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Mark

@markalfred.bsky.social

330 followers 38 following 31 posts

White House Reporter & AJI Fellow at NOTUS.org Reach me at: 858 413-7384 (text/Signal)

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Mark @markalfred.bsky.social · Mar 18

NEW: Trump canceled grants funding cancer and Alzheimer’s research at Columbia University.

DOGE then listed the millions of dollars from those terminated grants on its “savings” page.

My story for @notusreports.bsky.social
www.notus.org/health-scien...

The Trump Administration Cut Cancer and Alzheimer’s Research Funding at Columbia University

His administration terminated a $5 million grant to the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center — and listed the exact dollar amount among DOGE’s “savings.”

Mark @markalfred.bsky.social · 9d

Lee Zeldin’s EPA fully embraced DOGE and made serious errors during its race to gut environmental programs.

From the EPA “accidentally” axing tens of millions of dollars worth of grants to its chief overstating cuts by millions, the errors kept piling up:

www.notus.org/policy/doge-...

Inside DOGE’s EPA Team and Its Multimillion-Dollar Mistakes

Internal emails paint the clearest picture to date of the Environmental Protection Agency’s full-throated embrace of DOGE and its subsequent stumbles.

Mark @markalfred.bsky.social · Jul 25

One longtime Department of Agriculture leader complained that cutting millions worth of federal awards “actually requires opening up every single grant” and asked to use AI.

The 25-year-old DOGE staffer she reported to said he planned to make it happen.
www.notus.org/trump-white-...

How A 25-Year-Old DOGE Staffer Set Policy at USDA

New court documents show how an effort to slash climate-related funds played out at one agency.

Mark @markalfred.bsky.social · Jul 7

“If the premise is we want to show we are on top of it — I think the big 175 million number to a known university will make that splash,” one White House official wrote as the administration stripped funds from the Penn.

www.notus.org/trump-white-...

Trump Wanted ‘More Action Against Universities.’ His Staff Scrambled to Punish Penn.

Internal White House emails reveal a frenzied campaign to strip federal funds from Penn — and target another university the administration never publicized.

Mark @markalfred.bsky.social · Jul 7

Exclusive: Internal White House emails I obtained detail the Trump administration’s scramble to strip millions from the University of Pennsylvania after a senior official told staff that “POTUS wants to see more action against universities.”

www.notus.org/trump-white-...

Trump Wanted ‘More Action Against Universities.’ His Staff Scrambled to Punish Penn.

Internal White House emails reveal a frenzied campaign to strip federal funds from Penn — and target another university the administration never publicized.

Reposted by Mark

NOTUS @notus.com · Jul 3

DOGE Has Cut Tens of Thousands of Awards. Musk’s Companies Haven’t Lost a Dime in Federal Funds.

@markalfred.bsky.social reports
www.notus.org/trump-white-...

DOGE Has Cut Tens of Thousands of Awards. Musk's Companies Haven’t Lost a Dime in Federal Funds.

Trump threatened to turn DOGE on to Musk’s companies. They’ve been immune to the cost-cutting effort until now.

Mark @markalfred.bsky.social · Jul 3

New: DOGE has cut tens of thousands of awards. Despite Trump’s threats, Elon Musk’s companies haven’t lost a dime in federal funding yet.
www.notus.org/trump-white-...

DOGE Has Cut Tens of Thousands of Awards. Musk's Companies Haven’t Lost a Dime in Federal Funds.

Trump threatened to turn DOGE on to Musk’s companies. They’ve been immune to the cost-cutting effort until now.

Reposted by Mark

Claire Heddles @claireheddles.bsky.social · May 30

DOGE’s Victory Lap Overstates Its Own Work and Contradicts Its Own Estimates

w/ @markalfred.bsky.social

www.notus.org/trump-white-...

DOGE’s Victory Lap Overstates Its Own Work and Contradicts Its Own Estimates

A list of more than a hundred “wins” from the White House celebrating Elon Musk’s work includes claims that contradict DOGE’s current estimates.

Mark @markalfred.bsky.social · May 14

DOGE said it saved $660 million from real estate cuts. Then it said $500 million. Then $400 million, then $291 million and so forth.

