Category: Government

DOGE, Audits, and Eko

OGE is currently conducting what amount to audits of every single bureaucratic office, department, and budget in the extremely tangled web of the U.S. government bureaucracy. The substack “Eko Loves You” is an interesting and insightful read. There’s a lot of speculation that this is Elon Musk writing his thoughts on the work and discoveries of DOGE. Whether it’s Musk or not, the posts are well worth reading. The posts lay out in clear language what’s been discovered, connections, Constitutional issues… the whole shebang.

Now, some of you and some of your friends may be the ones screaming about the actions of DOGE. I have one question for you: Why are you so virulently against an audit of the bureaucracy? Ah, ah, ah. I don’t want to hear about how your research grant got frozen, nor do I want to hear about those poor federal workers who got laid off… with, for the most part, hefty compensation packages. I want to know why you’re so focused on those things and apparently don’t give a rat’s ass about all the evidence of fraud, waste, mis-management, sheer incompetence, and outright bribery currently coming to light. Why is all of that not a concern for you?

If you try to tell me you haven’t seen any evidence of that, I would point you to the White House Press Secretary, the White House, any media OTHER THAN MSNBC, CNN, or any of the legacy media. Branch out. Read sites like Red State, Rantburg, Washington Times, Epoch Times, Instapundit, Real Clear Politics. What are you afraid of? Cooties from unapproved news sites?

Every anti-DOGE rant I’ve seen so far has focused on the alleged lack of constitutional authority for DOGE and Musk. Nope, sorry, all the necessary constitutional authority is there. The anti-DOGE rants which don’t focus on constitutional authority are absolutely filled with nothing but emotional pleas. “Think about the chillllldrennnnn!” “What about the water projects in Africa?” “How can we abandon all of that?” “You’re a monster if you don’t care about the less fortunate in the world!”

One of the things the DOGE audits have revealed (and really they’re not even at the actual audit part yet, they’re just revealing money trails), is that the vast majority of money sent out by USAID and its associated agencies is not going to its intended recipients. When well over half the money is going to “overhead” or simply disappearing, that should be a HUGE red flag. Yet, none of the overly emotional, heartstring pulling posts even mentions that.

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What Trump’s Gun Executive Order Could Do

President Donald Trump has made his first move on gun policy.

Last Friday, he issued an executive order directing Attorney General Pam Bondi to undertake a 30-day review of executive branch gun actions and positions to ensure they don’t violate the Second Amendment. The order itself doesn’t tell Bondi what specific actions to take. However, it does outline a number of areas to focus her review on.

So, what might come at the end of those 30 days? Let’s break it down section by section.

First, it’s important to note that the president is fairly limited in what he can do unilaterally on federal gun policy. Without Congress, he can’t implement some of the top priorities of the gun-rights movement or undo some of the successes the gun-control movement had under former President Joe Biden–such as the reforms included in the 2022 Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.

There are seven areas the executive order tells Bondi to look at, but the first one basically just encompasses the other ones. It simply directs her to review “all Presidential and agencies’ actions” during the Biden Administration that “may have impinged on the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens.” From there, it gets a bit more specific.

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Pam Bondi Announces Charges Against Kathy Hochul, Letitia James

Newly sworn-in Attorney General Pam Bondi held her first U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) press briefing Wednesday where she announced federal charges filed against the state of New York, specifically Gov. Kathy Hochul, the state’s AG Letitia James, and Commissioner Mark Schroeder of the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

“New York has chosen to prioritize illegal aliens over American citizens. It stops today,” Bondi said.

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Ending the ATF Not So Fringe an Idea Anymore

There are a lot of people who want to end the ATF, but for a long time, all of them were gun rights advocates who had seen how the bureau abused its authority. For most Americans, it was just another federal law enforcement agency trying to do the right thing and catch criminals.

They had it in their heads that what happened in Ruby Ridge and in Waco were really just the result of lawless behavior rather than law enforcement screwing the pooch royally.

But as time marches on, things change.

Now, you can talk about ending the ATF and it’s not nearly as fringe of an idea as it once was. In fact, now it’s a fairly normal idea in politics.

The 119th Congress providesgun owners a unique chance to go on offense and advance pro-gun legislation. Donald Trump’s victory in November, coupled with Republicans’ retaking of the Senate and their continued control of the House, puts gun owners in a good position to get on the legislative scorecard, at least on paper.

On Jan. 7, 2025, Rep. Eric Burlison (R-MO) took the initiative byintroducingH.R. 221, the “Abolish the ATF Act’’, a succinct, one-page bill that aims to abolish the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE). Burlison’s bill already has 27 co-sponsors, with Reps. Lauren Boebert (R-CO), Thomas Massie (R-KY), Paul Gosar (R-AZ), and Andy Biggs (R-AZ).

