OMB URL MIA WTH

 

That certainly could have been executed better. 

I understand the rationale for the pause. In the past, there would be a great chest-puffing resolve to get to the bottom of wasteful spending, resulting in a blue-ribbon committee that took a year to put out a white paper, after which nothing changed. The pause approach says, “No more money until we decide whether you deserve it.” But perhaps instead of pausing everything and saying, “Here are the exceptions,” you say you’re pausing funding of 2,600 programs to see if they can justify their continued existence. Send out the Press Sec. to say, “Just like many American families take stock occasionally to see if they really need that streaming service or home food delivery, we’re looking hard at what we spend to ensure that the taxpayer’s money is spent the most effectively.”

I heard from some people caught up in the confusion, part of which was due to hair-on-fire coverage, and they were trying to get some guidance from the OMB website.  Whereupon they hit a snag. To paraphrase Commodore Matt Decker, there was a website . . . 

  . . . but not anymore. Try it. 

According to the Wayback Machine, omb.gov has, for a long time, redirected to the White House . . . 

But it still had a page. If you use the search function on the White House page, it only calls up a recent memo unconnected to the zesty hullabaloo we saw on Tuesday. 

The Administration has been cleaning out websites that reflect previous priorities with notable speed, and while they’re probably rebuilding it to their liking, it might be wiser to have a placeholder site instead of giving the impression that it no longer exists at all. The usual suspects will find the omissions dark and troubling, as with this piece from The Hill on website deletion:

“Under former President Biden’s term, the website highlighted the history behind the creation of the Constitution and why the country has the set of guiding rules.”

And that’s so! Absolutely true. But here’s the thing: It was in a whitehouse.gov subdirectory called /our-government, and the deletion appears to be the result of nuking the entire /our-government subdirectory. It was not put up during the Biden administration. The earliest captures from Wayback are from 2018, so it was the first Trump administration that put it up.

Thus a talking point is born, though. It will be an unshakable truth for many that the Trump administration took down the Constitution from the whitehouse.gov page. Never mind that it’s more an explainer on the subject than the actual document, which can be found at its usual site.

So I am not inclined to think this is an act of obfuscation – never ascribe to malice what can be etc. I’m just surprised that no news story seems to find it notable that the OMB site is gone. The NYT will link to the OMB memo but provides a .pdf without a link to the site from which it came. Because there isn’t any. Without a primary source, we have to rely on the NYT et al. to tell us what’s going on. 

To the Times’ credit, it provides an exhaustive list of what’s up for review. It’s huge, and instructive. It’s good to give them a second look, maybe see if a few could be combined, maybe ask why COVID food assistance programs are still ongoing. But I think this could have been done better, with an OMB site that provided a clear, quick response to the whole situation. Instead, people get a picture of President Trump, and the impression given is “Nah, these are not the droids you’re looking for.”

I’m actually going to call the OMB on Wednesday and ask where their website is. I’ll let you know what I learn. And if you can find the OMB site, of course, post a link. 

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  1. The Reticulator Member
    The Reticulator
    @TheReticulator

    James Lileks: I’m actually going to call the OMB on Wednesday and ask where their website is. I’ll let you know what I learn.

    Data?  We don’t need no stinkin’ data. We need narratives.  

    • #1
  2. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    James Lileks: But I think this could have been done better,

    Are you familiar with the phrase, “Close enough for government work,” perhaps?

    • #2
  3. Muleskinner, Weasel Wrangler Member
    Muleskinner, Weasel Wrangler
    @Muleskinner

    I saw an excel spreadsheet with a list of all of the grant programs each federal agency administers was 52 pages long.

    • #3
  4. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Muleskinner, Weasel Wrangler (View Comment):

    I saw an excel spreadsheet with a list of all of the grant programs each federal agency administers was 52 pages long.

    I guarantee something in there needs to be cut. Maybe everything but the report title.

    • #4
  5. Brian Watt Member
    Brian Watt
    @BrianWatt

    Yes, the preparation and communication on this could have been much better…especially since any interruption of any service or program was bound to make Democrats lose their collectivist minds and run around like chickens avoiding extermination. 

    It’s also safe to say that Hamas terrorists are also quite upset that their order for condoms has been cut off.

    • #5
  6. The Reticulator Member
    The Reticulator
    @TheReticulator

    Arahant (View Comment):

    James Lileks: But I think this could have been done better,

    Are you familiar with the phrase, “Close enough for government work,” perhaps?

