@mckra1g I agree with the idea of #TrumpSlump but “slump” is too understated. It needs more severity. Perhaps #TrumpCrash
#TrumpPurge
#TrumpDump
#TrumpTravesty
#TrumpFolly

The termination emails were riddled w/mistakes — w/employees’ names, the month of April & even the institute’s title misspelled in places — a telling sign of the rushed & haphazard nature of the operation….

By Saturday morning, the terminated #USIP headquarters staff were already discussing filing a class-action lawsuit & were debating whether to sign their termination documents.

In the latest action, employees were instructed to sign a 4-pg letter ordering them to return all #USIP property while agreeing to forgo all future claims against the institute. It ordered them not to disclose any terms of the agreement in exchange for 1 month of #HealthInsurance & a monthly stipend paid for an unspecified period. Those who refuse to sign, the letter said, will lose all #benefits as of Monday.

The “Friday night massacre,” as #USIP’s employees were terming the sweeping terminations, is the latest action in what has become a rapid fire of sudden cuts & hostile takeovers across govt & quasi-govt agencies over the past 2 months, implemented by #Musk & #DOGE.

#USIP employees told WaPo that 200–300 people — nearly the entirety of USIP’s HQ staff — had been fired. The employees, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of #retribution from the #Trump admin, said some employees were offered severance & one additional month of health insurance, in exchange for their signatures to WAIVE their RIGHTS to sue.

The US District Court of Appeals for DC just issued an order “Upon consideration of the petition for writ of mandamus & the emergency
motion for a stay” in NM v #ElonMusk

It “ORDERED that respondents file responses to both the emergency motion &
the mandamus petition by 5PM on Mon, March 24, 2025. Any replies are due
by 5PM on Tues, March 25, 2025.”

The same judges hearing #Trump’s #AliensEnemiesAct appeal are hearing Musk’s appeal: Henderson, Millett, & Walker

Those officials are Jeremy Lewin, who has been working for the cost-cutting task force led by the billionaire #ElonMusk, & Kenneth Jackson, a #State Dept official who was named the acting president of the U.S. Institute of #Peace #USIP this week [another independent agency under assault by #Trump, #Musk & #DOGE & subsequently embroiled in federal lawsuits].

#PeteMarocco, the #State Dept ofcl who oversaw the #Trump admin’s efforts to dismantle the main govt agency distributing foreign #aid, announced in an email on Tues night that he would be replaced at the agency by 2 officials who had been involved in making the cuts.

Marocco said in the email that he would remain at State as director of #ForeignAid, but that 2 other officials would handle what remains of the #USAID.

Judge Howell added she was particularly concerned about the success of the plaintiff’s likelihood of success, particularly because they had sued in their official capacities even though they had been removed.

#USIP sued the #Trump admin after members of #ElonMusk’s #DOGE effectively executed a physical takeover of USIP HQ earlier this week.

Throughout the hearing, Judge Howell repeatedly emphasized the appalling treatment of the people who worked at #USIP. But she ultimately said there are serious questions about USIP's structure that suggest #Trump may have authority to do what he did. She will expedite case.

Judge Howell said she is unclear whether the USIP is an executive branch agency, & has requested a briefing on the matter.

Joseph Rillotta, a senior #IRS lawyer, wrote that “no one” at the IRS had taken into account the performance of the probationary workers set to be fired. Rillotta urged that the language be struck from the draft termination letter.

If the falsehood wasn’t removed, Rillotta said he would file a report w/the #InspectorGeneral for the IRS.