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Elections & Politics

The Ripple Effect: DOGE’s Workforce Reduction and Its Impact on Federal Agencies

The Ripple Effect: DOGE’s Workforce Reduction and Its Impact on Federal Agencies

by | Mar 25, 2025 |

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), established under the Trump administration and led by Elon Musk, has embarked on an ambitious mission to streamline federal operations by significantly reducing the workforce across various agencies. This initiative aims to cut $1 trillion from the federal budget during the 2025-2026 fiscal year, primarily through substantial layoffs and restructuring efforts. While proponents argue that these measures are necessary to eliminate inefficiencies and reduce government spending, critics warn of potential disruptions to essential public services and the erosion of institutional knowledge within federal agencies.

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The Impact on Public Safety When Trump Tries to Downsize the Government

The Impact on Public Safety When Trump Tries to Downsize the Government

by | Mar 20, 2025 |

On February 11th, 2025, President Trump signed an Executive Order to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the federal workforce and to reduce the size of the government and federal spending. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is executing that mission, echoing the need to regulate government spending and amplify government efficiency. Recently Musks’s actions to summarily layoff federal workers have been successfully challenged in the courts. In all probability the Trump administration will appeal some of the court decisions; so it remains to be seen whether or not Trump’s downsizing of the federal workforce will succeed.

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Elon Musk’s Government Influence and Political Dynamics

Elon Musk’s Government Influence and Political Dynamics

by | Mar 11, 2025 |

This is the second of two briefs examining Elon Musk’s extensive role in government and politics, including his actions under the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and his close ties to the Trump administration. Recent reports indicate that Musk had used his personal wealth to finance President Donald Trump’s campaigns while also threatening to fund challengers against those who fail to support Trump’s platform. Critics question whether this practice makes politicians indebted to Musk, an arrangement some regard as an extreme extension of the Citizens United ruling on campaign contributions.

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Civil Rights; Will The Supreme Court Have The Last Word On Trump Executive Orders and Policies?

Civil Rights; Will The Supreme Court Have The Last Word On Trump Executive Orders and Policies?

by | Mar 9, 2025 |

40% of the U.S. population line our coasts. That equates to approximately 130 million people residing in coastal counties. In addition to those who retire seaside, entire economies are integrated into the coastal industries of fishing, tourism, energy, shipbuilding, and recreation. Even a cursory glance using google maps shows how tightly clustered the built space is, all on only 10% of the total U.S. land mass. Shoreline communities have five times the population density as compared to the U.S. average.

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No shortage of Canaries in our Coastlines Signaling Catastrophe

No shortage of Canaries in our Coastlines Signaling Catastrophe

by | Feb 26, 2025 | ,

40% of the U.S. population line our coasts. That equates to approximately 130 million people residing in coastal counties. In addition to those who retire seaside, entire economies are integrated into the coastal industries of fishing, tourism, energy, shipbuilding, and recreation. Even a cursory glance using google maps shows how tightly clustered the built space is, all on only 10% of the total U.S. land mass. Shoreline communities have five times the population density as compared to the U.S. average.

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Elon Musk, Destroyer of U.S. Government Agencies and Bureaucratic Careers, Has Serious Unchecked Conflicts of Interest

Elon Musk, Destroyer of U.S. Government Agencies and Bureaucratic Careers, Has Serious Unchecked Conflicts of Interest

by | Feb 26, 2025 |

Unelected tech multibillionaire Elon Musk is heavily involved in government actions that impact his personal finances. As head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Musk has been dismantling U.S. government institutions and slashing staff at nearly a dozen federal agencies that have more than 30 ongoing investigations into Musk’s six companies.

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Federal judiciary changes over the past 8 years

Federal judiciary changes over the past 8 years

by | Feb 18, 2025 |

Over the past 8 years, the federal judiciary system has changed drastically. Landmark rulings, overturning past precedents, and a dramatic shift in the makeup of justices in the Supreme Court have significantly changed the judiciary system as a whole. This Brief explores how this change in composition has affected the judiciary system and policy action and will for years to come.

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The Con Man’s Coffers: Trump’s Unfettered Leveraging of Government Power to Reap Personal Profits Soars Yet Again

The Con Man’s Coffers: Trump’s Unfettered Leveraging of Government Power to Reap Personal Profits Soars Yet Again

by | Feb 9, 2025 |

Inked deals for new Trump-branded properties overseas, increased stock sales to foreign investors in the Trump Organization’s media and cryptocurrency sectors, business partnerships with companies funded by foreign governments – all of these actions by a sitting U.S. president signify an unprecedented leveraging of presidential power for personal profit, and they’re all in a day’s work for President Donald Trump.

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