In a statement to The National News Desk earlier in January, Burlisondeclared, “The ATF is emblematic of the deep-state bureaucracy that believes it can infringe on constitutional liberties without consequence. If this agency cannot uphold its duty to serve the people within the framework of the Constitution, it has no place in our government.”

Burlison previouslyindicatedthat state governments should handle firearms issues without having the Feds butt in. He accused the ATF of “co-opting or commandeering [local] law enforcement to enforce laws” which elected officials in state legislation did not pass. The congressman suggested that states should be allowed to handle matters themselves, without federal interference.

Burlison’s bill is just the latest in congressional attempts to rein in the ATF’s power. Since the ATF’s infamous Waco siege of 1993, where nearly80 peoplewere killed, gun owners’ attitudes towards the ATF have hardened to the point where several elected officials have stepped up to introduce their respective ATF abolition bills. Members of Congress such Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene(R-GA) Rep. Matt Gaetz(R-FL) have introduced their respective ATF abolition bills over the last decade.

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Anti-Gun Fury over Trump 2A Exec. Order; Dem States Could Double Down

Washington gun owners expect Democrats who control the state legislature to double down on gun control in response to President Trump’s executive order protecting the Second Amendment.

While the reaction from gun prohibition lobbying groups to President Donald Trump’s executive order to protect the Second Amendment was predictable fury, grassroots gun rights activists in the Pacific Northwest—where Democrats are in control—expect them to “double-down” in retaliation.

The question was raised on Facebook, and remarks posted in response to this question—As Trump dismantles Biden’s gun control agenda, will Washington Democrats double down out of spite?—tell the tale. More about this in a minute.

Trump’s 451-word executive order met with immediate resistance from gun control groups, exemplified by Common Dreams, “An executive order issued Friday by President Donald Trump that aims to rollback gun control measures instituted by his predecessor received a swift rebuke from critics who said the order should be seen as a giveaway to the profit-hungry gun industry at the expense of a society ruthlessly harmed by gun violence year after year after year.”

Trump’s order covers all actions during the period from January 2021 through January 2025 focusing on rules promulgated by the Justice Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives during that time period. It also directs the Attorney General to review reports and related documents issued by the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, which President Trump has abolished.

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Trump Signs Executive Order To Protect Second Amendment Rights

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:

Section 1.  Purpose.  The Second Amendment is an indispensable safeguard of security and liberty.  It has preserved the right of the American people to protect ourselves, our families, and our freedoms since the founding of our great Nation.  Because it is foundational to maintaining all other rights held by Americans, the right to keep and bear arms must not be infringed.

Sec. 2.  Plan of Action.  (a)  Within 30 days of the date of this order, the Attorney General shall examine all orders, regulations, guidance, plans, international agreements, and other actions of executive departments and agencies (agencies) to assess any ongoing infringements of the Second Amendment rights of our citizens, and present a proposed plan of action to the President, through the Domestic Policy Advisor, to protect the Second Amendment rights of all Americans.
(b)  In developing such proposed plan of action, the Attorney General shall review, at a minimum:
(i)    All Presidential and agencies’ actions from January 2021 through January 2025 that purport to promote safety but may have impinged on the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens;
(ii)   Rules promulgated by the Department of Justice, including by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, from January 2021 through January 2025 pertaining to firearms and/or Federal firearms licensees;
(iii)  Agencies’ plans, orders, and actions regarding the so-called “enhanced regulatory enforcement policy” pertaining to firearms and/or Federal firearms licensees;
(iv)   Reports and related documents issued by the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention;
(v)    The positions taken by the United States in any and all ongoing and potential litigation that affects or could affect the ability of Americans to exercise their Second Amendment rights;
(vi)   Agencies’ classifications of firearms and ammunition; and
(vii)  The processing of applications to make, manufacture, transfer, or export firearms.

Sec. 3.  Implementation.  Upon submission of the proposed plan of action described in section 2 of this order, the Attorney General shall work with the Domestic Policy Advisor to finalize the plan of action and establish a process for implementation.

Sec. 4.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b)  This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c)  This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

The hits, they just keep coming

Trump Orders Termination of ‘Every Single Media Contract’ Expensed by Government Communication Agency

President Donald Trump ordered the General Services Administration (GSA) to cancel all media-related contracts funded by the agency Thursday after alleging that “billions of dollars have been stolen… much of it going to the fake news media as a ‘payoff’ for creating good stories about the Democrats.”

“GSA team, please do two things,” a Trump administration official instructed in an email obtained by Axios. “Pull all contracts for Politico, BBC, E&E (Politico sub) and Bloomberg. Pull all media contracts for just GSA—cancel every single media contract today for GSA only.”

The move comes after Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) uncovered millions of dollars in government agency subscriptions to Politico Pro, a policy-tracking service widely used in Washington. Their discovery, made through a public database, fueled speculation on X about the Biden administration allegedly “funding” anti-Trump outlets.

