Final week, with no discover or fanfare, Secretary of the Inside Doug Burgum signed over his company to the so-called Division of Authorities Effectivity—the most recent step in DOGE’s takeover of the federal authorities.
Burgum might be greatest identified for his lackluster presidential bid that concerned actually bribing individuals with present playing cards so he might qualify for the primary GOP major debate. After that flamed out, he grew to become an enormous supporter of Donald Trump’s and was ostensibly on the shortlist for vp. In fact, that was by no means truly going to occur as a result of Burgum doesn’t have the viciousness required of Trump’s VP.
As a substitute, Burgum settled for the Division of the Inside, which was supposedly an excellent match as a result of he’s outdoorsy. He’s additionally stupendously wealthy, which additionally appears to be a qualification for Trump’s interior circle. However Burgum wasn’t actually all that enthusiastic about main the division, provided that he simply handed over the reins to DOGE staffer Tyler Hassen.
Hassen is now capable of problem coverage directives, make funding choices, and switch funds. He’s additionally in command of the “consolidation” of know-how, communications, monetary administration, contracting, and human sources—thinly veiled code for “trash the divisions and fire everyone.” Hassan can also be reviewing each grant over $50,000 with fellow DOGE denizen Matt Luby, who requested entry to the division’s grant system.
A cartoon by Clay Bennett.
You may be questioning who the hell Hassen is, and that’s not an uncommon response. He hasn’t been one of many high-profile DOGE sorts just like the racist one or the one who leaked delicate info. However that doesn’t imply he’s not harmful.
Hassen has no authorities background, however he does have an extended profession as an oil govt. Beneath Trump, the Division of the Inside is shifting from defending the setting to freely giving public lands to grease and fuel corporations for drilling. And for that, Hassen is ideal.
It’s an fascinating transfer for a celebration that insisted for many years that the actual drawback with the federal authorities was the meddling of unelected bureaucrats. Elect a populist like Trump, they mentioned, as a result of he’s accountable to voters and so clear! Cupboard secretaries will probably be confirmed by the Senate, giving the individuals a say!
Yeah, about that.
Hassen was by no means confirmed by the Senate, however now he’s in command of a federal company whereas nonetheless working for DOGE, which isn’t an official authorities entity. It’s the very definition of an unelected, unaccountable bureaucrat.
Hilariously, the Trump administration says that Hassen’s new position with the Division of the Inside will be certain that “Trump’s executive order to restore accountability to the American public is carried out.”
As a result of nothing says “accountability” like shoving apart the Senate-confirmed secretary for some dude who nobody has ever heard of with values that run precisely counter to the conservation mission of the company.
In fact, this isn’t the primary company that has voluntarily abdicated core obligations by handing them over to DOGE. Nonetheless, Burgum has been unusually deferential to DOGE, even by the requirements of an administration that has routinely bent the knee.
Effectively, that’s true. However in all probability not in the way in which Burgum meant it.
We actually are way more conscious of issues due to DOGE, however that’s as a result of they’re uniformly horrible.
When former U.S. Postmaster Common Louis DeJoy fortunately introduced an alliance with DOGE, 10,000 jobs had been reduce. Over on the Pentagon, Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth praised DOGE for locating “waste,” which resulted in axing $580 million of contracts, applications, and grants. And NASA jumped to fireplace individuals and shutter three divisions just because DOGE mentioned so.
Elon Musk has just lately been making noise about stepping again from his position at DOGE. Who is aware of if that can truly occur, although he’ll hit the 130-day restrict for particular authorities staff subsequent month. However even when Musk leaves, he may have put in his loyalists all over the place, with DOGE having burrowed into practically each authorities company.
It’s a shadow presidency that not actually requires Musk. And it’s a shadow presidency that completely obscures the workings of presidency.
No matter that is, it’s positively not accountability.
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