    They always threaten to hold the entire government hostage when budget deadlines are looming.  I’d like the country to get out of this tyranny of all-or-nothing, but since that’s the way it works for us, I can’t feel bad about it working that way for them.  

    • #6
  7. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    It occurs to me that you could have started with “OMG.”

    • #7
  8. iWe Coolidge
    iWe
    @iWe

    Trump is doing what he promised, and you are concerned about what the media thinks about it?!

    • #8
  9. GPentelie Coolidge
    GPentelie
    @GPentelie

    Rumors that the OMB website is being held hostage at an undisclosed location until Russ Vought is confirmed remain unconfirmed.

    • #9
  10. GPentelie Coolidge
    GPentelie
    @GPentelie

    Perhaps related:

    “Two federal employees are suing the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to block the agency from creating a new email distribution system — an action that comes as the information will reportedly be directed to a former staffer to Elon Musk now at the agency.

    The suit, launched by two anonymous federal employees, ties together two events that have alarmed members of the federal workforce and prompted privacy concerns.

    That includes an unusual email from OPM last Thursday reviewed by The Hill said the agency was testing “a new capability” to reach all federal employees — a departure from staffers typically being contacted directly by their agency’s human resources department.

    Also cited in the suit is an anonymous Reddit post Monday from someone purporting to be an OPM employee, saying a new server was installed at their office after a career employee refused to set up a direct line of communication to all federal employees.

    …”

    Link: https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5111199-federal-employees-sue-opm-email/

     

    EDITED TO ADD:

    This piece goes into more detail, including this:

    “The whistleblowers cite “an OPM employee for nearly a decade and a Federal Employee for almost 20 years” who posted detailed information to a union chat as the source of their information. That message also alleges that Melvin Brown II, who was replaced as OPM CIO last week after the Trump administration took office, “​​was pushed aside just one week into his tenure because he refused to setup email lists to send out direct communications to all career civil servants.””

    https://fedscoop.com/opm-email-federal-workforce-lawsuit-server-privacy-security/

    • #10
  11. DonG (¡Afuera!) Coolidge
    DonG (¡Afuera!)
    @DonG

    Team Trump should message this by blaming it all on Biden.  Just keep saying that Biden was corrupt and senile and all spending decisions need to be reviewed.   If any good spending is paused, it is because Biden polluted with bad spending.  Same with illegal aliens.  Biden was corrupt and senile and all the aliens need to be deported and re-vetted.  If any good aliens are deported, it is because Biden polluted the immigration process with unvetted criminals.

    • #11
  12. Brian Watt Member
    Brian Watt
    @BrianWatt

    GPentelie (View Comment):

    Perhaps related:

    “Two federal employees are suing the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to block the agency from creating a new email distribution system — an action that comes as the information will reportedly be directed to a former staffer to Elon Musk now at the agency.

    The suit, launched by two anonymous federal employees, ties together two events that have alarmed members of the federal workforce and prompted privacy concerns.

    That includes an unusual email from OPM last Thursday reviewed by The Hill said the agency was testing “a new capability” to reach all federal employees — a departure from staffers typically being contacted directly by their agency’s human resources department.

    Also cited in the suit is an anonymous Reddit post Monday from someone purporting to be an OPM employee, saying a new server was installed at their office after a career employee refused to set up a direct line of communication to all federal employees.

    …”

    Link: https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5111199-federal-employees-sue-opm-email/

     

    EDITED TO ADD:

    This piece goes into more detail, including this:

    “The whistleblowers cite “an OPM employee for nearly a decade and a Federal Employee for almost 20 years” who posted detailed information to a union chat as the source of their information. That message also alleges that Melvin Brown II, who was replaced as OPM CIO last week after the Trump administration took office, “​​was pushed aside just one week into his tenure because he refused to setup email lists to send out direct communications to all career civil servants.””

    https://fedscoop.com/opm-email-federal-workforce-lawsuit-server-privacy-security/

    This is quite interesting and suggests that there may be federal employees attempting to frustrate and/or sabotage any efforts by the new administration and in particular DOGE from getting an accurate assessment of waste and preventing communicating outward to Congress and the American people about waste and possible corruption. So, rather than incompetence from new Trump administrators on missing websites and information, is there a chance that certain operatives within the bureaucracy are attempting to undermine and embarrass the new administration’s efforts? Note that I wrote the preceding in the form of a question, so as not to be branded as a conspiracy theorist.