According to USAspending.gov records, USAID paid $44,000 for Politico’s energy and environmental news subscriptions in 2023 and 2024. Across all government agencies, Politico services reportedly exceeded $8 million in 2024.

BLUF:
Most importantly, Trump and Musk should keep their ears to the ground, to see what sort of sedition might be brewing among these soon-to-be-former elites.

Because something will be.

Smashing the ‘rice bowls’ — Why elites are lashing out at Trump and Musk’s reforms.

Philosopher Eric Hoffer once wrote, “Nothing is so unsettling to a social order as the presence of a mass of scribes without suitable employment and an acknowledged status.”

As President Trump, Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency get on with their business of trimming waste, fraud, abuse and graft from the federal budget — a business that is vitally important, given the government’s parlous financial outlook — they need to keep this in mind.

Less than two weeks in, DOGE teams poring over federal spending records are discovering all sorts of problems.

“Career Treasury officials are breaking the law every hour of every day by approving payments that are fraudulent or do not match the funding laws passed by Congress,” Musk reported Sunday.

Money from the US Agency for International Development and other agencies is going for organizations shipping illegal migrants to the United States or paying their expenses upon arrival — which then oppose, on “humanitarian” grounds, any effort to stem the flow.

Musk and hedge-funder Bill Ackman wrote that the government funded non-governmental organizations to get around laws that are supposed to keep taxpayer dollars out of party politics and dangerous scientific research.

USAID officials even tried to physically stop DOGE technicians from accessing the computers that contained information on payments, leading Musk to comment, “USAID is a criminal organization. Time for it to die.”

Meanwhile Trump suspended payments to NGOs and nonprofits until a formal re-evaluation of the nature, purposes and legality of the spending is complete at each grant-making agency.

It’s a safe bet that once they’re re-evaluated, far fewer grants will be made.

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‘Second Amendment Summer’ tax holiday on guns and ammo in DeSantis’ proposed budget
DeSantis unveiled his proposed $115.6 billion budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year during a news conference in Tallahassee on Monday

A new sales-tax “holiday” on guns and ammunition is one of several included in Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ new proposed state budget.

DeSantis unveiled his proposed $115.6 billion budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year during a news conference in Tallahassee on Monday.

The budget includes a number of temporary tax savings, or “holidays,” that the governor’s office says will provide around $296 million in temporary tax savings.

Many of the tax holidays are returning after they were included in previous budgets.

But among the new ones is the “Second Amendment Summer” sales-tax holiday, which would run between Memorial Day and the Fourth of July.

The measure would temporarily remove sales taxes on ammunition, firearms and related items and would save shoppers an estimated $8 million, according to the governor’s office.

“We are unveiling the ‘Second Amendment Summer’ tax holiday, so from Memorial Day to the Fourth of July, you can get your ammunition, your firearms, and your accoutrements tax free in the state of Florida,” DeSantis said Monday.

Another new savings measure in the budget is a “Marine Fuel” tax holiday. That two-month holiday would provide a 29.5 cents per gallon reduction of the motor fuel taxes levied on commonly used boat fuels, saving boaters $27 million, the governor’s office said.

Among the measures returning would be the 14-day “Back-to-School” sales tax holiday that exempts certain school supplies, clothing, computers and other items ahead of the start of the school year.

Here’s what you can get tax-free during Florida’s back-to-school sales tax holiday. As the calendar inches closer to the start of a new school year, parents are busy helping their children get ready by stocking up on school supplies. NBC6’s Kris Anderson has more on Florida’s back-to-school tax holiday.
A pair of “Disaster Preparedness” sales tax holidays are also included, which apply to certain supplies at the start and height of hurricane season.

Also returning would be a 7-day “Tool Time” sales tax holiday on certain power tools and equipment used by skilled trade workers.

A “Freedom Month” sales tax holiday would also return in July, which includes boating, fishing and camping supplies like pool toys, tents, and even kayaks. Outdoor supplies such as grills and bicycles will also be tax-free.

Trump nominee will review Biden restrictions on firearms exports

WASHINGTON, Feb 3 (Reuters) – President Donald Trump’s nominee to head the Commerce Department said on Monday he will review the Biden administration’s year-old restrictions on firearms exports that were aimed at limiting foreign criminal groups acquiring U.S. guns.

Nominee Howard Lutnick said in written comments that if confirmed he would “ensure the department reviews this policy and takes appropriate action.”

After a temporary export pause on firearms exports in 2023, the Biden administration in April 2024 imposed restrictions on sales to non-governmental users in 36 countries where the State Department determined the firearms were at high risk of diversion.

At the time, the Commerce Department forecast the restrictions would reduce average annual U.S. firearms exports by 7% or $40 million.
Lutnick was responding to a question from Senator Eric Schmitt who said the policy “cost U.S. manufacturers and exporters hundreds of millions of dollars annually.”

