-the-official-language-of-the-united-states/

Specifically, it revokes Executive Order 13166.
https://www.federalregister.gov/doc...-for-persons-with-limited-english-proficiency

That was a Clinton product that told federal agencies to start and continue preparing access and documents for individuals that are "limited in their English proficiency". Basically, making it easier to access and use government services for more of our citizens and residents who do not necessarily speak English or do not speak it well.

You can see why the Administration would want to end this. They distinctly point out in the order that they're aren't telling agencies to stop producing material in other languages. But I'd argue it is certainly, heavily implied. The language of the EO is, I'm fairly certain, only mildly-obscured coded racism - I could be wrong, but I'm not inclined to give anyone who is part of the Trump Administration the benefit of the doubt when it comes this sort of thing.

Here is The Hill's reporting on it:
https://thehill.com/homenews/admini...-designating-english-official-language-of-us/

 

[Shavano]

And yet another executive order, this one designating English as the "official language of the United States".
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presiden...s-the-official-language-of-the-united-states/

Specifically, it revokes Executive Order 13166.
https://www.federalregister.gov/doc...-for-persons-with-limited-english-proficiency

That was a Clinton product that told federal agencies to start and continue preparing access and documents for individuals that are "limited in their English proficiency". Basically, making it easier to access and use government services for more of our citizens and residents who do not necessarily speak English or do not speak it well.

You can see why the Administration would want to end this. They distinctly point out in the order that they're aren't telling agencies to stop producing material in other languages. But I'd argue it is certainly, heavily implied. The language of the EO is, I'm fairly certain, only mildly-obscured coded racism - I could be wrong, but I'm not inclined to give anyone who is part of the Trump Administration the benefit of the doubt when it comes this sort of thing.

Here is The Hill's reporting on it:
https://thehill.com/homenews/admini...-designating-english-official-language-of-us/

Declaring English the official language is a longstanding Republican unsubtle dogwhistle for racists. This is no surprise.

 

[linnen]

Declaring English the official language is a longstanding Republican unsubtle dogwhistle for racists. This is no surprise.

Countdown until the Spanish language and other multi-lingual government web pages are taken down.

 

[Tijger]

Countdown until the Spanish language and other multi-lingual government web pages are taken down.

Countdown to latino Trump voters saying thats not what they voted for.

 

[DarthSlack]

Countdown to latino Trump voters saying thats not what they voted for.

I'll believe that when I actually see it.

 

[hansmuff]

Countdown to latino Trump voters saying thats not what they voted for.

That countdown is at 100, decrementing by 1 every year.
Lots of immigrants hate the ones coming on later, even of the same origin. The ladder pull is not an American thing.

 

[Numfuddle]

That was a Clinton product that told federal agencies to start and continue preparing access and documents for individuals that are "limited in their English proficiency". Basically, making it easier to access and use government services for more of our citizens and residents who do not necessarily speak English or do not speak it well.

We have something similar which requires government and public broadcasting to offer forms, explanations and news in "simple German". To make it easier to understand for people that don't have a college education.

I actually like it and even though I have a University degree and know bureaucracy speak I sometimes read the simple German text because it makes it easier to get to the core of an issue without the added layer of lawyerese.

 

[Sjoerd Verweij]

We have something similar which requires government and public broadcasting to offer forms, explanations and news in "simple German". To make it easier to understand for people that don't have a college education.

Yeah, no, that is not the same thing in any way shape or form. What the hell, dude?

 

[karolus]

And yet another executive order, this one designating English as the "official language of the United States".
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presiden...s-the-official-language-of-the-united-states/

Specifically, it revokes Executive Order 13166.
https://www.federalregister.gov/doc...-for-persons-with-limited-english-proficiency

That was a Clinton product that told federal agencies to start and continue preparing access and documents for individuals that are "limited in their English proficiency". Basically, making it easier to access and use government services for more of our citizens and residents who do not necessarily speak English or do not speak it well.

You can see why the Administration would want to end this. They distinctly point out in the order that they're aren't telling agencies to stop producing material in other languages. But I'd argue it is certainly, heavily implied. The language of the EO is, I'm fairly certain, only mildly-obscured coded racism - I could be wrong, but I'm not inclined to give anyone who is part of the Trump Administration the benefit of the doubt when it comes this sort of thing.

Here is The Hill's reporting on it:
https://thehill.com/homenews/admini...-designating-english-official-language-of-us/

You’re right about the dog whistles.

On the topic of making government communications easy to understand, was at a design talk some years ago discussing tax forms of all things. One of the targets for textual content on them was “ninth grade level.”

All the other rancor aside, the continued gutting of public education will probably result in more semi-literate people in the population, increasing the communication gap.

