top of page

Plutocratic Kleptocracy

  • Writer: Jennifer
    Jennifer
  • Feb 17
  • 5 min read

Last year, at five in the morning, my partner and I drove home in Maryland, so we could vote in the Presidential election. I do not typically write about politics; this is after all a blog about my worldly travels. However, everything is intertwined, and the fall of democracy in the United States will have untold repercussions for the rest of our lives. It affects my travels. It affects the way people treat me, the way people see Americans, the passport and visa systems we make use of, the stability of the places we travel to. It affects my friends. It affects my family. It affects my home.

 

I have been frantically writing letters and emails, making phone calls when I am able (which isn’t often all things considered), filing complaints with the United Nations. None of it feels like enough.

 

In late last year, I visited Seoul, South Korea, for the first time in my life. The city was vibrant and full of life. The city library brought its books outdoors and let people read in public parks and by the river that flows through the center of the city. In December, only a few months later, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law and centralized power to the executive branch, which gave him the authority to suppress opposition movements. His move was perceived as an attempt to gain control over the judiciary and legislature and as the beginning of a potential coup. The declaration was swiftly rescinded by parliamentary opposition, and by a lack of support from key military and political figures.

 

The United States has not been so lucky. Congress has not stood up to Donald Trump or Elon Musk’s actions. Key military and political figures support them directly, or support them through inaction. Those willing to oppose them are swiftly and unjustly fired; sycophants are quickly being hired into key positions to continue the destruction. Make no mistake – the United States’ democracy is in jeopardy and a coup is happening today.

 

I don’t know what I will come home to.

 

Historically, coups have ended through internal resistance within the government, the removal of traitors, and judicial actions to restore checks on power; through civil wars between those who support the coup and those who oppose it; or through external forces, such as intervention by the United Nations or the occurrence of world wars.

 

Let us begin with resistance, no matter how small.

 

 

Here is a list of actions that have occurred since Trump took office…

 

January 21, 2025:

  • Donald Trump: Issued an executive order establishing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), appointing Elon Musk as its head, with the mandate to dismantle government bureaucracy, reduce regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure federal agencies. (source: theguardian.com)

  • Elon Musk: Assumed leadership of DOGE, aiming to modernize federal technology and reduce government spending. (source: theguardian.com)

  • DOGE: Initiated efforts to defund Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives and other programs deemed inefficient. (source: cnn.com)

    • Not quite legal: Not formally established by Congress, DOGE cannot legally defund DEI initiatives.


January 22, 2025:

  • DOGE: Launched its official website, prominently featuring the Dogecoin logo, leading to a surge in Dogecoin's market value. (source: businessinsider.com)


January 26, 2025:

  • DOGE: Opened recruitment for technology professionals to join the initiative, seeking to enhance governmental efficiency. (source: businessinsider.com)


January 31, 2025:

  • Elon Musk: Aides associated with Musk reportedly restricted access for certain government employees to computer systems at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). (source: theguardian.com)

    • Illegal: This could violate federal laws governing unauthorized access, obstruction of government functions, and potential misuse of executive power under statutes like the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (18 U.S.C. § 1030)

  • DOGE: Requested access to the Treasury Department's payment systems, leading to internal disputes and the resignation of a senior Treasury official. (source: theguardian.com)

    • Illegal: Requesting unauthorized access to the Treasury Department's payment systems could violate multiple federal laws, including the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, the Antideficiency Act, the Federal Information Security Modernization Act, and the False Statements Act, among others.


February 1, 2025:

  • DOGE: Gained access to classified information at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) without proper security clearances, resulting in administrative leave for two security chiefs who opposed the access. (source: theguardian.com)

    • Illegal: Gaining access to classified information without proper security clearances violates federal laws governing the protection of classified materials, such as the Espionage Act (18 U.S.C. § 793), and could result in charges of unauthorized disclosure or handling of classified information.


February 2, 2025:

  • DOGE: Announced the suspension of payments to certain U.S. government contractors as part of its cost-cutting measures. (source: theguardian.com)

    • Illegal: Suspending payments to U.S. government contractors without legal authority could violate federal laws governing contractual obligations, including the Anti-Deficiency Act (31 U.S.C. §§ 1341, 1517) and the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), which set rules for government payments and contracts.


February 12, 2025:

  • Elon Musk: Disclosed that DOGE had identified significant wasteful spending within the federal government, estimating potential savings of up to $1 trillion. (source: businessinsider.com)

    • Untrue: The claim may not be true if DOGE lacked the proper authority or evidence to independently audit government spending, as only authorized agencies like the Government Accountability Office (GAO) or Congressional Budget Office (CBO) have the legal mandate to make such estimations.

  • DOGE: The administration withdrew $80 million in FEMA grants intended for migrant shelters in New York City, citing misuse of funds. (source: nypost.com)

    • Illegal: The withdrawal could be illegal under the Anti-Deficiency Act (31 U.S.C. §§ 1341, 1517) and other federal regulations governing the misuse and reallocation of designated federal funds without proper authorization.


February 14, 2025:

  • DOGE: NYC Mayor Adams announced plans to sue the Trump administration over the $80 million FEMA grant funds that were taken back. (source: nypost.com)

    • Illegal: The action could be deemed illegal if it constitutes improper withholding of allocated federal aid or violates contractual agreements tied to FEMA funding, as well as potential breaches of directives on migrant aid funding.


February 16, 2025:

  • Donald Trump: Faced legal challenges for actions perceived as undermining judicial authority and interfering with federal institutions, including attempts to influence judicial proceedings and circumvent established legal processes. (source: theguardian.com)

    • Illegal: Actions perceived as obstruction of justice, misuse of presidential power, or potential violations of laws such as 18 U.S.C. § 1503 (Obstruction of Justice) or 18 U.S.C. § 371 (Conspiracy to Defraud the United States).


February 17, 2025:

  • DOGE: Scheduled a visit to the Federal Aviation Administration's Air Traffic Control command center to assess and propose improvements to the system. (source: reuters.com)

    • Illegal: DOGE's visit to the FAA Air Traffic Control command center without proper authorization would violate security protocols and regulations governing access to critical infrastructure, potentially breaching laws like the Federal Aviation Administration Act (49 U.S.C. § 40101) and security clearances required for sensitive government operations.

 

I don’t even know if I should bother filing my taxes early this year. Or at all.

 


Timeline written with the aid of ChatGPT because this stuff makes me super depressed to write out.


References:

 
 
 

Comments

bottom of page