Based on another tweet that Musk sent out, in which he said that all you had to do was string a few words together coherently, it seems the likely purpose of this is to find "ghost employees", eg. dead people still getting paid, fake names being used to scam the payroll etc. The respondents were also asked to "cc" their managers, which seems logical.
So the so-called "Department of Government Efficiency" assigned over a million workers a bullshit, make-work task they have to take time away from their usual duties to perform? Yeah, that sounds like an out-of-touch CEO's idea of "efficiency".
Based on another tweet that Musk sent out, in which he said that all you had to do was string a few words together coherently, it seems the likely purpose of this is to find "ghost employees", eg. dead people still getting paid, fake names being used to scam the payroll etc. The respondents were also asked to "cc" their managers, which seems logical.
So the so-called "Department of Government Efficiency" assigned over a million workers a bullshit, make-work task they have to take time away from their usual duties to perform? Yeah, that sounds like an out-of-touch CEO's idea of "efficiency".
A lot of people struggle to understand that trying to make a large and complex system more efficient incurs significant costs in and of itself, so you have to be damned sure that whatever efficiency gains you get will outweigh the costs. Even the best-intentioned projects (IT systems in particular) can fall foul of this problem; with a "move fast and break things" approach the costs will inevitably soar.
So the so-called "Department of Government Efficiency" assigned over a million workers a bullshit, make-work task they have to take time away from their usual duties to perform? Yeah, that sounds like an out-of-touch CEO's idea of "efficiency".
DOGE isn't about efficiency at all, and it never has been. It's about cuts.
"Efficiency" is the cover that Trump and Musk are using. Eliminating fraud and waste? Of course that sounds like a good thing. Who would be in favor of fraud and waste?
What they are actually doing is deliberately destroying things. It's not an attempt to be more efficient, and it's not an attempt to eliminate fraud - it's an attempt to destroy things they don't like (consumer protection bureau, labor relations board, OSHA, other federal bodies that will stand up for the individual against abusive corporations.)
21 DOGE staffers have now resigned saying they will not participate in the dismantling of thee civil service and government programs. "]NPR Story What is that old saying about when rats jump ship?
What is happening in the US at resent seems reminiscent of Hitler's Germany - numerous overlapping fiefdoms, set up to generate conflict, which can only be resolved by Der Fuhrer.
Yes but which one is the Führer? One is officially but nominally in charge, the other is doing all the heavy lifting.
The world has only one working deep geologic repository for nuclear waste — and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency is trying to close down the 90,000-square-foot building in Carlsbad, New Mexico, where workers are tasked with directly managing the radioactive site.
Two sources confirmed to NOTUS that the General Services Administration is trying to end the government’s lease for the Skeen-Whitlock Building in Carlsbad, where at least 200 people work to supervise highly radioactive waste from the U.S.’s nuclear defense activities.
“DOE-Carlsbad Office” is listed among hundreds of government leases DOGE says have been canceled, according to its website. DOGE does not specify the program or specific building, though it has listed the Department of Energy’s Carlsbad office as costing $810,599 per year.
The Carlsbad building was developed in the late 1990s specifically for the Department of Energy to run the Waste Isolation Pilot Program — a storage facility which currently houses more than 46 million gallons of nuclear waste in ancient salt beds more than 2,000 feet underground. Every year waste is shipped from around the country to be stored there. WIPP’s geologic repository itself is separate from the Carlsbad office building and located about 25 miles outside the city, and it remains the only operating deep geologic repository in the world for nuclear waste. Deep geologic repositories are the gold standard for long-term storage.
As you can imagine, if the people who administer the site are laid off the site is closed. As the article notes, this facility is in a very remote part of New Mexico so if you get rid of the current workers (as removing their workplace is likely to do) it's very difficult to hire more when Musk decides this is another "oopsie".
On another level, if Musk eventually claims this is another mistake it's a pretty clear demonstration he has no business messing about with America's nuclear infrastructure.
As you can imagine, if the people who administer the site are laid off the site is closed. As the article notes, this facility is in a very remote part of New Mexico so if you get rid of the current workers (as removing their workplace is likely to do) it's very difficult to hire more when Musk decides this is another "oopsie".