    That said, given the Executive branch actors who were active in attempting to undermine Donald Trump in his first term, through the actions and efforts of Crossfire Hurricane, the ignoring of his orders from Pentagon officials, the suppression and destruction of evidence by the FBI, the Secret Service, and the J6 committee – would bureaucratic sabotage of Trump’s second term efforts to rein in and eliminate wasteful spending and eliminating positions and possibly whole agencies be beyond the realm of possibility?

    • #12
  13. GPentelie Coolidge
    GPentelie
    @GPentelie

    Brian Watt (View Comment):
    … would bureaucratic sabotage of Trump’s second term efforts to rein in and eliminate wasteful spending and eliminating positions and possibly whole agencies be beyond the realm of possibility?

    The phrase “Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. The third time it’s enemy action.” comes to mind.

    We’re waaaay past “the third time” point by now.

    • #13
  14. GPentelie Coolidge
    GPentelie
    @GPentelie

    OMB …

    … homepage: https://www.opm.gov/

    … FAQ page: https://www.opm.gov/fork/faq/

    … “Latest memos” page: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/latest-memos/

    … “Fork in the Road” page: https://www.opm.gov/fork/fork/

    All operational as of when I checked a minute ago.

    • #14
  15. John H. Member
    John H.
    @JohnH

    GPentelie (View Comment):

    OMB …

    … homepage: https://www.opm.gov/

    … FAQ page: https://www.opm.gov/fork/faq/

    … “Latest memos” page: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/latest-memos/

    … “Fork in the Road” page: https://www.opm.gov/fork/fork/

    All operational as of when I checked a minute ago.

    OPM and OMB are different, I think.

    • #15
  16. GPentelie Coolidge
    GPentelie
    @GPentelie

    John H. (View Comment):

    GPentelie (View Comment):

    OMB …

    … homepage: https://www.opm.gov/

    … FAQ page: https://www.opm.gov/fork/faq/

    … “Latest memos” page: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/latest-memos/

    … “Fork in the Road” page: https://www.opm.gov/fork/fork/

    All operational as of when I checked a minute ago.

    OPM and OMB are different, I think.

    Oops. My goodness, what a brain glitch! Thanks for the catch.

    • #16
  17. DaveSchmidt Coolidge
    DaveSchmidt
    @DaveSchmidt

    One could hope to get it perfect and in the end nothing gets accomplished. 

    One could hope to get it “done right the first time” and the delay undermines the probability of success.  

    I favor getting things started now and make the necessary adjustments along the way.  

    • #17
  18. James Lileks Contributor
    James Lileks
    @jameslileks

    iWe (View Comment):

    Trump is doing what he promised, and you are concerned about what the media thinks about it?!

    That’s what you took from that? I’m concerned about a high-profile and particularly relevant federal agency vanishing from the .gov realm. It looks like it got nuked on inauguration day, too.

    I used the chat function at use.gov, and the agent told me that the site was unavailable at present. No more information was forthcoming. 

    • #18
  19. Brian Watt Member
    Brian Watt
    @BrianWatt

    Federal freeze rescinded. Cats and dogs no longer living together.

    https://thehill.com/homenews/5113527-omb-federal-funding-freeze-rescind/

    • #19
  20. The Reticulator Member
    The Reticulator
    @TheReticulator

    iWe (View Comment):

    Trump is doing what he promised, and you are concerned about what the media thinks about it?!

    Forget the media. He should be concerned about what I think about it. There are times when the only good thing I can say about him is that at least he isn’t Biden/Harris.  This isn’t one of those times, but he should be concerned about it.  

    • #20
  21. Dr. Bastiat Member
    Dr. Bastiat
    @drbastiat

    James Lileks: That certainly could have been executed better.

    Some government activities are not terribly efficient.

    Which is sort of the whole point.

    • #21
  22. Sisyphus Member
    Sisyphus
    @Sisyphus

    If this is the worst we see, I am a happy camper. Perhaps they should not have begun their cutting with OMB if OMB was supposed to provide the analysis for the cuts. Lesson learned! I liked that Biden had OMB under WhiteHouse.gov, and I hope to find it there again very soon. But Trumpdilicious.

    Thank you, James.

    • #22
  23. Miffed White Male Member
    Miffed White Male
    @MiffedWhiteMale

    Muleskinner, Weasel Wrangler (View Comment):

    I saw an excel spreadsheet with a list of all of the grant programs each federal agency administers was 52 pages long.

