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Reposted by Bridget Dooling

Burgess Everett @burgessev.bsky.social · 1d

The RIFs seem like they might further entrench the Democratic position and prolong shutdown

Rep. Beyer: "harder to get the bipartisan deal that is needed to end this shutdown"

Sen. Murray: “A shutdown does not give Trump or Vought new, special powers to cause more chaos"

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Bridget Dooling @bridgetdooling.bsky.social · 10h

Yeah. It’s a an idea, not an end. Separation of powers without checks & balances is just a pathway to despotism. Send tweet.

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jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 10h

vought justifies all of this as a vision of "separation of powers" — an idea that i'm more and more convinced doesn't actually exist, at least not in any strong form, in the constitution — but the thing that comes across is his basic contempt for representative government

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Nick Bednar @nicholasbednar.bsky.social · 19h

I really don't know what it means for a RIF to be "Democrat-oriented." Either they are targeting RIFs in Democrat house districts or they are targeting perceived Democrat employees. Regardless, sounds like an impermissible reason coupled with a First Amendment issue under Rutan v. Republican Party.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

Q: How many layoffs have you authorized?

TRUMP: It'll be a lot. And it'll be Democrat-oriented.

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Bridget Dooling @bridgetdooling.bsky.social · 1d

Saw 3 very bored Guardsmen at Farragut West metro. What a shambles this city is in.

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Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · 1d

Re-upping this piece on news that Vought is firing federal employees:
*Vought lying that shutdowns compel layoffs, never have before.
*Layoffs are a choice, the shutdown is an excuse.
*Comes on top of existing RIFs, will make restoring govt services harder post-shutdown.
substack.com/home/post/p-...

Shutdown hostage taking

Russ Vought's threatens more mass firings; SCOTUS blesses his de facto impoundment

substack.com

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Eric Columbus @ericcolumbus.bsky.social · 1d

OMB head Russ Vought says RIFs have begun. In litigation challenging OMB's ability to RIF during a shutdown, OMB must provide more details by 3pm PT/ 6pm ET.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

Russ Vought
@russvought
The RIFs have begun.

The Court hereby ORDERS defendants to file a response to the motion for a TRO no later than October 10, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. PDT. In their response, defendants SHALL address: (1) the status of any currently planned or in-progress RIF notices to be issued during/because of the government shutdown, including the earliest date that those RIF notices will go out; (2) which of the defendant agencies anticipate issuing RIF notices during/because of the government shutdown and the estimated number of employees at the defendant agency who will receive such RIF notices; and (3) whether any employees at the defendant agencies have been ordered back to work during the government shutdown in order to effectuate the issuance of RIF notices. Defendants shall provide evidence (declarations, exhibits, etc.) in support of the above information.

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Bobby Kogan @bbkogan.bsky.social · 1d

Three key points:
1) The admin has been planning mass firings to begin in October since February
2) The work necessary to carry out mass firings is illegal during a shutdown, violating the Antideficiency Act, which carries a criminal penalty
3) This harms America, ridding us of talent and expertise

Russ Vought v @russvought
The RIFs have begun.
12:27 PM • 10/10/25 • 15K Views

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Bridget Dooling @bridgetdooling.bsky.social · 1d

Exactly nobody who knows the legal landscape thinks these layoffs have anything to do with shutdown requirements.

NPR @npr.org · 1d

JUST IN: The Trump administration says it has started the process of issuing reduction-in-force notices to federal employees. It’s not clear how many workers are affected.

White House says 'substantial' layoffs of federal workers have begun, with few details

The Trump administration says it has started the process of issuing reduction-in-force notices to federal employees. It’s not clear how many workers are affected.

n.pr

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Bridget Dooling @bridgetdooling.bsky.social · 1d

I’m in DC. The metro is so empty. Should be filled with people coming & going around the city.

Shutdowns are such a shame.

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Bridget Dooling @bridgetdooling.bsky.social · 1d

Exactly nobody who knows the legal landscape thinks these layoffs have anything to do with shutdown requirements.

