(I realize the twitter thread is mostly about Musk, but I think the emanations and penumbras around Musk have far outstripped twitter. This thread is for that.)

Other than perhaps Musk himself, did anyone on this earth have "Musk will be a powerful, quasi-presidential force within a Trump administration" on their bingo card a year ago?

two stories, just from today. 1/31/2025

Exclusive: Musk aides lock government workers out of computer systems at US agency, sources say

WASHINGTON, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Aides to Elon Musk charged with running
the U.S. government human resources agency have locked career civil
servants out of computer systems that contain the personal data of
millions of federal employees, according to two agency officials.

Elon Musk is reportedly taking control of the inner workings of US government agencies

People working for, or with, Elon Musk are reportedly taking over the inner workings of multiple government agencies, including the Office of Personnel Management and the Treasury Department.

The Washington Post reported Friday that the highest-ranking career official at Treasury is leaving the department after “a clash” with people working for Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) over “access to sensitive payment systems,” citing three unnamed sources.

The DOGE officials have been asking for access to the system — which controls the flow of more than $6 trillion annually to programs like Social Security and Medicare — since after the election in November. The Trump administration has been looking for ways to stop the flow federal money appropriated by Congress, including hastily ordering a confusing spending freeze, which experts say violates the constitution.

Musk is going to need a pardon at the rate this is going, because no way all this is legal.

Thank you for this thread.

We were just discussing the implications of all this. Hubby works as a public servant here, resolving users’ complex issues. My brother is relatively high up in a major federal govt department, tightening security and keeping the massive national database working.   Both also teach business leadership.
None of us can imagine being a US public servant, of any description, over the next few months. It’ll take a looong time to resolve. 

I’m wondering if he can manipulate the voting machines in 2028 when jd Vance is the Republican candidate.

drummerboy said:

(I realize the twitter thread is mostly about Musk, but I think the emanations and penumbras around Musk have far outstripped twitter. This thread is for that.)

Other than perhaps Musk himself, did anyone on this earth have "Musk will be a powerful, quasi-presidential force within a Trump administration" on their bingo card a year ago?

two stories, just from today. 1/31/2025

Exclusive: Musk aides lock government workers out of computer systems at US agency, sources say

WASHINGTON, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Aides to Elon Musk charged with running
the U.S. government human resources agency have locked career civil
servants out of computer systems that contain the personal data of
millions of federal employees, according to two agency officials.

Elon Musk is reportedly taking control of the inner workings of US government agencies

People working for, or with, Elon Musk are reportedly taking over the inner workings of multiple government agencies, including the Office of Personnel Management and the Treasury Department.

The Washington Post reported Friday that the highest-ranking career official at Treasury is leaving the department after “a clash” with people working for Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) over “access to sensitive payment systems,” citing three unnamed sources.

The DOGE officials have been asking for access to the system — which controls the flow of more than $6 trillion annually to programs like Social Security and Medicare — since after the election in November. The Trump administration has been looking for ways to stop the flow federal money appropriated by Congress, including hastily ordering a confusing spending freeze, which experts say violates the constitution.

Agreed that this report is alarming. However, the NY Times report on the story links to this GAO report:

https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-24-106927

[ excerpt ]

Improper payments—those that should not have been made or were made in the incorrect amount—have consistently been a government-wide issue. Since fiscal year 2003, federal agencies reported about $2.7 trillion in total improper payments. In FY 2023 alone, federal agencies made $236 billion in improper payments, a decrease of about $11 billion from the prior fiscal year.

This Q&A report shows that this estimate doesn't include the Department of Health and Human Services' Temporary Assistance for Needy Families—a program that is susceptible to significant improper payments. We covered this issue in a prior report.

Jaytee said:

I’m wondering if he can manipulate the voting machines in 2028 when jd Vance is the Republican candidate.

And even if they are not manipulated in some way, will the result be trusted?

paulsurovell said:

drummerboy said:

(I realize the twitter thread is mostly about Musk, but I think the emanations and penumbras around Musk have far outstripped twitter. This thread is for that.)