An industry association estimated in 2023 that the sales loss would be $238 million a year.

Then-Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said the rules would limit diversions of guns to drug cartels, criminal groups, gangs and others. “The days of exporting military-style weapons to civilians in unstable countries are over,” Raimondo said.

The Senate Commerce Committee will vote on Lutnick’s nomination on Wednesday.

Border Crossings Down 93%.

White House Border Czar Tom Homan told Fox News on Sunday that illegal border crossings are down 93% since Donald Trump won his belated reelection in November. Speaking with Maria Bartiromo, Homan also promised, “When we find that criminal, he’s most likely with others, and they’re gonna go too. So if you wanna be a sanctuary city, you’re gonna get exactly what you don’t want. More agents in the community and more non-criminals arrested.”

“We got more work to do,” Homan concluded — and what a welcome change that is from the last four years.

As a candidate, Joe Biden sent the message loud and clear that America would be open for… anything, really… for illegal aliens. Need a job? Want to sell drugs? Cartel or gang member? Terrorist? No problemo! The surge of illegals began virtually the moment Biden was declared the winner.

And for four years of record-busting waves of illegals, Biden and his Chief Enabler at DHS, Alejandro Mayorkas, swore up and down that the border was secure.

So here’s Homan, only in office at DHS for a couple of weeks, overseeing a 93% decline and admitting, “We got more work to do.”

The rapid decrease began before Trump was sworn in, before another foot of border wall was erected, and before a single soldier was ordered to the border.

So what changed?

The incentives.

Trump’s simple promise to begin mass deportations was probably enough, but Homan’s strong language — going back to before Trump appointed him — underscored Trump’s point with firm authority.

Now we have the DOGE boys stopping the flow of taxpayer dollars to the NGOs that worked so hard under the Biden cabal to incentivize illegal crossings and, frankly, widespread settlement with negative incentives for assimilation.

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In the federal civil service, it’s a difficult task to terminate employment as it can take several instances of a problem that an employee doesn’t resolve before they’re terminated, however, insubordination is one of the things that management can, and will quickly send someone packing for, especially if they’re in the ‘excepted service’ which is – mostly – management. I suspect this guy will soon be g-o-n-e.

BLUF
Unlike Trump 1.0, when bureaucrats frequently ignored the administration and stymied its agenda, this time around, the lesson has been learned. Resistance is being met with immediate action. Gottlieb may very well hit the leftist podcast circuit, dining out on his reputation as a “martyr” and “truth teller,” but the lesson will not be lost on other people who aren’t anxious to follow that path.

The Resistance Attempts a Coup at USAID and It Doesn’t Go Well.

The director of employee and labor relations at the US Agency for International Development has been placed on administrative leave after a stunning refusal to follow directions given by President Trump’s transition team.

Tuesday, acting USAID Administrator Jason Gray ordered nearly 60 senior bureaucrats placed on indefinite administrative leave for taking actions to evade Trump’s executive orders; see Trump Suspends As Many As 60 Senior Bureaucrats for Trying to Evade His Executive Orders – RedState. In a memo, Gray said, “We have identified several actions within USAID that appear to be designed to circumvent the president’s executive orders and the mandate from the American people.“ As a result, we have placed a number of USAID employees on administrative leave with full pay and benefits until further notice while we complete our analysis of these actions.”

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Gun Owners Still Waiting on Pro-2A Executive Orders

President Trump must act on the Second Amendment

President Trump promised gun-owning voters that Biden’s unconstitutional anti-gun disasters would “get ripped up and torn out” during the first week of his Administration.

We just officially passed that milestone in the Trump-Vance Administration – and Biden’s anti-gun policies are still in effect.

Look, we all know there’s quite a lot to fix after four disastrous years of Joe and Kamala, but defending the Second Amendment of the Constitution MUST be a TOP priority for the President of the United States.

That’s why GOA is mobilizing gun owners like YOU to remind the President that we are still waiting on him to deliver on his promises to roll back the Biden-era anti-gun policies and revive the Second Amendment.

Please add your name to our pre-written letter reminding President Trump to deliver on the promises he made to gun owners like YOU.

On the campaign trail, President Trump specifically promised to take the following actions to roll back Joe and Kamala’s anti-gun record:

  • Stopping the Biden Pistol Brace Ban
  • Revoking the Universal Background Check Rule
  • Ending the “Zero Tolerance” policy on gun stores

Not only does out letter remind the President of these three explicit promises, but we are also urging him to withdraw the frame and receiver rule immediately and eliminate the ATF’s illegal gun registry.

President Trump makes it a point of saying how much he listens directly to the American people.

That’s why it’s critical that gun owners – a key voting bloc that helped give him the presidency – to speak up right now and ensure our voices are heard in the White House.