 

[Numfuddle]

Yeah, no, that is not the same thing in any way shape or form. What the hell, dude?

So offering government texts and bulletins in simpler language to make it easier to understand for immigrants and people with a more basic education level - in addition to translations into other languages like Turkish or Ukranian - is different from the US offering government texts and bulletins in simpler English to enable more people to read and understand those texts how?

Also if you act pissed off enough to what the hell me I'd like a more detailed explanation than just "no, it's not"

 

[Sjoerd Verweij]

So offering government texts and bulletins in simpler language to make it easier to understand for immigrants and people with a more basic education level - in addition to translations into other languages like Turkish or Ukranian - is different from the US offering government texts and bulletins in simpler English to enable more people to read and understand those texts how?

Also if you act pissed off enough to what the hell me I'd like a more detailed explanation than just "no, it's not"

I cannot find any evidence that 13166 resulted in simplified English anything, just translations.

If you can point to any, I will happily retract and apologize.

 

[Numfuddle]

I cannot find any evidence that 13166 resulted in simplified English anything, just translations.

If you can point to any, I will happily retract and apologize.

This is what Diabolical said: „That was a Clinton product that told federal agencies to start and continue preparing access and documents for individuals that are "limited in their English proficiency". Basically, making it easier to access and use government services for more of our citizens and residents who do not necessarily speak English or do not speak it well.“

Hence why I said that have „something similar“ because the way it was phrased makes it sound that it‘s not just translations of English texts into e.g. Spanish.

 

[Sjoerd Verweij]

This is what Diabolical said: „That was a Clinton product that told federal agencies to start and continue preparing access and documents for individuals that are "limited in their English proficiency". Basically, making it easier to access and use government services for more of our citizens and residents who do not necessarily speak English or do not speak it well.“

Hence why I said that have „something similar“ because the way it was phrased makes it sound that it‘s not just translations of English texts into e.g. Spanish.

I can see how you'd interpret that way, but like I said, I've never even heard of any "simplified English" government documentation, and I can't find any proof of any in a bit of casual Googling. If anyone knows of any, I'd still be interested to find out -- not that it matters all that much to the point of it all being cut, of course.

Regardless, one way or the other, there was absolutely no call for me being a complete dick about it. I apologize.

 

[Numfuddle]

I can see how you'd interpret that way, but like I said, I've never even heard of any "simplified English" government documentation, and I can't find any proof of any in a bit of casual Googling. If anyone knows of any, I'd still be interested to find out -- not that it matters all that much to the point of it all being cut, of course.

Regardless, one way or the other, there was absolutely no call for me being a complete dick about it. I apologize.

No worries and no offense taken

 

[Starbuck79]

Trump is using a new EO to Attack the Lawfirm Perkins Coie

The firm was also a magnet for Trump’s anger after the 2016 election because it had used Democratic Party money to hire the opposition research firm that commissioned the Russia dossier about Trump and his campaign.

In recent weeks, the firm has joined many other lawyers who are opposing the administration’s actions publicly in court. Half a dozen Perkins Coie attorneys are working on a case challenging Trump’s ban on trans service members.

“We have reviewed the Executive Order. It is patently unlawful, and we intend to challenge it,” a Perkins Coie spokesperson said in a statement to CNN when reached for comment.

In the latest executive order, Trump also directed agency heads to issue guidance limiting Perkins Coie employees’ official access to federal buildings “when such access would threaten the national security of or otherwise be inconsistent with the interests of the United States.” Meetings between lawyers at agencies are frequent when they represent a regulatory or investigations client

As the President would determine what is "inconsistent with the interests of the United States" he could likely even try to block their access to Federal Courts.

Trump is looking to go after all Firms for their "DEI" programs. Lawyers have Legal Ethics rules which requires non discrimination in employment. Nearly all of them have differing forms of "DEI" program not only to recruit and maintain a diverse lawyers but make sure they are following their ethics laws.

The EO directs government contractors to stop any business with the firm.

Sec. 3. Contracting. (a) To prevent the transfer of taxpayer dollars to Federal contractors whose earnings subsidize, among other things, racial discrimination, falsified documents designed to weaponize the Government against candidates for office, and anti-democratic election changes that invite fraud and distrust, Government contracting agencies shall, to the extent permissible by law, require Government contractors to disclose any business they do with Perkins Coie and whether that business is related to the subject of the Government contract.

(b) The heads of all agencies shall review all contracts with Perkins Coie or with entities that disclose doing business with Perkins Coie under subsection (a) of this section. To the extent permitted by law, the heads of agencies shall:

(i) take appropriate steps to terminate any contract, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, including the Federal Acquisition Regulation, for which Perkins Coie has been hired to perform any service;

It would be one thing for the EO to target DEI programs in Firms, but it specifically calls out Perkins in the title for their "Risks".

