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DOGE Catch-All

  • Thread starter Thread starter nycfan
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The claim of efficiency is that there are a lot of credit cards that they canceled? Hmm. I wonder why they didn't publicize the amounts charged to these duplicate credit cards. Hmm. It's almost as if they were not being used.

DOGE is growing more desperate and pathetic by the day.
 
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DOGE Reverses Move That Made Its Claims Nearly Impossible to Check​

After getting called out, Elon Musk’s cost-cutting group reinstated details about the grants that it canceled.

www.nytimes.com

DOGE Reverses Move That Made Its Claims Nearly Impossible to Check

After getting called out, Elon Musk’s cost-cutting group reinstated details about the grants that it canceled.
www.nytimes.com www.nytimes.com

“…
In early March, the group — which had been caught in a series of high-profile errors — began posting itemized claims about the savings it had achieved from canceling federal grants. Its website interface provided only minimal details about those grants but the site’s public source code included identification numbers, making it possible to glean more information from other official sources.

On March 5, however, the group removed those identifiers from the code, while also adding thousands more grants, making it very difficult to verify the figures provided. A White House official said the group had withheld identifying information “for security purposes.”

On Tuesday, the group added some of the missing details, providing links to many of the grants’ entries in a federal spending database, USAspending.gov. Now, fact-checkers will have the ability to match the claims with other sources.

… The new details provided by the group made clear that its claims about these canceled grants also contained the same kind of errors that had marred its previous work.

For instance, the group said that it had saved $1.75 billion by cutting a U.S. Agency for International Development grant to a nonprofit called Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.

The New York Times reported last week that Gavi had said that the website’s claims were wrong. The nonprofit said that its grant had not been canceled and that, even if it was, all the money it was owed had already been paid. So canceling the grant would save nothing.

The Times had identified that grant using the details that Mr. Musk’s group had briefly embedded in the source code of its website.

On Tuesday, that erroneous claim about the $1.75 billion grant was still on DOGE’s website, which the group calls its “wall of receipts,” — its line by line accounting of the group’s purported cost savings. “
 

New Social Security rules: SSA to require in-person identity checks for new and existing recipients by end of March | abc7.com

In%20an%20effort%20to%20limit%20fraudulent%20claims%2C%20the%20Social%20Security%20Administration%20will%20impose%20tighter%20identity-proofing%20measures.
abc7.com abc7.com

In an effort to limit fraudulent claims, the Social Security Administration will impose tighter identity-proofing measures - which will require millions of recipients and applicants to visit agency field offices rather than interact with the agency over the phone.

Beginning March 31st, people will no longer be able to verify their identity to the SSA over the phone and those who cannot properly verify their identity over the agency's "my Social Security" online service, will be required to visit an agency field office in person to complete the verification process, agency leadership told reporters Tuesday.

The change will apply to new Social Security applicants and existing recipients who want to change their direct deposit information.

Retiree advocates warn that the change will negatively impact older Americans in rural areas, including those with disabilities, mobility limitations, those who live far from SSA offices and have limited internet access.

The plan also comes as the agency plans to shutter dozens of Social Security offices throughout the country and has already laid out plans to lay off thousands of workers.
 
altmin said:

New Social Security rules: SSA to require in-person identity checks for new and existing recipients by end of March | abc7.com

In%20an%20effort%20to%20limit%20fraudulent%20claims%2C%20the%20Social%20Security%20Administration%20will%20impose%20tighter%20identity-proofing%20measures.
abc7.com abc7.com

In an effort to limit fraudulent claims, the Social Security Administration will impose tighter identity-proofing measures - which will require millions of recipients and applicants to visit agency field offices rather than interact with the agency over the phone.

Beginning March 31st, people will no longer be able to verify their identity to the SSA over the phone and those who cannot properly verify their identity over the agency's "my Social Security" online service, will be required to visit an agency field office in person to complete the verification process, agency leadership told reporters Tuesday.

