Raw Story: Trump appointee’s disappearing act has key department at a standstill: report

5,000 poorly trained, poorly disciplined cowboys with guns, no boss!

Although ICE seems to be winning the current popularity contest, BATF traditionally has been considered the worst of the federal law enforcement agencies. It was BATF that ultimately caused the deaths of ~80 people at the Branch Davidian complex near Waco, Texas.

“As the Post’s Perry Stein and Yvonne Wingett Sanchez wrote, ‘Patel arrived at ATF’s Northeast Washington headquarters, snapped photos in the lobby, met career leaders and commended their work, according to multiple people familiar with the visit. But since then, Patel has not returned, and there appears to be scant communication between the acting director and the people who work for the 5,000-person agency, said the people familiar with the situation.'”

Trump appointee’s disappearing act has key department at a standstill: report

Newsweek: Social Security Close to ‘Total System Collapse’

The former Social Security commissioner Martin O’Malley has said the government department is on the brink of “total system collapse” under the Trump administration.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) currently pays out retirement, survivor and disability benefits to more than 70 million Americans. But recent changes made by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and its current commissioner have come under considerable scrutiny.

Writing on X, formerly Twitter, O’Malley said: “The Musk/Trump co-presidency has already taken 90% of the actions necessary to drive Social Security into a total system collapse.”

Social Security Close to ‘Total System Collapse’: Ex-Head – Newsweek