President Donald Trump created the Department of Government Efficiency and appointed Elon Musk to lead it without the approval of Congress. How it is funded is not clear.
Without approval by Congress, DOGE has fired thousands of employees who are assigned to implement the laws.
The secretary of the department makes the personnel decisions. DOGE should not have the power to fire employees of other agencies. Terminating employees at federal agencies prevents administration of programs passed by Congress and approved by a former president.
This is a blatant effort to disregard the Constitution and the separation of powers.
Trump has also impounded funds to prevent implementation of laws passed by Congress and approved by a previous president. The Impoundment Act of 1974 recognized that presidents may not avoid funding a duly enacted law by impounding their budgeted funds without the consent of Congress.
DOGE has not cited valid reasons for the firings, but it is clear that the intent is to obstruct the administration of programs that Trump and Musk oppose.
This has included hundreds of IRS workers charged with enforcement of tax laws. Trump and Musk seek to use the funds for another purpose, such as justifying tax cuts for the wealthy.
While courts have the lawful power to prevent the takeover of the country, they cannot declare Trump and Musk's actions illegal or unconstitutional without the actions of the government and legal enforcement agencies, now run by Trump’s appointees.
There is a clear and present danger that our democracy will perish if Trump and Musk’s actions are not checked.
Robert C. Dawes
Durango