Addressing Risks from Perkins Coie LLP

 

[kefkafloyd]

That's basically a writ of attainder. I guess these people writing the EOs don't care about prior restraint?

 

[CPX]

That's basically a writ of attainder. I guess these people writing the EOs don't care about prior restraint?

How are the courts going to enforce their orders? The Marshal service is busy helping out ICE efforts and taking over cabinet secretary security, even if they weren't under complete Article II control.

 

[Wheels Of Confusion]

That's basically a writ of attainder. I guess these people writing the EOs don't care about prior restraint?

It's only bills of attainder, from the legislature, that are expressly forbidden in the US system.

 

[Shavano]

It's only bills of attainder, from the legislature, that are expressly forbidden in the US system.

Executive orders don't have the force of law, in the US system.

 

[papadage]

Sure they do. They are not statutes, but theat do carry the force of law behind them as directives of the Executive.

 

[wavelet]

Well, looks like a new EO is in the pipeline forbidding or restricting entry to the US to citizens of 43 countries (11 thereof with a total ban), an expansion of the 1st-term order. Most are majority-Muslim countries, but some on the ban list are outright odd like Bhutan (I expect present on the list because Trump Admin employees cannot read maps).
22 countries are on a "yellow" list, whose citizens will have 60 days to fix any issues with their visa applications (though AFAIK, that's already the case today with all visa applications irrespective of citizenship).

Oddly enough, Russia is also on the restricted list.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/new-proposed-trump-travel-ban-would-target-43-countries/

 

[Shavano]

I'm sure it will all be smoothed over with bribes.

 

[dlr(2)]

I'm sure it will all be smoothed over with bribes.

Or $5 M dollar Trump Golden Visas

 

[PhaseShifter]

Susan B. Anthony, Sacagawea, and US Presidents series dollar coins are all the same size and weight.

You'd think the people designing latter two would have learned the lesson from the first, and used a size less likely to be confused with a quarter.

I got most of my Sacagawea dollars from vending machines at the post office, but some of them (and all of the Susan B Anthony dollars I've ever seen) were in my change from restaurants and vending machines where I was supposed to receive a quarter.

 

[Scotttheking]

You'd think the people designing latter two would have learned the lesson from the first, and used a size less likely to be confused with a quarter.

I got most of my Sacagawea dollars from vending machines at the post office, but some of them (and all of the Susan B Anthony dollars I've ever seen) were in my change from restaurants and vending machines where I was supposed to receive a quarter.

The size was intentionally the same because of vending machines.

 

[Shavano]

The size was intentionally the same because of vending machines.

The sizes and weights of dollar coins, you mean?
They are not the same diameter, thickness or weight as quarters.
https://www.usmint.gov/learn/coins-and-medals/circulating-coins/coin-specifications

 

[Scotttheking]

The sizes and weights of dollar coins, you mean?
They are not the same diameter, thickness or weight as quarters.
https://www.usmint.gov/learn/coins-and-medals/circulating-coins/coin-specifications

Yes, they were kept same as SBA dollars.

 

[Wheels Of Confusion]

Yes, they were kept same as SBA dollars.

Even the gold-colored cladding on the Sacagawea dollars was chosen specifically because it would trigger the same magnetic response in a vending machine as other dollar coins and be counted correctly.

 

[herko]

/// OFFICIAL MODERATION NOTICE ///

---

Guys, the coin stuff? We’ve wandered way into the weeds. Let’s get back to the thread’s stated topic please.

 

[1Zach1]

And there you have it, the EO to (mostly) shutter the Department of Education. I'm not sure how they are going to get around Congress on this one, there had been rumors that they would be keeping as minimal a function as possible to sidestep Congress, but this EO seems to be a blanket closure, including student loans. No idea what this is really going to look like at the end of the day, I assume there are a number of states that will be completely fucked without the ED, and we are going to see privatized education skyrocket.

Sec. 2. Closing the Department of Education and Returning Authority to the States. (a) The Secretary of Education shall, to the maximum extent appropriate and permitted by law, take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education and return authority over education to the States and local communities while ensuring the effective and uninterrupted delivery of services, programs, and benefits on which Americans rely.

Improving Education Outcomes by Empowering Parents, States, and Communities

 

[BigLan]

Yup, I guess it's charter schools all around and vouchers to skip that pesky church and state separation thing.

 

[Shavano]

Yup, I guess it's charter schools all around and vouchers to skip that pesky church and state separation thing.

Schools are mostly funded by the states and local governments. So schools will still exist. They'll just be without the federal resources they've come to expect. There will be cuts, mostly in poor and rural areas.