Other than perhaps Musk himself, did anyone on this earth have "Musk will be a powerful, quasi-presidential force within a Trump administration" on their bingo card a year ago?

two stories, just from today. 1/31/2025

Exclusive: Musk aides lock government workers out of computer systems at US agency, sources say

WASHINGTON, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Aides to Elon Musk charged with running
the U.S. government human resources agency have locked career civil
servants out of computer systems that contain the personal data of
millions of federal employees, according to two agency officials.

Elon Musk is reportedly taking control of the inner workings of US government agencies

People working for, or with, Elon Musk are reportedly taking over the inner workings of multiple government agencies, including the Office of Personnel Management and the Treasury Department.

The Washington Post reported Friday that the highest-ranking career official at Treasury is leaving the department after “a clash” with people working for Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) over “access to sensitive payment systems,” citing three unnamed sources.

The DOGE officials have been asking for access to the system — which controls the flow of more than $6 trillion annually to programs like Social Security and Medicare — since after the election in November. The Trump administration has been looking for ways to stop the flow federal money appropriated by Congress, including hastily ordering a confusing spending freeze, which experts say violates the constitution.

Agreed that this report is alarming. However, the NY Times report on the story links to this GAO report:

https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-24-106927

[ excerpt ]

Improper payments—those that should not have been made or were made in the incorrect amount—have consistently been a government-wide issue. Since fiscal year 2003, federal agencies reported about $2.7 trillion in total improper payments. In FY 2023 alone, federal agencies made $236 billion in improper payments, a decrease of about $11 billion from the prior fiscal year.

This Q&A report shows that this estimate doesn't include the Department of Health and Human Services' Temporary Assistance for Needy Families—a program that is susceptible to significant improper payments. We covered this issue in a prior report.

what's your point?

what's the "However" for? "However" what?

and take a guess as to what percent of total spending that 2.7TR since 2003 is.

4% (roughly)

be still my heart.

and do you somehow think that these improper payments are what Musk is looking at? are we to trust his judgement on what is fraud and what is not? on what is improper? and on what authority?

and again, the point of this thread is why the **** is he even involved? How? Why?

we face a far bigger threat from the fact that he's involved than we face from some improper payments.

paulsurovell said:

Exclusive: Musk aides lock government workers out of computer systems at US agency, sources say

WASHINGTON, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Aides to Elon Musk charged with running
the U.S. government human resources agency have locked career civil
servants out of computer systems that contain the personal data of
millions of federal employees, according to two agency officials.

Elon Musk is reportedly taking control of the inner workings of US government agencies

Agreed that this report is alarming. However, the NY Times report on the story links to this GAO report:

https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-24-106927

[ excerpt ]

Improper payments—those that should not have been made or were made in the incorrect amount—have consistently been a government-wide issue. Since fiscal year 2003, federal agencies reported about $2.7 trillion in total improper payments. In FY 2023 alone, federal agencies made $236 billion in improper payments, a decrease of about $11 billion from the prior fiscal year.

This Q&A report shows that this estimate doesn't include the Department of Health and Human Services' Temporary Assistance for Needy Families—a program that is susceptible to significant improper payments. We covered this issue in a prior report.

Your "however" has nothing to do with the point of the concern. You're engaging in the same kind of misdirection as people who rant about Venezuelan gang members in response to concern about the deportation of families.

The fixes to problems with government computer systems will be expensive, time-consuming and complex.  What they won't be is exciting new stories.  Musk is all about the headlines and not about the detail.  Anybody who believes that his current theatrics are part of any real solution is delusional.

paulsurovell said:

PVW said:

Perhaps you're a fan of his attempt to import his anti-worker policies to the federal work force? Cancel culture is all good so long as it's middle class jobs you're canceling, right?

What leads you to use the phrase "Perhaps you're a fan of" to introduce this idea of yours.

paulsurovell said:

Agreed that this report is alarming. However...[links to a report on an unrelated issue]

Jaytee said:

I’m wondering if he can manipulate the voting machines in 2028 when jd Vance is the Republican candidate.

It will be whomever Donald Trump decides. Try Eric or Don Jr.