📣 DOGE Whistles

☘️ Happy Monday, March 17 from your Certified Emotional Support Newsletter.

🙏 Daily Mantra: St. Patrick’s Day Reminder that the Department of Government Efficiency is neither a Department nor Efficient.

🐾 Now let’s Sic ‘Em!

Under the Trump administration, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is facing severe cuts and staffing shortages, undermining its ability to defend U.S. networks against growing cyber threats.

Mass layoffs and weakened leadership have left the agency overworked and disorganized, as staff fear retaliation for speaking out against policies that are harming national security.

Meanwhile, companies have expressed newfound fears about sharing information with CISA or even using the agency’s free attack-monitoring services — all thanks to DOGE’s recent takeover of CISA and other agency’s computers.

As one employee put it: “There’s advanced concern about all of our services that collect sensitive data. Partners are asking questions about what DOGE can get access to and expressing concern that their sensitive information is in their hands.”

With CISA struggling to maintain crucial partnerships, including those with international allies, and suffering from internal morale crises, its future role in defending America against cyberattacks looks increasingly uncertain. Employees, already stretched thin, face growing concerns about the agency’s ability to counter cyber threats effectively.

Oh goody. Isn’t that just all pawsitively comforting.

Dig Deeper here.

Playing Dead. Social Security Mistakenly Declares Seattle Man Deceased, Cuts His Benefits.

Ned Johnson, an 82-year-old Seattle resident, faced a bureaucratic nightmare when he was mistakenly listed as dead by the Social Security Administration, causing his benefits to be cut.

The error took nearly three weeks of cutting through Kafka-esque red tape for him and his wife to resolve. Despite being alive, Johnson had funds clawed back out his bank account, his Medicare canceled, and his credit marked as "deceased."

This mix-up highlights larger concerns about the SSA's efficiency, especially with cuts looming under the Trump administration’s push for budget reductions, spearheaded by DOGE.

Social Security workers are overwhelmed, and despite DOGE’S claims of eliminating fraud from "dead" beneficiaries, this incident shows how poorly the system functions under the current pressures.

Ahh, if only DOGE were actually competent and trying to remedy these kinds of errors and inefficiencies. But instead DOGE is just making it worse, and the reductions in already-stretched staffing at the SSA is probably going to lead to even more errors like this.

Dig Deeper here.

Patently Bone-Headed. DOGE's Overhauls Causing Record Delays in Patents and Trademarks Processing.

In more ripple effects and consequences of DOGE’s actions… there are significant delays in the Patent and Trademark Office, which is struggling even harder to process applications.

These delays could dramatically increase wait times for patents, threatening the innovation ecosystem. While DOGE's approach may be seen as an attempt to streamline the government, the reality — which has actually been playing out over and over — is that it’s leading to a tail-wagging-the-dog scenario where the system’s efficiency is being undermined by short-sighted cuts and an exodus of skilled staff.

This could put Musk at odds with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick who oversees the Patent Office. In his confirmation hearing, Lutnick had called the already existing backlog “unacceptable” and vowed to tackle it. And yet, any DOGE cuts could make that pledge even difficult to fulfill. Not to mention how delays in the patent and trademark process could make it harder for startups to build value… or police the marketplace for knock-offs… or deal with so many other downstream complications.

Of course, Musk and DOGE will just get to point to the existing problems and inefficiencies at the PTO — and they wouldn’t be wrong about some of the issues — but unfortunately, given DOGE’s own trademark is quickly becoming: “Our Solutions Will Only Make Things Worse.”

Dig Deeper here.

Untrained Pup. DOGE’s Security Blunder: Treasury Files Lawsuit Over Unencrypted Emails.

In the latest round of legal trouble for DOGE, there’s been a major security breach involving sensitive communications. A lawsuit has been filed by the U.S. Treasury Department, accusing DOGE officials of mishandling encrypted emails, putting national security and sensitive data at risk.

Namely, the breach stems from emails sent by Marko Elez — a DOGE employee who had been re-homed due to racist posts, but then got re-adopted by DOGE. Elez’s unencrypted messages were (allegedly) sent without regard for cybersecurity guidelines included details of sensitive operations and he’s now the subject of the lawsuit.

The issue has sparked controversy within the Treasury Department, leading to claims of negligence, and experts are worried about the obvious — that breaches like this can leave the U.S. vulnerable to cyberattacks, especially with unprotected data, and super-duper especially given the cuts at CISA that we were JUST telling you about above.

Dig Deeper here.

DOGE Whistles. DOGE Protest Roundup…

As the backlash against DOGE, Musk, and Trump grows, we spotlight just a few of the countless protests that were happening across the country over the weekend...

