The Reign of Trump

[bilateralrope]

Trump administration rescinds guidance directing agencies to fire probationary employees

A federal judge last week ordered the Office of Personnel Management to retract instructions to other agencies on dismissing recently hired or promoted employees.

March 5, 2025, 11:24 AM GMT+13
By Yamiche Alcindor, Gary Grumbach and Zoë Richards

The Trump administration on Tuesday revised its guidance on probationary employment in the federal government after a judge ruled last week that the Office of Personnel Management lacked the authority to make hiring or termination decisions for other agencies.

The new guidance clarifies that agencies, and not OPM, are the final word when it comes to performance-based personnel actions.

"Please note that, by this memorandum, OPM is not directing agencies to take any specific performance-based actions regarding probationary employees," the new guidance states. "Agencies have ultimate decision-making authority over, and responsibility for, such personnel actions."

The revised guidance comes days after a federal judge ordered the Office of Personnel Management to rescind its earlier instructions telling other federal agencies to "promptly determine" whether probationary employees "should be retained at the agency."

Senior District Judge William Alsup of the Northern District of California ruled Thursday for a retraction of the initial Jan. 20 memo, saying that OPM "does not have any authority whatsoever under any statute in the history of the universe, to hire and fire employees within another agency."

Alsup’s ruling did not reinstate the thousands of recently dismissed employees, but it has affected efforts by the Trump administration to slash the federal workforce.

The new guidance from OPM also adjusts the definition of probationary periods. In the revised text, they are described as a tool for employee performance and to "ensure that 'a probationer's conduct and performance have established that the individual will be an asset to the Government.'"

The original guidance similarly referred to probationary periods as a performance assessment tool, but said they also served to "manage staffing levels."

Employees are often classified as probationary if they were recently hired or if they took on a new position.

Asked about the revisions, a spokesperson for OPM said that "this change was to help provide clarity in light of a recent court order" and what the spokesperson called "some public misinformation."

"It has always been up to agencies whether to take performance-based actions against probationary employees," the spokesperson added.

American Federation of Government Employees National President Everett Kelley said in a statement that the Office of Personnel Management's revised guidance served as "a clear admission that it unlawfully directed federal agencies to carry out mass terminations of probationary employees."

"Every agency should immediately rescind these unlawful terminations and reinstate everyone who was illegally fired," Kelley said.

A win in the courts that got the Trump administration to back down, instead of appealing to SCOTUS. That's probably a good sign, though we can expect them to attempt to fire people by another means. Probably a reduction in force.

[LadyTevar]

So... are they going to hire back the people OPM forced out?

[bilateralrope]

It sounds like all the firings have been rescinded. So they will be taking back anyone who wants to come back.

[EnterpriseSovereign]

Macron mulling nuclear weapons for allies and warns Russia threatens Europe

French President Emmanuel Macron said he will confer with European allies on the idea of using France's nuclear deterrent to protect the continent in the face of threats from Russia.

Speaking in a televised address, Macron described Russia as a "threat to France and Europe," and said he had decided “to open the strategic debate on the protection of our allies on the European continent by our (nuclear) deterrent."

He said the use of France’s nuclear weapons would remain only in the hands of the French president.

France is the only nuclear power in the European Union.

EU leaders are set to address the issue of nuclear deterrence, among other issues, during a special summit in Brussels on Thursday, focusing on support for Ukraine and European defence.

The French president also said he hoped the US alliance would survive, but they had to prepare to go it alone in reference to the recent rhetoric from Donald Trump.

He described France as being in a "new era" and warned difficult decisions were ahead.

Macron spoke soon after the US announced it had paused intelligence sharing with Ukraine despite Trump's warm words about Volodymyr Zelenskyy during an address to Congress on Tuesday.

The decision comes as part of a wider move from the US to halt weapons deliveries to Ukraine.

On Wednesday, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz said that the US has "taken a step back" in its relationship with Ukraine.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe called the suspension a "pause" and said that American intelligence and military aid could begin flowing again soon once Trump knew that Zelenskyy was serious about peace.

The move could be a significant blow to Ukraine's war effort that has relied heavily on US intelligence to keep track of Russian movements.

Intelligence from the US and other allies also helps Ukraine prepare for Russian attacks, and supplied critical information in the war’s early days that allowed Ukraine to thwart Russian President Vladimir Putin’s hopes for a quick victory.

The news about the pause in intelligence sharing comes after Trump praised Zelenskyy in an address to Congress on Tuesday, despite their public fallout last week.

He told US Congress members that Zelenskyy had written to him to express his appreciation for US support for his country in its war with Russia and that he was ready to sign a deal.

Quoting Zelenskyy's letter to him, Trump said: “Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer. Nobody wants peace more than the Ukrainians.

