# The Trump Administration: The Clusterfuck Continues (Part 1) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [November 11, 2024, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068 "2024-11-11T06:19:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 158
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2025, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/3141 "2025-03-19T14:49:50Z")
LOL - DOGE is saving sooooo much money by paying federal workers to not work. BTW, I’m laughing at Trump and DOGE and not the poor workers being put through the wringer. I’m very glad they are getting back pay. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2025, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/3142 "2025-03-19T15:04:07Z")
_Supposed_ to get back pay. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2025, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/3143 "2025-03-19T15:04:41Z")
Very true. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2025, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/3144 "2025-03-19T15:05:26Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > _Supposed_ to get back pay. Cite that they didn’t??? [just kidding :-)] ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2025, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/3145 "2025-03-19T15:31:58Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > It really sucks, most of the people they are playing these games with are very young and had recently relocated to take what they hoped were “forever” jobs. Many of them are still financially recovering from relocating, it’s cruel to keep playing with their livelihoods like this. And even if they’re in a position where they could return to work, at least some of them won’t. I said elsewhere that this whole mess is akin to Chris Rock’s bit about what earning minimum wage tells you. “It’s your boss’ way of saying, ‘If I could pay you less, I would!’” These people know that if Trump **can** fire them, he **will** fire them. Even if they’re back in the office today, they know they’re walking around with a target on their back. Some people would rather just walk away, if it’s at all possible. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2025, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/3146 "2025-03-19T15:48:14Z")
I’ve never had much experience with “unusual” work categories - but IME, admin leave has always been paid. Just looked on my timesheet, and they list: Admin leave - other Admin leave - investigative Admin leave - notice/adverse Admin leave - blood donation Admin leave - court There also is LWOP - leave without pay I believe there are some designations for people who take extended leave - perhaps for medical/FMLA-type situations… But I’ve never used those. On occasion become aware of people doing their time/leave in ways I never imagined - such as advanced sick leave. I’ve also been aware of people (not me!) receiving paid admin leave for years while under investigation/being fired. I would imagine they are being paid. In most instances, w/ the gov’t it is simply easier/cheaper to keep cutting checks than to go through the effort of stopping them - especially if that decision may eventually need to be reversed. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2025, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/3147 "2025-03-19T15:50:48Z")
There is tradition…then there is Trump. I still want to _know_. ---
**Author:** ![Coriolanus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coriolanus/32/18769_2.png) [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2025, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/3148 "2025-03-19T15:52:10Z")
> [@DavidNRockies](#): > > Cite that they didn’t??? No cite or certified quotations, yet his reputation back in the late 80’s when he wouldn’t pay contractors was “So sue me! I’ll be suing you for this shoddy work! You’ll never work in NYC again!” and if you lawyered up/class action, by the time it (might) get to court he’d be Chapter 11th and you can stand in the debtors line. So “make it really hard for them to get a dime from the US government” were either Trump’s marching orders (if he knows what that term means) or Musk’s assumed command as 2nd in chief. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2025, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/3149 "2025-03-19T15:56:30Z")
You know he was just kidding, right? ---
**Author:** ![Coriolanus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coriolanus/32/18769_2.png) [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2025, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/3150 "2025-03-19T16:01:34Z")
Aye, written right below it. I reckon I was more commenting to your “Supposed to get back pay” Any Department of Labor, no matter how much red tape is thrown in their face, and any court will take a mighty dim view of employers who do not pay. I believe many of the federal employees were converted to contractors by W or more likely Trump45? That’s the reason. Not only do you not pay health care, it’s much more difficult to get contract money (unless there were bank loans / promissory notes and such). _Those_ entities are first in line even before regular employees. Contractors can only hope to get a ticket in. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2025, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/3151 "2025-03-19T16:13:09Z")
Dim view. Censure. Frown. Reprimand. Blueberries. These are just empty words to this administration, and until an _actual_ penalty takes place (and not just declared by the judicial system), Trump wins. The longer an issue stays in the court system, bouncing back and forth like a computer-run Pong game, Trump wins. ---
**Author:** ![Coriolanus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coriolanus/32/18769_2.png) [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2025, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/3152 "2025-03-19T16:17:09Z")
Yep. He was elected to run the country like a business and he runs it like it was his own slums in NYC and Atlantic City Crappy Casinos. The MAGA’s bought into the mystique of this guy who was a pseudo-billionaire who (“owned” The Plaza as a very minority owner and still drove it into Chapter 11) could say “You’re fired!” every week. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2025, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/3153 "2025-03-19T16:23:12Z")