Are those actually "the people that adminster the site", or is that the local DOE field office?
As I understand from the WIPP website, the people that operate the facility are Saldano Isolation Mining Contractors, LLC. Those are the people that actually know about storing and handing nuclear waste.
The people in the Carlsbad office are perhaps DOE bureaucrats who might understand nuclear waste handling, but more likely don't understand anything, but are charged with managing the contractor on behalf of the US government and ensuring that they abide by their contractual responsibilities. It would seem more natural to me for the DOE field office here to be some people on the WIPP site, rather than renting an office half an hour away, but YMMV.
But I don't understand why there are 200 of them, or what they do.
But I don't understand why there are 200 of them, or what they do.
I'd be more concerned about why there are only 200, unless there are significant numbers of other DOE staff working on the administration of the site at other locations. If they are managing a major engineering site with all the complications of toxic waste handling and storage with just 200 people then that's an amazingly efficient and cost-effective office.
But I don't understand why there are 200 of them, or what they do.
I'd be more concerned about why there are only 200, unless there are significant numbers of other DOE staff working on the administration of the site at other locations. If they are managing a major engineering site with all the complications of toxic waste handling and storage with just 200 people then that's an amazingly efficient and cost-effective office.
But that's the thing - I don't think they are managing the site. I think they're managing the contract, and the people who deal with all the complications are the contractor's employees. WIPP employs around 1700 people.
"Managing the site" includes contracts for operations on the site. I don't know the details of the contracts, but 1700 employees is very small for that sort of site. That might be about right for the technical operations, but very small if you include cleaning, catering, security, building maintenance etc. I'm assuming that if there needs to be liaison between site security and local police (eg: there might need to be security on shipments of waste into the site involving both site security and police), then that would go through the DOE office. Probably if there's a broken window or other building maintenance issue, it'll be the DOE office who get in local trades to fix it (or, issue a contract for a building maintenance business). Who makes sure everyone employed by the contractors has undergone a adequate background and security checks, and that they undertake all safety training required to access the site?
Also the nature of the site would necessitate extensive, ongoing environmental investigations. There would be air samples, collection and analysis of soil, water and vegetation to monitor both inside the site fence and in the surrounding area to ensure there's no leak of toxic waste. That could be conducted by DOE staff, federal and state environmental protection agencies, university and research labs and private contractors (possibly all the above, with someone needing to take the coordination role).
There would be a recognised risk of an accident on site, or criminal/terrorist act, with significant off-site consequences. The response to such an event would need to involve the DOE, contractors, local emergency services, local government, state and federal agencies. There would be a need to ensure everyone knows what they would need to do, and regular exercises of some form for training and identification of issues to be addressed. Also, an office (possibly including some lab space, meeting rooms, IT facilities etc) at a distance from the site to avoid this operational centre being unavailable in the event of a site emergency.
I also notice that the WIPP site includes more than just the waste store. There's a laboratory using the low radiation environment of the mine for dark matter physics studies. I also see that Sandia Lab has buildings there. These facilities may also come under the overall DOE site management.
I could only waste an hour of my life last night listening to the Trump campaign speech. It really got to me when Trump boasted he was finally getting rid of the unelected bureaucrats and then he boasted he established the Department on Government Efficiency headed by Elon Musk. I don't think he realized just how contradictory those two statements are. Elon was not elected by anyone or approved by the Senate. Nor is his DOGE legally funded by Congress.
Little did he know he gave lawyer who are opposing him in the courts the silver bullet. The opposition had been making the point DOGE is not a legal agency nor is its leader approved by the Senate. Government lawyers had come back claiming DOGE was being headed by an obscure federal appointee--who happened to be vacationing in Panama while at the height of all the government layoffs. Yet, Trump admits it is Musk's baby.
Now, I have been party to two different law suits in my life. Both times I had lawyers telling me to say noting that would prejudice my case. Not even to say anything on social media. Trump goes off and spouts all the information the opposition needs for their lawsuits.
Now, I have been party to two different law suits in my life. Both times I had lawyers telling me to say noting that would prejudice my case. Not even to say anything on social media. Trump goes off and spouts all the information the opposition needs for their lawsuits.
