Morning Wire Summary: "Trump’s DOGE Double Down & Federal Worker Competency" | March 10, 2025

Hosted by John Bickley and Georgia Howe

1. Introduction

In this episode of Morning Wire, hosts John Bickley and Georgia Howe delve into President Donald Trump's latest initiatives aimed at reducing federal spending and reshaping the federal workforce. They also explore the rising protests against Elon Musk's Tesla facilities and address a recent security incident near the White House.

2. Trump’s Support for Elon Musk's Budget Cuts

Protests Against Tesla and Doge Influence

Timestamp: [00:03]
John Bickley opens the discussion by highlighting protests targeting Dogecoin (DOGE) and Tesla, juxtaposed with Trump's endorsement of Elon Musk’s efforts to decrease government expenditures.

Timestamp: [00:39]
Georgia Howe introduces a key topic: whether federal employees should undergo competency tests for hiring—a stance supported by the Trump administration but hindered by longstanding laws.

Ben Shapiro’s Critique
Timestamp: [00:10]
Ben Shapiro critiques the current government spending:
"I mean, the money they're spending on all of this stuff, the whole thing's a scam."

Trump Endorses Musk’s Fiscal Strategy
Timestamp: [01:34]
Shifting focus, Shapiro praises Trump as a patriot for backing Musk:
"Now he's done a great job. He actually is a real patriot. This is something that's really not good for him and yet he's doing it. But he's opened a lot of eyes."

Timestamp: [01:44]
Trump expresses confidence in Musk's ability to reduce federal spending through enhanced government efficiency.

Megan Basham on Budget Cuts and Protests
Timestamp: [02:21]
Culture reporter Megan Basham discusses the delicate PR management surrounding Musk's budget proposals, noting pressures from Democrats and the resulting protests across the nation. She highlights high-profile participation, such as former NIH head Francis Collins leading a protest song at the Lincoln Memorial.

Timestamp: [05:59]
Basham reports on public opinion polls:
"54% said some or a lot, compared to 46% who said only a little or none. A narrow majority, 51%, also said that they want to see that federal workforce reduced."

Escalation of Protests
Timestamp: [03:56]
Basham details escalating protests, including violent attacks on Tesla properties with Molotov cocktails and shootings, citing incidents in Portland, Oregon, and Massachusetts.

Timestamp: [02:54]
Shapiro adds enthusiasm for Musk’s involvement:
"There's no one watching this TV right now who, if Elon Musk said he was going to come over their house and help them, wouldn't like cheer."

3. Federal Worker Competency and the Consent Decree

Trump Administration Challenges Longstanding Hiring Laws

Timestamp: [06:42]
Georgia Howe introduces the Trump administration’s plan to challenge a 40-year-old consent decree affecting federal hiring practices.

Exclusive Report by Luke Rosiak
Timestamp: [07:10]
Government efficiency reporter Luke Rosiak provides an in-depth analysis:

• Background:
  In the 1970s, minorities filed a lawsuit against the federal government's use of the Professional Administrative Career Examination, alleging racial bias due to lower average scores among black and Hispanic applicants. The Hoover Consent Decree prohibited objective testing in federal hiring to ensure zero statistical differences in hire rates by race.

• Current Developments:
  After decades of ineffective attempts to replace the test, resulting in reliance on subjective self-assessments, the Trump administration seeks to dissolve the decree, arguing it conflicts with recent Supreme Court rulings against affirmative action (2023 Harvard decision).

• Implications:
  If successful, this move would allow the federal government to implement objective competency tests, potentially transforming the federal workforce into a merit-based elite group.

Timestamp: [08:13]
John Bickley likens the situation to college admissions without the SAT:
"So this is like telling colleges they can't use the SAT to admit students."

Timestamp: [09:25]
Rosiak emphasizes the potential legacy of this action for Trump, noting that current federal employee demographics show minorities are overrepresented by 50%, rendering the consent decree legally untenable.

4. Government Funding Bill and Budget Negotiations

Speaker Johnson’s Stopgap Proposal Supported by Trump

Timestamp: [10:07]
Georgia Howe reports on Speaker Johnson’s proposed seven-month funding bill aligned with the Trump administration, aiming to prevent a government shutdown by September.

Representative Andy Harris Discusses the Bill

Timestamp: [10:24]
Rep. Andy Harris outlines the bill’s components:

• Spending Freeze and Adjustments:
  The bill proposes freezing overall spending, with minor reductions and reallocations towards defense, deportations, the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program, and veterans' healthcare.

• IRS Funding Cuts:
  By eliminating funds for new IRS agents planned by the Biden administration, the bill achieves a net decrease in spending.

Timestamp: [11:17]
Harris confirms a $6 billion increase for specific programs against a $13 billion cut in non-defense discretionary funding, expressing confidence in Republican support:
"I think that's why it's gonna pass with Republican votes this week. And then again in the Senate."

Inflation and Economic Recovery

Timestamp: [12:08]
Harris addresses inflation concerns, attributing past economic struggles to the Biden administration and expressing optimism that reinstating energy exploration will reduce energy costs:
"When that comes down, the cost of energy and electricity and all the things that run our economy is going to go down."

Republican Stance on Spending Control
Timestamp: [12:44]
Harris stresses the necessity of controlling federal spending to manage the debt and deficit, emphasizing the importance of incorporating savings identified by the Doge Committee into future budgets.

Debate on Congressional Control vs. Executive Discretion
Timestamp: [13:06]
The discussion touches on concerns over giving the White House more discretion in budget allocations. Harris defends the bill, stating it maintains Congressional spending ceilings while allowing the administration to address waste and fraud:
"We don't give up that much control...We're still setting the ceiling on spending."

5. Recent Security Incident Near the White House

Armed Confrontation and Secret Service Response

Timestamp: [14:00]
Georgia Howe introduces a breaking news segment regarding an armed individual near the White House.

Report by Mary Margaret Olihan
Timestamp: [14:10]
Olihan details the incident where the Secret Service engaged a suicidal suspect threatening with a firearm near the White House. The individual was subdued and hospitalized, with no injuries reported among Secret Service personnel. The incident occurred while President Trump was in Florida, and further details remain pending.

6. Conclusion

John Bickley wraps up the episode by reinforcing the commitment to delivering essential news and encouraging listeners to share the episode. The discussions highlighted Trump's strategic collaborations to reduce federal spending, the contentious debates surrounding federal hiring practices, and the ongoing political maneuvers to shape the nation's budget and workforce.

Notable Quotes:

• Ben Shapiro [00:10]: "I mean, the money they're spending on all of this stuff, the whole thing's a scam."

• John Bickley [01:34]: "That was President Trump on Sunday voicing his confidence in Elon Musk's continued efforts to cut federal spending through the Department of Government efficiency."

• Ben Shapiro [02:54]: "There's no one watching this TV right now who, if Elon Musk said he was going to come over their house and help them, wouldn't like cheer."

• Luke Rosiak [08:18]: "Exactly. OPM finally came up with one test that would result in a high proportion of minorities. And it's basically just a self assessment."

• Andy Harris [12:36]: "Joe Biden took four years to increase the cost of everything and to bring on the inflation and to stop energy exploration, for instance."

For more updates, tune in to the next episode of Morning Wire.