My look at how DOGE spent two months walking back lofty savings claims, and still takes credit for cuts it didn’t make.

www.notus.org/policy/doge-...

DOGE Vastly Overstated Its Real Estate Cuts — Then Spent Two Months Backtracking

DOGE took credit for more than $600 million in real estate savings but has repeatedly cut back its own claims.

Reposted by Mark

Margaret Manto @margaretmanto.bsky.social · May 7

“What’s the benefit for me if I give my favor to you?”

A story about the online musings of a self-described “senior advisor” to the health secretary:

www.notus.org/health-scien...

‘What’s the Benefit For Me’: A Kennedy Ally Suggests She Can Help Make Connections, For a Return

Angela Stanton King has posted about her ties to RFK Jr., and what that could mean for her consulting clients. “I'm like a child to Bobby. I'll always have access to him,” she told NOTUS.

Mark @markalfred.bsky.social · Apr 16

DOGE is touting lease cancellations across the country. Several facilities actually began to close under the Biden administration — including the largest building on DOGE’s list.

www.notus.org/policy/doge-...

Mark @markalfred.bsky.social · Apr 16

DOGE went weeks without updating its webpage. Then, just after midnight on Tuesday, it removed nearly a billion dollars worth of previously claimed “savings.”

www.notus.org/policy/doge-...

Nearly a Billion Dollars in DOGE ‘Savings’ Disappeared Overnight

In a late-night update to its webpage, DOGE removed hundreds of previously claimed cuts and altered scores of others to boost the items’ claimed “savings” values.

Reposted by Mark

Emily Kennard @emilykennard.bsky.social · Apr 11

Some Republican lawmakers don't agree with Health Secretary RFK Jr.'s calls for states to stop fluoridating water.

I talked to GOP former medical professionals in Congress — including four dentists, all of whom are House Republicans — about fluoride.

www.notus.org/congress/con...

Three Out of Four of Congress’ Dentists Agree: Fluoride Should Stay in Drinking Water

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has called for states to remove fluoride from their water, claiming it’s dangerous despite evidence that it improves oral health outcomes. Some Republican medica...

Mark @markalfred.bsky.social · Apr 8

It’s not just Michael Waltz.

We found the Venmo accounts of over three dozen White House officials, including Stephen Miller, Sean Duffy and Karoline Leavitt.

Almost all had open friends lists. Some had open transactions, which is its own security risk.

www.notus.org/congress/peo...

The People Running the Government Are Letting It All Hang Out on Venmo

NOTUS easily identified Venmo accounts tied to more than three dozen Trump administration officials and more than 50 current members of Congress. Their transactions are revealing — as are their friend...

Reposted by Mark

San José Spotlight @sanjosespotlight.com · Apr 2

San Jose Rep. @liccardo.house.gov raised nearly $1.5 million in his first quarter as a member of Congress, according to a source familiar with the Liccardo camp — a hefty sum for a freshman lawmaker.

✍️ @reesegorman.bsky.social, @markalfred.bsky.social, @notusreports.bsky.social

First-term San Jose Congressman Liccardo raises eye-popping $1.5M - San José Spotlight

San Jose Congressmember Sam Liccardo raised nearly $1.5 million in his first quarter as a member of Congress, according to a source familiar with the Liccardo camp — a hefty sum for a freshman lawmake...

sanjosespotlight.com

Reposted by Mark

Margaret Manto @margaretmanto.bsky.social · Apr 2

NEWS: DOGE has directed HHS to cut 35% of all contract spending -- a category that includes everything from equipment maintenance to laboratory staff.
"It will be like another reduction in force," one NIH employee told me. W/ @markalfred.bsky.social: www.notus.org/health-scien...

DOGE Orders HHS to Cut 35% of Contract Spending

In one email obtained by NOTUS, NIH employees were told they could not “use mission criticality as a justification to not make cuts.”