It's possible Trump thinks it doesn't matter - the supreme court could only manage 5-4 on requiring the government to pay its bills for work already done; does anyone think there would be a clear majority for stopping Musk's rat-fuckery? Even if there was, Trump may quite fancy his "now let him enforce it" moment railing against judicial overreach.
Today I spotted a Tesla with a bumper sticker that said, "I bought this car before Elon did that". Apparently there's now a whole market in sticking apologetic messages on the back of said vehicles.
The Tesla Automobile sales have tanked. Part of it is because Musk has gone crazy, but other reasons include more competition from traditional auto companies who have entered the EV market, and the much cheaper Chinese vehicle Moreover, the Telsa platform has not seen any significant changes since its first launch--IOW, it is getting stale.
The problem is that it isn't feasible to close a huge area of airspace, so NOTAMs are just being issued for the actual launch path, with ATC being responsible to clear the airspace in case of rapid disassembly.
It's a relatively recent change to accommodate frequent launches, and Musk is pushing it to the limits. I imagine in another scenario the FAA would be much more robust about pushing back on him and SpaceX.
Today I spotted a Tesla with a bumper sticker that said, "I bought this car before Elon did that". Apparently there's now a whole market in sticking apologetic messages on the back of said vehicles.
The Tesla Automobile sales have tanked. Part of it is because Musk has gone crazy, but other reasons include more competition from traditional auto companies who have entered the EV market, and the much cheaper Chinese vehicle Moreover, the Telsa platform has not seen any significant changes since its first launch--IOW, it is getting stale.
This is even more problematic than it sounds. A big part of Tesla's income, especially in Europe, comes from selling carbon offset credits to other auto manufacturers. Since those credits are only available if Tesla actually sells some cars, lower sales are a double whammy to Tesla's bottom line.
DOGE will terminate on 4 July 2025. Musk is getting more pushback from GOP Senators and Cabinet Secretaries. Trump has told Musk he must coordinate his recommendations with the secretaries of the respective departments. And the courts continue to tell him what he is doing is illegal.
On top of that, he has lost $181b US since December. $8.8 billion on Thursday alone when the market crashed. Combine with the loss of two starships now, I can see him resigning to take care of his companies.
Comments
Musk gave them until Monday Evening to send in their letters
Some Agencies said to ignore the order. Others directed their workers to respond it
Early Monday, the Office of Personnel Management said the order was "optional."
Monday afternoon the OPM said there was no need to comply.
Musk then admits the President can waive the order.
Last night on X Musk says he will give the workers a second chance.
1. It violates the Civil Service laws in so many ways.
2, It violates the collective bargaining agreements.
3. If AI is being used to scan all those emails, who is controlling the program being used? Can anyone see how rigged this is?
So the so-called "Department of Government Efficiency" assigned over a million workers a bullshit, make-work task they have to take time away from their usual duties to perform? Yeah, that sounds like an out-of-touch CEO's idea of "efficiency".
A lot of people struggle to understand that trying to make a large and complex system more efficient incurs significant costs in and of itself, so you have to be damned sure that whatever efficiency gains you get will outweigh the costs. Even the best-intentioned projects (IT systems in particular) can fall foul of this problem; with a "move fast and break things" approach the costs will inevitably soar.
DOGE isn't about efficiency at all, and it never has been. It's about cuts.
"Efficiency" is the cover that Trump and Musk are using. Eliminating fraud and waste? Of course that sounds like a good thing. Who would be in favor of fraud and waste?
What they are actually doing is deliberately destroying things. It's not an attempt to be more efficient, and it's not an attempt to eliminate fraud - it's an attempt to destroy things they don't like (consumer protection bureau, labor relations board, OSHA, other federal bodies that will stand up for the individual against abusive corporations.)
What is that old saying about when rats jump ship?
Yes but which one is the Führer? One is officially but nominally in charge, the other is doing all the heavy lifting.
O! the poor Muskrat, though, when even his own creation thinks so little of him.
As you can imagine, if the people who administer the site are laid off the site is closed. As the article notes, this facility is in a very remote part of New Mexico so if you get rid of the current workers (as removing their workplace is likely to do) it's very difficult to hire more when Musk decides this is another "oopsie".
