sitkack 13 hours ago

> The approach to layoff probationary workers has been used by Elon Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), to fire thousands of workers in other government agencies such as USAID, and according to reports, there could be as many as 500 people cut from NIST. According to Maire, the NIST cuts include 74 postdocs, 57% of CHIPS Act staff focussed on incentives, and 67% of CHIPS staff focussed on research and development. The cuts are even expected by NIST workers themselves, according to Maire, who has reportedly spoken to several NIST workers.

The administration can't just kill an act of congress.

That would definitely be less great.

  • bediger4000 13 hours ago

    > The administration can't just kill an act of congress.

    The current SCOTUS has been extremely sympathetic to Mr Trump for some years. Even if the current majority party was not giving up their responsibilities, SCOTUS just might agree with Mr Trump that Mr Trump can indeed kill an act of congress, as odd and apparently unconstitutional as that seems.

    • toomuchtodo 13 hours ago

      If the people lose faith in SCOTUS and the idea of checks and balances, the situation will rapidly degrade.

      • bediger4000 7 hours ago

        Yes, that's the consequences of congress abdicating it's constitutional role, and apparently corrupting the court system to judicially push through an agenda that would be electorally unpopular.