The change will apply to new Social Security applicants and existing recipients who want to change their direct deposit information.

Retiree advocates warn that the change will negatively impact older Americans in rural areas, including those with disabilities, mobility limitations, those who live far from SSA offices and have limited internet access.

The plan also comes as the agency plans to shutter dozens of Social Security offices throughout the country and has already laid out plans to lay off thousands of workers.
Click to expand...
Hopefully, most SS recipients can use the 'my Social Security' online service. Millions of elderly folks going in-person to SS offices would be a logistical nightmare.
 
I've been saying for a long time that the major problem facing America is our reluctance to address the fact that the poor have too much and the rich have too little.
Finally the proposed GQPer budget is doing something to bring things back into balance.

www.rawstory.com

GOP budget plan would take from the poorest 40 percent and give it to the rich: Yale

The budget plan being contemplated by congressional Republicans would represent a massive transfer of wealth from the poorest 40 percent of Americans to the richest 1 percent of the country, according to a new analysis from Yale's Budget Lab.As explained by researchers Harris Eppsteiner and John...
www.rawstory.com www.rawstory.com
 
heelinhell said:
I've been saying for a long time that the major problem facing America is our reluctance to address the fact that the poor have too much and the rich have too little.
Click to expand...
LOL. Reminds me of Schatz' tweet a while back, "on the plus side, the American people are finally getting the cuts to national parks that we've been demanding."
 
Inside The Now-Shuttered Federal Agency Where Employees Lived ‘Like Reigning Kings’

Employees of DOGE's latest target spent taxpayer money on exotic vacations, portraits, and more.

One of the seven small federal agencies that President Donald Trump ordered downsized or eliminated on Friday was rife with corruption, with its employees hiring friends and relatives, commissioning paintings of themselves, and using government credit cards to indulge in constant luxuries.

The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) occupied a nine-story office tower on D.C.’s K Street for only 60 employees, many of whom actually worked from home, prior to the pandemic. Its managers had luxury suites with full bathrooms; one manager would often be “in the shower” when she was needed, while another used her bathroom as a cigarette lounge. FMCS recorded its director as being on a years-long business trip to D.C. so he could have all of his meals and living expenses covered by taxpayers, simply for showing up to the office.

FMCS is a 230-employee agency that exists to serve as a voluntary mediator between unions and businesses. As an “independent agency,” its director nominally reports to the president, but the agency is so small that in effect, there is no oversight at all — and it showed, becoming a real-life caricature of all the excesses that the Department of Government Efficiency has alleged take place in government.

This reporter spent a year investigating the agency a decade ago, and I found egregious and self-serving violations of hiring, pay, contracting, and purchase card rules. One thing I could not discover is why the agency actually existed, other than to provide luxurious lifestyles for its employees. Endless junkets to resort destinations, which employees openly used to facilitate personal vacations, were justified as building awareness of the agency in the hopes that someone would actually want to use its voluntary services.

FMCS seemed, quite clearly, to exist for the benefit of those on its payroll, and not much else. One employee told me: “Let me give you the honest truth: A lot of FMCS employees don’t do a hell of a lot, including myself. Personally, the reason that I’ve stayed is that I just don’t feel like working that hard, plus the location on K Street is great, plus we all have these oversized offices with windows, plus management doesn’t seem to care if we stay out at lunch a long time. Can you blame me?”



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www.dailywire.com
 
ZenMode said:
Inside The Now-Shuttered Federal Agency Where Employees Lived ‘Like Reigning Kings’

Employees of DOGE's latest target spent taxpayer money on exotic vacations, portraits, and more.

One of the seven small federal agencies that President Donald Trump ordered downsized or eliminated on Friday was rife with corruption, with its employees hiring friends and relatives, commissioning paintings of themselves, and using government credit cards to indulge in constant luxuries.