National Mall, Washington, DC. Veterans rallied to protest Trump, DOGE, and Musk on the National Mall on Friday. “We paid for this with our blood, sweat and tears, and Elon Musk is out here destroying federal agencies with a stroke of a pen,” one protestor said. “It’s completely illegal, and I don’t know why the hell that these senators can’t get off their ass and defend our democracy.”

Palm Beach, Florida. A group of local organizations teamed up Friday evening for what they call the first official People’s Solidarity March On Mar-A-Lago since 2020 in protest of DOGE’s actions. The entire group was hoping their message literally hit home for Trump, who was returning to his Palm Beach home to play in his own golf tournament, which — surprise, surprise — he ended up winning.

Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico. On Saturday, protesters near the Tesla dealership on the Santa Ana Pueblo were met by supporters of DOGE counter-protesters upset that the protests have hurt Tesla's business and, in their minds, American workers.

Punta Gorda, Florida. Over 200 DOGE protesters, including veterans and those impacted by VA cuts, swarmed old Charlotte County Courthouse on Friday. “I live off of insulin, and the V.A. keeps me alive, and if they were any more short-handed, they would collapse,” one protestor said.

Johnson City, Tennessee. Dozens of protestors gathered at the Mountain Home VA to protest Trump’s efforts to reduce the size of the Department of Veterans Affairs. “And the people who’ve driven by, they have honked, they slowed by and told us their support,” one protestor said. “We had one person who rolled down his window and said he voted for Trump but was ‘sorry that he did.'”

"Trump Admin Approves Funds for Housing Nonprofits, But Then Rescinds It” The Trump administration announced the distribution of funds to NYC housing nonprofits, but these funds now come with shock collar attached. Under the new guidelines, nonprofits are required to provide personal data from their tenants to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the potential eviction process. These changes, part of the broader efforts by Trump and his allies, reflect an increasing trend of pushing vulnerable populations to the margins, under the guise of "efficiency" and "accountability." Hmmm… Let’s see… “purported government efficiency that’s actually devastating for those already facing economic insecurity” all carries the very distinctive whiff of wet DOGE.

“Trump Orders Strikes on Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen”
President Trump ordered airstrikes on Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, vowing "overwhelming lethal force" until the Iran-backed rebels cease attacks on shipping routes. While Trump claims these strikes are necessary to protect international trade, the Houthis have promised retaliation, further escalating the conflict. The strikes killed at least 31 people, including women and children, and wounded 101 people, raising concerns about the human cost of military intervention. Trump’s focus on military force over diplomacy continues his aggressive stance, with the Houthis threatening more attacks, particularly on Israeli vessels.

“Former Spiritual Advisor to Trump Indicted as Child Sex Abuser”
A grand jury in Oklahoma has indicted Robert Morris—the televangelist who spiritually advised Trump during his 2016 campaign—on five felony counts of lewd or indecent acts with a 12-year-old girl that began in the 1980s.  Ick. And, of course, Convicted Horndog Trump will likely disavow the connection, and yet will also continue proclaim he only ever picks “the best people.”

“Trump Admin Overrules Court, Deports Venezuelans to El Salvador”
In a controversial move, the Trump administration proceeded with deportation flights of alleged Venezuelan gang members to El Salvador, despite a federal judge's order temporarily blocking such actions. Utilizing the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, President Trump authorized these deportations, targeting members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. Critics argue this application of the law is unprecedented and lacks clear evidence, raising concerns about due process and potential human rights violations. El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele confirmed the detention of these individuals in a high-security facility, but neither the U.S. nor El Salvador has provided concrete evidence of the deportees' criminal affiliations. This is tricky territory… literally and legally. But no matter how this specifics of this particular case shake out, you can’t help but sense that Trump is starting to test the waters of the much-discussed Constitutional Crisis dogfight with the Courts would look like.

“U.S. Added to Human Rights Watchlist Due to Eroding Civil Liberties”
In a critical move, the United States was added to the CIVICUS Monitor Watchlist for its declining civil liberties. The move comes amid increasing concerns about President Trump’s attacks on democratic norms, including a severe reduction in foreign aid, actions against diversity, equity, and inclusion programs now deemed “illegal,” suppression of protestors, and increasing political pressure on media outlets. CIVICUS, a global alliance advocating for civil rights, argues that the U.S. is creating an environment where free speech and civil dissent are being actively stifled, with the government increasingly undermining checks and balances. The U.S. is now classified as “narrowed,” meaning that while rights like free speech and assembly are still accessible, the government’s totalitarian actions are nipping at the heels of basic freedoms.

Well, that was a lot to swallow. Again.

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👍 Thanks for reading. See you on Tuesday.  

🐾 And until then, do your best to stay pawsitive!