Newsletter:
Destruction Masked as ‘Innovation’
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With international humanitarian aid programs on hold, an unelected billionaire with access to critical data systems, and a federal workforce grappling with uncertainty, the Trump administration’s radical plans to overhaul the entire government have taken on disturbing proportions.

Legality (or lack thereof) ([link removed]) seems to be at best an afterthought for Elon Musk’s team as it takes aim at key agencies, government programs, and civil servants. Beyond concerns about the inexperienced engineers ([link removed]) with ties to Musk’s companies bypassing security protocols as well as alarm about major conflicts of interest and DOGE staffers’ access to Americans’ private information and sensitive government payment systems, Musk and President Trump’s approach to gutting the federal government reveals a dangerous rejection of constitutional checks on executive power.

The DOGE team’s disdain for the law doesn’t just apply to its contempt for congressional authority over spending; the office has also signaled its intention of evading any accountability or public scrutiny of its action.
* On Wednesday, 404 Media reported ([link removed]) that employees of DOGE — the so-called Department of Government Efficiency — were told to stop using Slack while lawyers “figure out the best way to handle the records migration” to an office that wouldn’t be subject to the Freedom of Information Act.
* A Trump executive order established the U.S. DOGE Service by transforming the U.S. Digital Service, a White House office under the Office of Management and Budget. OMB is subject to FOIA, unlike White House offices meant to solely advise the president.
* This follows news from late last month that DOGE members had, since November, been secretly communicating using an encrypted messaging app with an auto-delete feature. We sent letters to Musk and federal agencies ([link removed]) warning them to preserve all DOGE-related records or risk violating the Federal Records Act and facing litigation.

This week, the U.S. Agency for International Development — which provides life-saving services around the world, including food assistance and health care — has been at the center of the executive power grab.
* On his first day back in office, Trump issued an executive order freezing U.S. foreign assistance ([link removed]) programs, and Musk has called USAID a “criminal organization” and said that it is ”time for it to die.” ([link removed])
* As of the end of the day on Friday, all USAID staff will be put on administrative leave, which, as one senior official told NPR ([link removed]) , amounted to what is "essentially a shutdown of USAID." Of the agency’s 10,000 employees worldwide, only fewer than 300 ([link removed]) will reportedly remain.

This comes after the USAID website went offline ([link removed]) last weekend, further exacerbating concerns about the administration’s compliance with record preservation laws.
* This week, we launched an investigation ([link removed]) into the illegal dismantling of USAID, filing multiple requests for related records and any communications between agency officials and the White House, Congress, or Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
* Trump’s actions “not only fuel suffering and weaken U.S. leadership around the world but also reveal the depths of his administration’s disregard for human lives,” said our interim executive director, Chioma Chukwu. “American Oversight is committed to exposing the corrupt motives driving the president’s reckless, lawless executive power grab and the devastating harm his administration’s actions are inflicting on the American people.”
* We also warned ([link removed]) the agency, the National Archives, and the State Department — which the administration plans to absorb parts of USAID — about the potential unlawful destruction or removal of USAID records in violation of the Federal Records Act. The letters demand the agencies take action to recover the records and prevent further destruction.

Senate Confirms Pam Bondi and Russell Vought
The Senate confirmed Pam Bondi, a Trump loyalist with a problematic background on civil rights issues, as U.S. attorney general.
* Last month, we joined more than 90 civil rights organizations ([link removed]) in opposing Bondi’s nomination ([link removed]) , which represents a serious threat to the Justice Department’s independence from political interference, and to holding the president accountable to the rule of law.

On Thursday, the Senate also confirmed Project 2025 architect Russell Vought to lead OMB, a role Vought held at the end of Trump’s first term and one that grants him immense influence ([link removed]) over the federal government.
* Vought has reportedly crafted plans ([link removed]) to defund the Environmental Protection Agency and to deploy the military against protesters. During his confirmation hearings, Vought claimed the president has the ability to withhold spending authorized by Congress.
* Vought has also said he wants to inflict “trauma” on the federal workforce ([link removed]) . Many of the second Trump administration’s early moves to dismantle government agencies and fire federal workers reflect Vought’s Project 2025 plans.
* American Oversight previously obtained and published a number of public records related to Vought ([link removed]) , including emails that show he suggested that Arizona use “war powers” to allow National Guard units to detain undocumented immigrants in 2022.

On the Records

Records Obtained in DeSantis Suit Shed New Light on State Park Golf Course Plans
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration’s ([link removed]) initial conversations regarding plans to develop hotels and golf courses in state parks appear to have taken place more than a year before the plans were made public, as revealed in records we obtained that were reported on this week by the Tampa Bay Times ([link removed]) .
* The documents include a Feb. 23, 2023, calendar appointment for officials in DeSantis’ office, including his then-chief of staff James Uthmeier, to meet with Lt. Col. Dan Rooney, founder of a veterans’ charity that was behind plans ([link removed]) to develop a golf course at a state park.