The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) occupied a nine-story office tower on D.C.’s K Street for only 60 employees, many of whom actually worked from home, prior to the pandemic. Its managers had luxury suites with full bathrooms; one manager would often be “in the shower” when she was needed, while another used her bathroom as a cigarette lounge. FMCS recorded its director as being on a years-long business trip to D.C. so he could have all of his meals and living expenses covered by taxpayers, simply for showing up to the office.

FMCS is a 230-employee agency that exists to serve as a voluntary mediator between unions and businesses. As an “independent agency,” its director nominally reports to the president, but the agency is so small that in effect, there is no oversight at all — and it showed, becoming a real-life caricature of all the excesses that the Department of Government Efficiency has alleged take place in government.

This reporter spent a year investigating the agency a decade ago, and I found egregious and self-serving violations of hiring, pay, contracting, and purchase card rules. One thing I could not discover is why the agency actually existed, other than to provide luxurious lifestyles for its employees. Endless junkets to resort destinations, which employees openly used to facilitate personal vacations, were justified as building awareness of the agency in the hopes that someone would actually want to use its voluntary services.

FMCS seemed, quite clearly, to exist for the benefit of those on its payroll, and not much else. One employee told me: “Let me give you the honest truth: A lot of FMCS employees don’t do a hell of a lot, including myself. Personally, the reason that I’ve stayed is that I just don’t feel like working that hard, plus the location on K Street is great, plus we all have these oversized offices with windows, plus management doesn’t seem to care if we stay out at lunch a long time. Can you blame me?”



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www.dailywire.com
Click to expand...
“The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) is issuing this statement to address the recent article by Luke Rosiakwhich resurrects reporting dating back over 12 years.

…
The article references elements and reporting that are not only outdated but also fail to acknowledge the substantial reforms FMCS implemented over a decade ago. Since the time of that reporting, FMCS has:

  • Completed an Internal Independent Audit: FMCS commissioned an external independent audit to thoroughly review past practices and implemented 100% of the auditor's recommendations, further solidifying and displaying our commitment to transparency and continuous improvement.
  • Established a Comprehensive Ethics Program: In response to those issues, FMCS introduced a robust ethics initiative designed to guide our operations with the highest standards of integrity and accountability.
  • Enhanced Operational Oversight: Beyond these measures, FMCS has consistently invested in best practices and compliance protocols. Our proactive approach to agency management ensures that any legacy issues are not only addressed but serve as a catalyst for ongoing organizational excellence.
  • Maintained a Pristine Record: External independent financial audits have been conducted with zero findings of any irregularities, affirming our commitment to flawless financial stewardship.
"FMCS remains steadfast in its dedication to ethical operational practices and transparent operations," said Greg Goldstein, Chief Operating Officer and Acting Director of FMCS. "We are disappointed that an article published under the guise of responsible journalism would choose to resurrect old and sensational claims rather than focus on positive changes FMCS has made, and the contributions we continue to make to keep our economy strong. Our independent audit and the successful implementation of all the recommended improvements are a testament to our relentless pursuit of excellence."

Furthermore, FMCS is not a drain on taxpayer dollars as the article would suggest. In fact, our operations are managed on a $55 millionbudget (representing less than 0.0014% of the federal budget) yet we generate an impressive return on investment exceeding $500 million annually for the US economy. …”

——

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fox4kc.com
 
Background:

“… FMCS, an independent agency, works with labor unions, federal agencies and private sector employers to avert strikes, impasses and litigation stemming from collective bargaining disputes. It was established by Congress as part of the 1947 Taft-Hartley Act, making Trump’s planned closure of the agency legally dubious.