Exactly. Nobody has ever tested the separation of powers to this extent. The judicial branch can make rulings all they want, but has little to no power to actually _enforce_ said rulings. The legislative branch clearly does not currently have the spine to do anything about anything. So the executive branch is calling all the shots - the exact opposite of what the framers intended. It’s hard to believe we’re not even _two months_ into this term. It’s gonna be a loooong four years. ---
**Author:** ![Coriolanus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coriolanus/32/18769_2.png) [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2025, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/3154 "2025-03-19T16:35:53Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > loooong four years I’ve said this a lot - and maybe from here-on I’ll just hang and let it all be - yet as long as he lives he will be President Felon47. If steroids can keep him alive and even if there is an election in 2028 (as of now I can only imagine Rep-\>Dem Mitt Romney running against him) he will NOT relinquish the White House and SCOTUS will support him. If they do not, who is in charge of the Justice Department? Someone in the Executive Branch, be it Trump, Musk or coked-up Junior. > [@Wheelz](#): > > Nobody has ever tested the separation of powers to this extent. Randy Bachman (of Bachman-Turner Overdrive) > B-b-b-baby, you just ain’t seen n-n-n-nothing yet ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2025, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/3155 "2025-03-19T20:10:44Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > _Supposed_ to get back pay. The law is on their side: > **[Federal Register :: Request Access](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-5/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-550/subpart-H)** > When an appropriate authority has determined that an employee was affected by an unjustified or unwarranted personnel action, the employee shall be entitled to back pay under [section 5596 of title 5, United States Code](https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/5/5596), and this subpart only if the appropriate authority finds that the unjustified or unwarranted personnel action resulted in the withdrawal, reduction, or denial of all or part of the pay, allowances, and differentials otherwise due the employee. > (1) Interest begins to accrue on the date or dates (usually one or more pay dates) on which the employee would have received the pay, allowances, and differentials if the unjustified or unwarranted personnel action had not occurred. > > (2) Interest accrual ends at a time selected by the agency that is no more than 30 days before the date of the back pay interest payment. No interest is payable if a complete back pay payment is made within 30 days after any erroneous withdrawal, reduction, or denial of a payment, and the interest accrual ending date is set to coincide with the interest accrual starting date. They’re entitled to backpay and interest, and there is a specific procedure for calculating the interest, and interest rates to be used, all mandated by law. If they don’t get the backpay to which they are legally entitled, the union and the court would be expected to step up and make it happen. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2025, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/3156 "2025-03-19T20:16:48Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > \*“Fine” if you just ignore all the problems, which you know they’ll be doing. As the guy who fell off the top of the Empire State building was heard to remark as he passed the 60th floor, “So far, so good.” > [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > it’s cruel to keep playing with their livelihoods like this. Like a cat with a mouse, the cruelty is the point. ---
**Author:** ![Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mundane_super_hero/32/6304_2.png) [@Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mundane_Super_Hero)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2025, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/3157 "2025-03-19T20:23:16Z")
> [@Mr.Greenjeans](#): > > I wonder what he thinks a homophone is? “Mr. President…! Mr. President…!” “What is it? You made me miss a putt.” “It’s The Dick Line, Sir…” [![](https://attachment.tapatalk-cdn.com/11023/201804/2261348_4b772b7afbb0776efeed390a93504d50.jpg) ](https://attachment.tapatalk-cdn.com/11023/201804/2261348_4b772b7afbb0776efeed390a93504d50.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2025, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/3158 "2025-03-19T20:48:34Z")
> [@Mundane\_Super\_Hero](#): > > “What is it? You made me miss a putt.” That’s how you know the story is fake. el trumpo never misses a putt. People come up to him with tears in their eyes, sir, no one could sink a 350’ putt, but yours was the greatest putt ever! ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2025, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/3159 "2025-03-19T20:54:01Z")
On today’s episode of WHAT DECADE IS THIS?; let’s give Kennedy Center awards to Babe Ruth and Elvis and also Steve Wynn and I’ll host the awards ceremony and let’s get non-union actors to do a production of Cats because chicks in tights are hot > **['I want this thing to be successful': Leaked recording reveals Trump's...](https://www.rawstory.com/trump-kennedy-center-2671361634/)** > > The New York Times obtained a leaked recording of President Donald Trump that spelled out his unique ideas for the world-famous center for the performing arts, as well as the annually-televised Kennedy Center Honors.Trump visited the center this... ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2025, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/3160 "2025-03-19T21:10:40Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > I’ll host the awards ceremony and let’s get non-union actors to do a production of Cats because chicks in tights are hot He’s all ill-mannered 4 year old. How the fuck does anyone that meets him, let alone spend any time with him, not cringe, or laugh in his face? And BTW, how long before we have to start capitalizing the H when we refer to Him? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068.md?page=157) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068.md?page=159)