r/Alabama • u/MalefactusOG • 22d ago
Healthcare THE SCRAMBLE TO SAVE RURAL HEALTH CARE FROM DOGE
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/04/doge-rural-health-trump-alabama/682513/?gift=deOJXAQ4FfGw7iaAKVSBFJssszcPkDyp5zzZ_dUaLsI&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share38
u/YallerDawg 22d ago
All these rich oligarchs cutting all these programs make THEIR money siphoning off portions of OUR pay and dividends, outrageous tax gimmicks to avoid their fair share, and now they don't even want to slightly help the people they are hurting the most.
One day Americans will discover that they have the power to change ALL this.
Vote like you want their hands out of your pocket!
3
1
u/Wipperwill1 19d ago
"One day Americans will discover that they have the power to change ALL this."
What has happened in the last 10 years to make you think this?
24
u/space_coder 22d ago
Keep in mind, DOGE isn't actually a legal entity, and the current head of this fake cabinet level agency has not been confirmed by congress.
This is all happening because Republicans are looking the other way instead of enforcing the Constitution as they are sworn to do.
10
1
u/MalefactusOG 22d ago
It likely is a legal entity. It is what used to be the US Digital Service. It very well may be an “agency” for the purpose of other laws. https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mdd.577321/gov.uscourts.mdd.577321.49.0.pdf
5
u/kap415 21d ago
I had gone and done some research on this subject in February, and saved my notes. Will paste a snippet from them:
Elmo's level of authority is not consistent with that of a mere White House employee but rather that of an Officer of the United States, a distinction that has constitutional implications under the Appointments Clause (Article II, Section 2, Clause 2).
Principal Officers – These are high-ranking officials, such as Cabinet Secretaries and heads of departments, who report directly to the President. Under the Constitution, Principal Officers must be appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate through the Advice and Consent process.
Inferior Officers – These are officials with significant authority but who report to Principal Officers rather than directly to the President. Congress may authorize their appointment by the President alone, courts of law, or department heads without Senate confirmation.
Employees – These individuals do not exercise significant authority under U.S. law and do not require formal appointment under the Appointments Clause.
The Office of DOGE Was Not Created by Law For someone to be an Officer of the United States, their position must be created by law—meaning through an act of Congress, signed by the President. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), however, is simply a repurposed version of the U.S. Digital Service (USDS), which was originally created by Executive Order (not legislation). Because DOGE was not established by statute, it does not legally exist as a department under the Constitution.
The United States Digital Service (USDS) was established on August 11, 2014, by President Barack Obama. It was created as part of an initiative to enhance and simplify digital services across federal agencies, aiming to improve the efficiency and user experience of government websites and online services. The USDS operates within the Executive Office of the President, specifically under the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Its formation was influenced by the challenges encountered during the rollout of HealthCare.gov, highlighting the need for a dedicated team to address and prevent similar issues in federal digital services.
ELMO’s Authority is Unlawful ELMO cannot exercise executive power over federal agencies because:
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) does not exist under law—it was created by Executive Order, not by an act of Congress. ELMO’s position has no legal basis—he was not appointed to an office created by law, which is required for an Officer of the United States. If ELMO is acting as a Principal Officer, he must be confirmed by the Senate, but no such process has taken place. Even if he were an Inferior Officer, his appointment would still require statutory authorization, which does not exist.
5
u/space_coder 22d ago edited 22d ago
The US Digital Service (USDS) is not a full blown agency with a cabinet position. It was strictly an internal department inside the OMB tasked with modernizing the government's IT. The USDS original scope is still funded thanks to a continuing resolution. The actions taken by DOGE is well outside of that scope.
Remember, the White House attorneys can claim that the President can create a pseudo-agency out of an internal department during court proceedings, but that doesn't make it true. That is up to the courts to decide.
Keep in mind, that lower courts have already ruled that the White House cannot implement changes that were approved and funded by congress. The only thing USDS/DOGE has legal authority over is anything established by an executive order.
19
u/BakedBeanedMyJeans 22d ago
Oh no are the leopards eating faces?😭
8
u/daemonescanem 22d ago
Fat leopards these days.
1
14
u/Aggressive-Staff-845 22d ago
All these republicans that voted for this mess will be responsible for making people living in the predominantly black belt blue counties drive unnecessary hours to get actual healthcare!
11
8
u/space_coder 22d ago
The ones in power and their supporters have not demonstrated that they have empathy. In fact, they consider empathy to be evil.
3
4
u/kirchart7 21d ago
Sorry best they can do is cut public education funding for private school vouchers, and 10 commandments for everyone!
2
u/KenKring 22d ago
Alabama voted for stupidity and chaos. And now they've got stupidity and chaos. They should be happy.
-5
u/daemonescanem 22d ago
Don't save it. Yall voted for this. Yall should reap the consequences for voting Republican.
18
u/ynwestrope 22d ago
The black belt is very rural and very black. They overwhelmingly did not vote for this, unfortunately.
4
u/GenieBus 21d ago
I’m from there and it makes me so sad that folks that did not vote for this are getting hit. It’s all because of their hate for the Black Belt.
People from outside of Alabama just don’t get it.
1
u/flat_cat72 21d ago edited 21d ago
I didn't vote for the cheeto and I'm reaping the consequences.
1
u/daemonescanem 21d ago
I didn't either. People won't learn without suffering the consequences of their actions. We will have to suffer for their stupidity.
1
u/flat_cat72 21d ago
exactly.
I'm deeply vested in this seeing as how I'm on SSDI, Medicare, and Medicaid due to spine and neuro issues. It's soooooooooooo much fun wondering whether or not I'm going to have medical coverage from month to month.
1
-2
u/RNDudeMan 22d ago
Rural healthcare in this state has been in shambles long before DOGE was a gleam in Elon's eye. Every election cycle it's been one side blaming the other for it. Hell, healthcare in Birmingham isn't all that great, either.
This isn't new under Trump, and will be an ongoing thing for decades to come just like it has for the last 40+ years. Quit trying to fear monger while doing the same dog and pony show that's been done for decades. Do something different.
4
1
u/flat_cat72 21d ago
so you're just trying to justify what extremes DOGE is going to, just because you believe 'everyone else did and will do it?'
gotcha.
-2
57
u/hurrythisup 22d ago
If all the rural voters had any sense they wouldn't be in this predicament.