Courtney Rozen @courtneyrozen.bsky.social · 1d

White House budget director Russ Vought said that layoffs are starting across the government. I'll post what my colleagues & I learn in this thread:

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Courtney Rozen @courtneyrozen.bsky.social · 1d

White House budget director Russ Vought said that layoffs are starting across the government. I'll post what my colleagues & I learn in this thread:

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Burgess Everett @burgessev.bsky.social · 1d

Rs are adamant they will not negotiate on the CR so it's limiting what they can offer Dems during shutdown

Rounds: "What we’re trying to do is to retain our integrity by not making a promise that we can’t keep.”

(Dems similarly refused to negotiate on CRs in past)

www.semafor.com/article/10/0...

Senate GOP mulls offering vote to Democrats in shutdown standoff

The proposal would allow for a vote on extending health care subsidies, a sticking point in shutdown talks.

www.semafor.com

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Lawrence Solum @lsolum.bsky.social · 2d

Please help me get the word out about the new websites for Legal Theory Blog and the Legal Theory Lexicon. Reposting here and on other social media sites is great. It would be especially helpful if law school faculty members could send an email to their colleagues with the new addresses.

Legal Theory Blog

Discover our latest articles and updates. Stay informed with recent posts that cover a variety of topics you care about!

legaltheoryblog.com

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Dr. Damien P. Williams Wants A Better Sociotechnical Paradigm @wolvendamien.bsky.social · 2d

*Lil Jon Voice* States' Rights to What

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ringwiss @ringwiss.bsky.social · 2d

So many senators are using the word ‘you’ right now! 😡

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Burgess Everett @burgessev.bsky.social · 2d

Stop me if you've heard this one: The House-passed CR failed, 54-45 (so did the Dem/health care CR). 7th time was not the charm

Shutdown continues

Thune and Schumer may force another vote later before the week is out

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Kristin E. Hickman @khickmanjd.bsky.social · 2d

Delighted to be at UNC Law today to present a forthcoming @uvalaw.bsky.social Tax Review article on OIRA review of tax regs, co-authored with @bridgetdooling.bsky.social -- Delay, Politics & Expertise in OIRA Tax Review. Lots of great data, draft coming soon @ssrn.bsky.social.

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Bridget Dooling @bridgetdooling.bsky.social · 4d

Headed to DC this weekend so my husband can run the Army Ten-Miler ……. oh wait.

We’ll know tomorrow if the race is on or if it’s a casualty of the shutdown.

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🎃😱Slaybell Romero loves Halloween👻👹 @maybell.bsky.social · 4d

I know that AALS had regional hiring conferences this year in contrast to the giant one that used to happen in DC. Did hiring committees actually go to any of them? Did entry level candidates show up? Were there in person screeners like before? Where did they take place? #lawprofs #lawprofhiring

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George Pearkes @peark.es · 4d

Well that's not how appropriations work at all

*WHITE HOUSE TO TRANSFER TARIFF REVENUE TO FUND WIC: LEAVITT

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Blake Emerson @blakeprof.bsky.social · 5d

Please to share the final, citable version of my latest article, The Existential Challenge to the Administrative State, forthcoming in the Georgetown Law Journal. Written mostly before Trump's second term, the paper critiques and responds to the case law that has enabled the current conflagration.

The Existential Challenge to the Administrative State

<div> A set of constitutional claims today strikes at the heart of the administrative authority of the federal government. Claims regarding administrative poli

papers.ssrn.com

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Bridget Dooling @bridgetdooling.bsky.social · 5d

Great explainer episode with @kevinrkosar.bsky.social and @pwallach.bsky.social

This would make a really nice class “reading” assignment if you’re trying to work appropriations shenanigans into your syllabus.

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/u...

What Are Budget Rescissions and Pocket Rescissions? (with Philip Wallach)

Podcast Episode · Understanding Congress · 10/06/2025 · 30m

podcasts.apple.com

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Joshua J. Friedman @joshuajfriedman.com · 6d

Judge: That's what I'll do. Prohibit federalization or deployment of any NG troops into Oregon. For all reasons in prior opinion. Deployment of federalized military is ultra vires and contrary to law, violating Title 10, section 12406. I also find it's likely that defendants violate 10th Amendment.

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Bridget Dooling @bridgetdooling.bsky.social · 7d

This whole neo-nazi incident is how I learned about @mariabruno01.bsky.social and @ohagainstextremism.bsky.social.

So, you know, pits & peaks!

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