On another level, if Musk eventually claims this is another mistake it's a pretty clear demonstration he has no business messing about with America's nuclear infrastructure.
Are those actually "the people that adminster the site", or is that the local DOE field office?
As I understand from the WIPP website, the people that operate the facility are Saldano Isolation Mining Contractors, LLC. Those are the people that actually know about storing and handing nuclear waste.
The people in the Carlsbad office are perhaps DOE bureaucrats who might understand nuclear waste handling, but more likely don't understand anything, but are charged with managing the contractor on behalf of the US government and ensuring that they abide by their contractual responsibilities. It would seem more natural to me for the DOE field office here to be some people on the WIPP site, rather than renting an office half an hour away, but YMMV.
But I don't understand why there are 200 of them, or what they do.
But that's the thing - I don't think they are managing the site. I think they're managing the contract, and the people who deal with all the complications are the contractor's employees. WIPP employs around 1700 people.
Also the nature of the site would necessitate extensive, ongoing environmental investigations. There would be air samples, collection and analysis of soil, water and vegetation to monitor both inside the site fence and in the surrounding area to ensure there's no leak of toxic waste. That could be conducted by DOE staff, federal and state environmental protection agencies, university and research labs and private contractors (possibly all the above, with someone needing to take the coordination role).
There would be a recognised risk of an accident on site, or criminal/terrorist act, with significant off-site consequences. The response to such an event would need to involve the DOE, contractors, local emergency services, local government, state and federal agencies. There would be a need to ensure everyone knows what they would need to do, and regular exercises of some form for training and identification of issues to be addressed. Also, an office (possibly including some lab space, meeting rooms, IT facilities etc) at a distance from the site to avoid this operational centre being unavailable in the event of a site emergency.
I also notice that the WIPP site includes more than just the waste store. There's a laboratory using the low radiation environment of the mine for dark matter physics studies. I also see that Sandia Lab has buildings there. These facilities may also come under the overall DOE site management.
Neither does fElon, but he's making decisions based on his ignorance that could have rather negative results.
Little did he know he gave lawyer who are opposing him in the courts the silver bullet. The opposition had been making the point DOGE is not a legal agency nor is its leader approved by the Senate. Government lawyers had come back claiming DOGE was being headed by an obscure federal appointee--who happened to be vacationing in Panama while at the height of all the government layoffs. Yet, Trump admits it is Musk's baby.
Now, I have been party to two different law suits in my life. Both times I had lawyers telling me to say noting that would prejudice my case. Not even to say anything on social media. Trump goes off and spouts all the information the opposition needs for their lawsuits.
It's possible Trump thinks it doesn't matter - the supreme court could only manage 5-4 on requiring the government to pay its bills for work already done; does anyone think there would be a clear majority for stopping Musk's rat-fuckery? Even if there was, Trump may quite fancy his "now let him enforce it" moment railing against judicial overreach.
'Department Of Giant Explosions' as my other half put it.
I think I’m going to swipe that, lol…
It's a relatively recent change to accommodate frequent launches, and Musk is pushing it to the limits. I imagine in another scenario the FAA would be much more robust about pushing back on him and SpaceX.
The bigliest explosions. Explosions like no-one has ever seen before. The best explosions.
A Douglas Adams quote, not mine.
There's also one for putting some other manufacturer's logo on your Tesla, apparently.
This is even more problematic than it sounds. A big part of Tesla's income, especially in Europe, comes from selling carbon offset credits to other auto manufacturers. Since those credits are only available if Tesla actually sells some cars, lower sales are a double whammy to Tesla's bottom line.
It's a bit like labelling a warthog as a gazelle.
Doesn't looking at it slantwise void the warranty?
Aww, warthogs are cute!
Agreed. And far more functional
On top of that, he has lost $181b US since December. $8.8 billion on Thursday alone when the market crashed. Combine with the loss of two starships now, I can see him resigning to take care of his companies.
That will be a happy day.
Than gazelles or cybertrucks?
Then that comparison is kind of pointless and Gwai must mean gazelles.
Musk getting dumped would be fantastic. I don't think it will help his companies, in truth - I think he is toxic, and more people are realising this.
I was trying to think of a creature that appeared rather ungainly, to compare with the gazelle.