* If that discussion was about the golf course plans, it would be the earliest known conversation about the potential development. The plans were made public by a now-fired whistleblower ([link removed]) in August 2024, leading to statewide protests ([link removed]) and the withdrawal of the plans ([link removed]) .
* The records were released through our lawsuit ([link removed]) against DeSantis’ office for his pattern or practice of failing to properly respond to public records requests, in violation of state law.
* DeSantis, who has tried to distance himself from the project, appointed Uthmeier ([link removed]) state attorney general last week. As the Orlando Sentinel ([link removed]) highlighted last week, Uthmeier is now at the center of legal battles over public records, including another lawsuit brought by the Florida Center for Government Accountability.


Other Stories We’re Following

Trump Administration
* Trump carries out his 'flood the zone' strategy, creating a week of whiplash (NPR ([link removed]) )
* Abandoned in the middle of clinical trials, because of a Trump order (New York Times ([link removed]) )
* Why the courts may be the last constraint on Trump but may not contain his power grabs (CNN ([link removed]) )
* How Trump’s sweeping expulsions have thrown the FBI into chaos (Wall Street Journal ([link removed]) )
* Trump signs executive orders targeting ICC and ‘anti-Christian bias’ (CNN ([link removed]) )
* Attorney General Bondi cuts back on programs that ran afoul of Trump (CNN ([link removed]) )
* New Attorney General Pam Bondi orders review of Trump cases as she takes over the Justice Dept. (Associated Press ([link removed]) )

DOGE and the Civil Service
* Elon Musk’s DOGE is feeding sensitive federal data into AI to target cuts (Washington Post ([link removed]) )
* ​Musk associates sought to use critical Treasury payment system to shut down USAID spending, emails show (CNN ([link removed]) )
* Musk’s DOGE agents access sensitive personnel data, alarming security officials (Washington Post ([link removed]) )
* Judge temporarily blocks Trump plan offering incentives for federal workers to resign (Associated Press ([link removed]) )
* White House preparing order to cut thousands of federal health workers (Wall Street Journal ([link removed]) )
* CIA offers buyout to entire workforce as part of Trump makeover (Wall Street Journal ([link removed]) )

Voting Rights, Election Denial and Threats to Democracy
* Trump’s blitz to expand his power is direct threat to democracy, experts say (Guardian ([link removed]) )
* This Republican bill would protect Arizona county officials who refuse to certify election results (KJZZ ([link removed]) )
* Election skeptic chosen for job as Georgia election investigator (Atlanta Journal-Constitution ([link removed]) )
* Utah lawmakers advance bills to limit voting by mail, leave voter roll group ERIC (Utah News Dispatch ([link removed]) )
* GOP lawmakers target noncitizen voting, seek to eliminate ranked-choice ballots (Maine Morning Star ([link removed]) )

LGBTQ Rights
* Trump signs executive order intended to bar transgender athletes from girls’ and women’s sports (Associated Press ([link removed]) )
* NCAA, following Trump’s order, excludes transgender athletes from women’s sports (New York Times ([link removed]) )
* Children’s Wisconsin hospital cancels gender-affirming care for trans teen after Trump’s executive order (Wisconsin Watch ([link removed]) )
* Families and doctors sue over Trump’s order to halt funding for gender-affirming care (Associated Press ([link removed]) )

Abortion and Reproductive Rights
* Three months after Missouri voted to make abortion legal, access is still being blocked (ProPublica ([link removed]) )
* NY moves to shield doctors who send abortion pills to states with bans (New York Times ([link removed]) )
* Wyoming Republicans’ anti-abortion bill inadvertently targets chemotherapy and surgeries (Guardian ([link removed]) )
* Abortion clinics brace for reinvigorated protests after Trump's pardons (Axios ([link removed]) )

Threats to Education
* Education Department employees placed on leave for attending diversity training (Politico ([link removed]) )
* Trump administration drafting executive order to initiate Department of Education’s elimination (CNN ([link removed]) )
* In Trump’s quest to close the Education Department, Congress and his own agenda may get in the way (Associated Press ([link removed]) )
* Education officials placed on leave in Trump’s sprawling effort to curb DEI (New York Times ([link removed]) )
* McMahon to face senators next week as Education fight grows (The Hill ([link removed]) )

Government Transparency and Public Records Law
* Scholten introduces bill to open Musk and DOGE to FOIA provisions (Michigan Advance ([link removed]) )
* Lawmaker pulls NM public records bill amid backlash from open government group (Albuquerque Journal ([link removed]) )

Immigration
* Trump considers labeling migrants a measles, tuberculosis risk (Wall Street Journal ([link removed]) )
* Several accused of impersonating agents amid Trump push on deportations (New York Times ([link removed]) )
* US immigration is gaming Google to create a mirage of mass deportations (Guardian ([link removed]) )
* Deportation flights to Venezuela will begin ‘within the next 30 days’ (New York Times ([link removed]) )
* Border Patrol chief calls report that agents will board buses to check students’ citizenship ‘absurd’ (Texas Tribune ([link removed]) )
* Judge in Boston to consider latest bid to block Trump’s birthright citizenship order (Associated Press ([link removed]) )

Jan. 6 Investigations
* FBI gives Justice details on employees who worked Jan. 6 cases, FBI agents sue (NPR ([link removed]) )
* Judges in Jan. 6 cases and watchdog groups recoil at Justice Department's deletion of records (CBS News ([link removed]) )
* FBI agents, prosecutors fear retribution from Jan. 6 rioters pardoned by Trump (NPR ([link removed]) )

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