Reposted by Mark

NOTUS @notus.com · Apr 2

In one email obtained by NOTUS, NIH employees were told they could not “use mission criticality as a justification to not make cuts.” via @margaretmanto.bsky.social & @markalfred.bsky.social

DOGE Orders HHS to Cut 35% of Contract Spending

In one email obtained by NOTUS, NIH employees were told they could not “use mission criticality as a justification to not make cuts.”

Mark @markalfred.bsky.social · Apr 2

DOGE is directing sweeping contract cuts at HHS — and making it difficult for employees to defend programs.

“We cannot use mission criticality as a justification to not make cuts,” NIH employees were told.

with the best on the beat @margaretmanto.bsky.social

www.notus.org/health-scien...

DOGE Orders HHS to Cut 35% of Contract Spending

In one email obtained by NOTUS, NIH employees were told they could not “use mission criticality as a justification to not make cuts.”

Mark @markalfred.bsky.social · Apr 1

DOGE terminated billions of dollars worth of contracts for work across the country. The vast majority of cuts are in districts represented by Democrats.

My story for @notusreports.bsky.social:

www.notus.org/policy/doge-...

DOGE’s Multibillion-Dollar Contract Cuts Are Hitting Blue Districts Hardest

It’s not even close.

Reposted by Mark

Margaret Manto @margaretmanto.bsky.social · Mar 28

State health departments are already feeling the impact of DOGE's cuts to HHS grants. One state has already lost 25 employees, including epidemiologists and public health nurses. More here: www.notus.org/health-scien...

DOGE is Slashing HHS Personnel and Health Projects. States Are Already Feeling the Strain.

State and local officials told NOTUS they’re losing critical funds.

Reposted by Mark

Margaret Manto @margaretmanto.bsky.social · Mar 27

DOGE personnel have been firing NIH employees on sight for leaving their computers and ID cards unattended, multiple employees told me. More here: www.notus.org/health-scien...

The Department of Health and Human Services Is Facing Major Cuts — And DOGE Is Already at NIH

Ahead of a reported HHS restructuring, DOGE has been visiting the NIH and firing staff members on sight, employees told NOTUS.

Mark @markalfred.bsky.social · Mar 26

NEWS: As HHS begins to pull billions from states health agencies and ~100 universities, pandemic preparedness efforts are getting axed.

Also cut:
—Millions for mental health/substance abuse care in most states
—Grants to cancer centers
—More HIV research
www.notus.org/health-scien...

HHS Said It’s Pulling Billions in Leftover COVID-19 Funds. The Cuts Go Far Beyond the Pandemic.

DOGE is touting cuts to pandemic prevention research, mental health support, substance abuse prevention and grants for cancer research centers.

Reposted by Mark

Alice Miranda Ollstein @alicemiranda.bsky.social · Mar 24

"Many of the NIH cuts were listed as yielding little or no savings. One UC Irvine grant supported research into HIV stigmas. Its cancellation saved the federal government 94 cents, NIH data shows." www.notus.org/health-scien...

HHS Pulled Funds for HIV Research at 22 Universities

The Trump administration pulled around $34 million in HIV-related grants.

Mark @markalfred.bsky.social · Mar 24

NEWS: Trump’s administration pulled millions in funding for HIV and PrEP-related research projects at 22 universities

www.notus.org/health-scien...

HHS Pulled Funds for HIV Research at 22 Universities

The Trump administration pulled around $34 million in HIV-related grants.

Reposted by Mark

Margaret Manto @margaretmanto.bsky.social · Mar 20

Scientists, research technicians, even administrators - contractors make up nearly half of the NIH's workforce. The agency has been quietly letting their work orders expire. www.notus.org/health-scien...

The NIH Is Quietly Laying Off Contract Workers

Contractors make up nearly half of the NIH’s total workforce. Losing them would “completely hobble so many programs,” said one NIH employee.

Mark @markalfred.bsky.social · Mar 19

NEWS: DOGE is reversing course on half of its cuts to Social Security Administration offices across the country.
www.notus.org/policy/socia...

DOGE Reversed Course on Half of Its Social Security Lease Terminations

The shift means several rural areas around the country are likely to keep local offices DOGE was set to close, preventing older adults from driving hours to access services.