that's why i like the orange guy
comrade trump, let's go, the next is NED
Website for USAID appears to be offline
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Re: Website for USAID appears to be offline
#12Earlier quoted context omitted.
Ok! Changed now. (Submitted title was "USAID website has been taken down")
I figured linking straight to the site was good way to just show what’s going on and assumed most people interested would understand the context, but I see how it might not have been the best idea.
I think one can argue it either way and you did nothing wrong!
Re: Website for USAID appears to be offline
#13If a presidential aide ordered USAID staffers to not go to work and physically locked them out, it would violate multiple federal laws and protections. Here’s why:
1. USAID Employees Have Legal Employment Protections USAID employees—both civil servants and Foreign Service officers—are protected by federal employment laws. A presidential aide cannot simply tell them to stop working without a legal order, such as an official reorganization approved by Congress or a government shutdown following a funding lapse.
Under Title 5 of the U.S. Code, federal employees cannot be arbitrarily removed or prevented from performing their duties. The Anti-Deficiency Act (31 U.S.C. § 1341) prohibits government officials from unilaterally stopping agency operations without congressional authorization. 2. Locking USAID Buildings Would Violate Security & Property Laws Physically locking the doors to prevent USAID employees from entering their offices would likely violate:
18 U.S.C. § 371 (Conspiracy to defraud the U.S. Government) if it were done to obstruct lawful government operations. 18 U.S.C. § 1361 (Willful injury of government property) if it involved unlawful restriction of access to a federal facility. Federal Continuity Directives require that government agencies maintain essential functions even in emergencies. 3. Presidential Authority Has Limits The President does not have unilateral authority to suspend an entire federal agency’s operations without following proper legal processes. Only Congress can permanently dissolve an agency like USAID by repealing its statutory mandate. Even if a president wanted to reorganize or defund USAID, they would need to work through legal channels—such as submitting a restructuring plan to Congress. What Could Happen If Someone Tried This? If an aide illegally ordered staffers to stop working and locked the doors, several things could happen:
Congressional & Legal Challenges – USAID officials or Congress could sue, arguing the action was unlawful. Federal Court Intervention – A court could issue an injunction blocking the order. Potential Criminal Charges – Any official involved in obstructing a federal agency’s work could face legal consequences. Historical Precedents Trump’s 2018-2019 Government Shutdown: While federal agencies, including USAID, were partially shut down due to funding lapses, career employees were still required to follow proper procedures. Nixon’s Attempt to Defund Agencies: President Nixon tried to defund programs by impounding funds, but Congress passed the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974, limiting executive control over funding. Bottom Line Simply ordering USAID employees to stop working and locking the doors would be blatantly illegal and would likely lead to immediate legal challenges, congressional intervention, and possible criminal liability for those involved.