Meteorology Matters21 Mar 2025

Black Saturday: The Day American Democracy Died

Week of March 10-14, 2025 (Specific dates not always clear):
Federal agencies, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Energy Department, submit "reductions in force" plans, expected to lead to further federal employee dismissals. NOAA reportedly anticipates losing at least 1,000 employees, potentially 10% of its workforce.
Judge William Alsup issues a court order to rehire fired probationary federal workers. Some agencies, like the Department of Energy, reportedly begin calling laid-off employees back. The Department of Defense seeks guidance from the White House.
The White House, through officials speaking anonymously, indicates it plans to appeal the court rulings on rehiring federal workers but that these rulings will not impact their plans to reduce the size of government. They view the rulings as useful for building a "narrative about out of control liberal judges."
White House officials and spokespeople, like one who mentions "DOGE" and the OPM not being "intimidated by activists who dress up in black robes," publicly dismiss the court orders regarding federal workers.
Friday, March 14, 2025:
An article in Politico is published detailing the Trump administration's plans to move forward with slashing federal workers despite court orders to reinstate some.
Saturday, March 15, 2025 ("Black Saturday"):
A federal judge issues a direct order against the Trump administration, reportedly denying permission to deport alleged criminals from Venezuela (as per one commenter's account).
President Trump and his administration openly defy this federal court order. The White House simply ignores the ruling.
The Trump administration proceeds with the deportation of hundreds of Venezuelan migrants to a mega-prison in El Salvador, allegedly without due process, despite the judge's order to halt and turn back any planes. They refuse to answer the judge's questions on Monday, arguing the court had no jurisdiction over international airspace.
No immediate intervention, enforcement, or consequences follow Trump's defiance of the court order.
Commenters online begin to note a potential Congressional action on this day (H.Res 211, Section 4) that might hand more power to Trump, though this is not directly confirmed as the catalyst for "Black Saturday" in the main article.

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