… Experts have long touted the cost effectiveness of programs like FMCS and the Federal Labor Relations Authority’s alternative dispute resolution process in helping parties reach agreement without the need for litigation. …”

www.govexec.com

Trump continues to curtail union rights and career pipelines

Guidance issued by the Office of Personnel Management last week instructs agencies to ignore union contract provisions on reductions in force, and apply its policies.
www.govexec.com www.govexec.com


Some budget details:

USAspending.gov

www.usaspending.gov www.usaspending.gov

——
I’ve never had any contact with this agency and don’t know how accurate their claims of cost savings by helping labor disputes avoid litigation really are. It does sound like it was materially reformed during the Obama Administration…
 


“… For weeks, Mr. Musk’s group said on its website that it had terminated more than 700 leases, and saved more than $460 million in the process.

But around 1 a.m. Wednesday, the group eliminated references to 136 of those cancellations. That reduced its savings by $140 million, or almost 30 percent of the total for lease cancellations it had claimed a day earlier.

Mr. Musk’s team did not give a reason for the changes. The White House did not respond to a request for comment. …”
 
nycfan said:
“The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) is issuing this statement to address the recent article by Luke Rosiakwhich resurrects reporting dating back over 12 years.

…
The article references elements and reporting that are not only outdated but also fail to acknowledge the substantial reforms FMCS implemented over a decade ago. Since the time of that reporting, FMCS has:

  • Completed an Internal Independent Audit: FMCS commissioned an external independent audit to thoroughly review past practices and implemented 100% of the auditor's recommendations, further solidifying and displaying our commitment to transparency and continuous improvement.
  • Established a Comprehensive Ethics Program: In response to those issues, FMCS introduced a robust ethics initiative designed to guide our operations with the highest standards of integrity and accountability.
  • Enhanced Operational Oversight: Beyond these measures, FMCS has consistently invested in best practices and compliance protocols. Our proactive approach to agency management ensures that any legacy issues are not only addressed but serve as a catalyst for ongoing organizational excellence.
  • Maintained a Pristine Record: External independent financial audits have been conducted with zero findings of any irregularities, affirming our commitment to flawless financial stewardship.
"FMCS remains steadfast in its dedication to ethical operational practices and transparent operations," said Greg Goldstein, Chief Operating Officer and Acting Director of FMCS. "We are disappointed that an article published under the guise of responsible journalism would choose to resurrect old and sensational claims rather than focus on positive changes FMCS has made, and the contributions we continue to make to keep our economy strong. Our independent audit and the successful implementation of all the recommended improvements are a testament to our relentless pursuit of excellence."

Furthermore, FMCS is not a drain on taxpayer dollars as the article would suggest. In fact, our operations are managed on a $55 millionbudget (representing less than 0.0014% of the federal budget) yet we generate an impressive return on investment exceeding $500 million annually for the US economy. …”

——

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fox4kc.com
Click to expand...
Wait, the Daily Wire had an article that was FOS?
 
nycfan said:


“… For weeks, Mr. Musk’s group said on its website that it had terminated more than 700 leases, and saved more than $460 million in the process.

But around 1 a.m. Wednesday, the group eliminated references to 136 of those cancellations. That reduced its savings by $140 million, or almost 30 percent of the total for lease cancellations it had claimed a day earlier.

Mr. Musk’s team did not give a reason for the changes. The White House did not respond to a request for comment. …”
Click to expand...

“… Mr. Musk’s team also removed mentions of plans to cut dozens of local office spaces across the country for the Internal Revenue Service and the Social Security Administration, although more than 30 properties used by both agencies were still listed on the group’s website.

Those battles do not appear to be over.

This week, The New York Times asked the White House which of the terminations on the Musk team’s list were still accurate. A White House official declined to name any, offering instead a written statement: “G.S.A. is reviewing all options to optimize our footprint and building utilization.” …”
 
ChileG said:
Wait, the Daily Wire had an article that was FOS?
Click to expand...
It was accurate and the linked article calls it out.

This reporter spent a year investigating the agency a decade ago, and I found egregious and self-serving violations of hiring, pay, contracting, and purchase card rules.

The story is incomplete in that it doesn't relay the changes that were made.
 
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