    How much money is going to “NGOs”, and why does any money at all go to NGOs?  They’re supposed to be Non-Governmental.  

    • #23
  24. The Reticulator Member
    The Reticulator
    @TheReticulator

    Miffed White Male (View Comment):

    Muleskinner, Weasel Wrangler (View Comment):

    I saw an excel spreadsheet with a list of all of the grant programs each federal agency administers was 52 pages long.

    How much money is going to “NGOs”, and why does any money at all go to NGOs? They’re supposed to be Non-Governmental.

    NGOs are for practical purposes an arm of the government.   And by the government, I mean the administrative state.  

    • #24
  25. Jeff Petraska Member
    Jeff Petraska
    @JeffPetraska

    To paraphrase Commodore Matt Decker, there was a website . . .

      . . . but not anymore.

    HAHAHAHA!  LOVE THIS!  Thanks, James.

    Flammentanz • What looks … William Windom as Commodore Matt...

     

    • #25
  26. Instugator Thatcher
    Instugator
    @Instugator

    GPentelie (View Comment):
    That includes an unusual email from OPM last Thursday reviewed by The Hill said the agency was testing “a new capability” to reach all federal employees

    I received that email. It was 2 lines and demanded I reply “Yes”.

    The email had no details. It was not digitally signed.  Every year we are required to take a cyber security course. Or they take away our access to the internet and our computers. I (and everyone I work with) thought it was a phishing email. So we deleted it. 

    On Monday we got another one. This one thanked everyone who responded to the last one and asked everyone to respond again. Deleted. Then we get an email from AF Cyber Command telling us that it is real and asking us not to report it anymore.

    Then yesterday we get an email offering 8 months pay if we choose to resign, but if we become eligible to retire in the interim we can do it before the final day. Well OK then.

    • #26
  27. Dr. Bastiat Member
    Dr. Bastiat
    @drbastiat

    Instugator (View Comment):
    Then yesterday we get an email offering 8 months pay if we choose to resign, but if we become eligible to retire in the interim we can do it before the final day. Well OK then.

    Wow.

    I thought only private companies could do that.

    I didn’t know such things were possible in government.

    • #27
  28. Brian J Bergs Coolidge
    Brian J Bergs
    @BrianBergs

    Mr. Lileks, I am in total agreement with how this rolled out.  The democrats completely jumped all over this one with “sky-is-falling” public relations.  Agreeing with @TheReticulator the action irritated a Trump voter like me since there are likely excellent programs that were loaded in this “one-size-fits-all” funding freeze.  

    The democrats want common people to suffer and then rise up.  During a period of state cuts I literally got the email where they wanted agencies to pass along as much pain as possible so that people would protest.  During  republican led congressional cuts I listened while in meetings where we were begged by Obama officials to come up with stories of suffering constituents that they could use for political purposes.  It disgusted me. 

    During cuts made by the last Republican governor of MN I argued with my bosses when they wanted me to be outraged over state funding cuts for my clinic.  As with this OMB announcement the state’s communication wasn’t clear that we were exempt.  I was experienced enough to accurately interpret the complicated state announcements and told my bosses our clinic was exempt from the cuts.  My bosses (big democrats all) were ticked off with me when our funding continued just like I told them it would.  When I told the county attorney working with my clinic that the state funding showed up on time and in total, he flew into a profanity laced rage about *&(*^%&^ republicans.

    The federal funding roll out was not done well and as a Trump voter it was not what I expected.  Perhaps it is bad on me for not paying attention to what Trump was talking about.  Hopefully this is as bad as it gets.

    • #28
  29. Instugator Thatcher
    Instugator
    @Instugator

    Dr. Bastiat (View Comment):

    I thought only private companies could do that.

    I didn’t know such things were possible in government.

    There are all types of incentives to get gov employees (and military members) to depart before their commitment is up.

    I know 4-5 guys who took them up on the offer. Remember, they only gave us from 29 Jan to 6 Feb to agree. 

    • #29
  30. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Instugator (View Comment):

    Dr. Bastiat (View Comment):

    I thought only private companies could do that.

    I didn’t know such things were possible in government.

    There are all types of incentives to get gov employees (and military members) to depart before their commitment is up.

    I know 4-5 guys who took them up on the offer. Remember, they only gave us from 29 Jan to 6 Feb to agree.

    I think that’s true for those who explicitly agree, but aren’t they also saying that people who don’t return to in-office work will be “deemed” to have agreed?

    • #30
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