Big Blue Huddle

There's a sliver of hope that this terrible thing could be reversed

https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/01/health/public-health-funding-states-sue-hhs-rfk/index.html

For those who reached out to your representatives to help reverse this, thank you

Another sliver of hope


PROVIDENCE – A federal judge said Thursday she will grant a temporary restraining order requested by attorneys general and governors in 24 states that will keep in place for now the nearly $11 billion in public health grants – including $31 million for Rhode Island – that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services canceled last week.

https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/courts/2025/04/03/federal-judge-grants-temporary-restraining-order-to-halt-hhs-cuts/82794782007/

For what it's worth, the grant myself and my wife have been working on in the past 5 years was federally funded and abruptly cut on Feb 19th.  I'm also deeply embedded in our local school system and the worries about the trickle down chaos on kids based on the Dept of Ed being next on the list are real. 

I for one have no problems with regularly finding efficiencies in government, but that's not what is happening.  It's slash and burn with very little understanding of the actual work being done.

Sorry to hear you're also caught up in the whirlwind, Rich.

Quote from: PSUBeirut on April 04, 2025, 09:28:31 PMFor what it's worth, the grant myself and my wife have been working on in the past 5 years was federally funded and abruptly cut on Feb 19th.  I'm also deeply embedded in our local school system and the worries about the trickle down chaos on kids based on the Dept of Ed being next on the list are real. 

I for one have no problems with regularly finding efficiencies in government, but that's not what is happening.  It's slash and burn with very little understanding of the actual work being done.

Sorry to hear you're also caught up in the whirlwind, Rich.

I am sorry to hear that.  I completely agree, this is slash and burn, not surgical removal of waste.

As a federal government civilian, DOGE's Ginsu Sledgehammer has reached the Department of Defense. I have been notified that I am eligible to apply for the deferred resignation program and early retirement. I qualify and applied for both.

Problem is, if I am approved, the organization loses my position and it will not be backfilled. The duties and responsibilities will be absorbed by those who remain. As the sole network manager/engineer, I have direct control over the network devices that service our 300 employees and network-connected servers and storage. Losing this position means that any connectivity issues won't be handled immediately - a ticket will have to be opened with the remote helpdesk and a technician at another facility will have to troubleshoot the issue. Much of the work we do here is time-sensitive and the docs can't afford to wait 20-30 minutes, or longer, to have an issue resolved.

My supervisor and the director have submitted a mission-critical exemption request to deny my resignation/retirement. Unfortunately, it's only delaying the inevitable because I was already planning to retire in April 2027.

Quote from: T200 on April 21, 2025, 02:27:17 PMAs a federal government civilian, DOGE's Ginsu Sledgehammer has reached the Department of Defense. I have been notified that I am eligible to apply for the deferred resignation program and early retirement. I qualify and applied for both.

Problem is, if I am approved, the organization loses my position and it will not be backfilled. The duties and responsibilities will be absorbed by those who remain. As the sole network manager/engineer, I have direct control over the network devices that service our 300 employees and network-connected servers and storage. Losing this position means that any connectivity issues won't be handled immediately - a ticket will have to be opened with the remote helpdesk and a technician at another facility will have to troubleshoot the issue. Much of the work we do here is time-sensitive and the docs can't afford to wait 20-30 minutes, or longer, to have an issue resolved.

My supervisor and the director have submitted a mission-critical exemption request to deny my resignation/retirement. Unfortunately, it's only delaying the inevitable because I was already planning to retire in April 2027.

I am sorry to hear that, Tim

Things are so so so so messed up these days.

Quote from: MightyGiants on April 21, 2025, 02:33:58 PMI am sorry to hear that, Tim

Things are so so so so messed up these days.

Hardly surprising.

Quote from: MightyGiants on April 21, 2025, 02:33:58 PMI am sorry to hear that, Tim

Things are so so so so messed up these days.

I'm all for streamlining the federal government and eliminating waste. There's a smart way to go about it. This ain't that.

That cruise ship is waiting on us buddy. Get an early start

Quote from: LennG on April 21, 2025, 08:09:57 PMThat cruise ship is waiting on us buddy. Get an early start

Just waiting to get the word!

Quote from: T200 on April 21, 2025, 02:50:41 PMI'm all for streamlining the federal government and eliminating waste. There's a smart way to go about it. This ain't that.

The problem is that the "smart" way has resulted in no streamlining and no elimination of waste.

Quote from: AZGiantFan on May 06, 2025, 02:59:27 PMThe problem is that the "smart" way has resulted in no streamlining and no elimination of waste.

The problem is that people with little to no knowledge of how governments work push the streamlining and waste narrative. 

The problem is taking a chainsaw to a problem that needed a scalpel, which has needlessly harmed many millions of Americans.

Cutting thousands of IRS agents COST the government 159 billion over 10 years.  Now, unlike the tariffs, this isn't a new tax on the American people, it's just making sure everyone pays their fair share.

Quote from: AZGiantFan on May 06, 2025, 02:59:27 PMThe problem is that the "smart" way has resulted in no streamlining and no elimination of waste.

Then it wasn't the "smart" way. I've worked for the Department of Defense in some capacity (civilian, military member, contractor) for almost 40 years. There is FW&A. Mr. Magoo could find it.

What I find troubling is the change in our nation over my 60+ years on the planet.  For most of the years, there were always political differences and sides.  What's changed is that one side seems indifferent (and in some cases, not seen here, actually seems to enjoy) the suffering and wronging of their fellow Americans.  So, how political discourse has taken part in what makes people human, empathy, and caring, now I would say it's fair that what I described can be seen on both sides, I guess the difference is that only one side has enacted policies that have caused objective harm to Americans and the reactions of many who enabled or supported those harmful policies.