“My team and I stand ready to work under President Trump’s strong leadership to get a peace that lasts... We do really value how much America has done to help Ukraine maintain its sovereignty and independence."

In his longest presidential speech yet – lasting around one hour and 40 minutes – Trump added that Zelenskyy said he was ready to sign a deal that would give the US access to Ukraine's rare earth minerals “at any time that is convenient for you”.

Trump also told Congress members that he is "just getting started" with his political agenda and said that the US would take control of Greenland "one way or another".

During his address, Trump expressed his frustration at how much money the US has spent on the Ukraine conflict, but he also responded positively to a social media post by Zelenskyy in which he said it was "regrettable" how relations between the pair had broken down.

As European leaders work together to strengthen Ukraine's position for any future peace talks, a spokeswoman for the French government said Macron, Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Zelenskyy could return to Washington DC for talks with Trump.

The UK and France have been coordinating European efforts to support Ukraine and develop a peace plan to end the war with Russia after Trump alarmed allies on the continent by opening talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin while trying to foster closer ties with Moscow.

French government Sophie Primas told reporters: “It is envisaged that President Macron might possibly go to Washington again with President Zelenskyy and his English counterpart.”

Asked when Macron, Zelensky and Starmer might visit the US capital and whether it would be within days or weeks, she said: “I don’t have the information. I think it is in the short-term.”

When asked whether there has been an invitation from the White House or whether the visit is a French wish she replied: “It’s a wish I think.”

It follows a heated exchange in the Oval Office on Friday in which Trump accused Zelenskyy of "gambling with World War Three" and told him to "come back when he is ready for peace".

Trump's administration and Ukrainian officials had been expected to sign off on a critical minerals deal, intended in part to pay back the US for aid it has sent Kyiv since the start of the war, before talks broke down.

Speaking about the clash Zelenskyy said: "Our meeting in Washington, at the White House on Friday, did not go the way it was supposed to be."

"It is regrettable that it happened this way. It is time to make things right. We would like future cooperation and communication to be constructive.

"Regarding the agreement on minerals and security, Ukraine is ready to sign it in any time and in any convenient format.

"We see this agreement as a step toward greater security and solid security guarantees, and I truly hope it will work effectively."

He also thanked the US for helping "Ukraine maintain its sovereignty and independence" and added that the first steps to peace could be the release of prisoners and a truce in the sky and sea.

ITV News understands that Zelenskyy's post on X is a summary of the formal ceasefire proposal drafted by him, Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte.

It is understood this has now been submitted to Trump.

A Downing Street spokeswoman said that Starmer spoke with him on the phone on Tuesday afternoon ahead of Zelenskyy's post.

During the call, Starmer updated Zelenskyy on his discussion with Trump, adding that it "was vital that all parties worked towards a lasting and secure peace for Ukraine as soon as possible."

The statement continued: “Turning to President Zelenskyy’s most recent calls for further diplomatic efforts to achieve the swiftest possible end to the war, the Prime Minister welcomed President Zelenskyy’s steadfast commitment to securing peace.

“Underscoring that any peace for Ukraine needed to be lasting and secure, the Prime Minister said no one wanted peace more than Ukraine."

Starmer said at Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday he had spoken to Trump three times since they met at the White House last week.

After all the nuclear dick-waving Putin has been doing, it makes a refreshing change for someone else to do it.

[Solauren]

I'd love it if this made Putin back down, peace was achieved in the Ukraine (Brokered by Europe or even just France), and the US got completely cut out, and everyone went 'if only Trump had the balls...'

[LadyTevar]

I'd love it if this made Putin back down, peace was achieved in the Ukraine (Brokered by Europe or even just France), and the US got completely cut out, and everyone went 'if only Trump had the balls...'

I would also very much love to see Europe make Putin back down, and Trump left behind as a useless dick who left Ukraine hanging. Pile all the infamy on Trump's pathetic admin.

[Rogue 9]

Would that allow Vance to run for a second elected term, thereby becoming a 3 term president? No idea.

Only if he does it on or after January 21st, 2027. A Vice President who assumes the Presidency is barred from running again if he serves more than two years of the incomplete term of his predecessor.

[Solauren]

Would that allow Vance to run for a second elected term, thereby becoming a 3 term president? No idea.

Only if he does it on or after January 21st, 2027. A Vice President who assumes the Presidency is barred from running again if he serves more than two years of the incomplete term of his predecessor.

So, they found anything less then 50% of the term served to 0, and anything more to 1. Got it.

So, if Vance is planning to do that, he's going to wait 2 years?

After 2 years of Trump, there may not be a US left to become President of!

[Zaune]

Honestly, I think their plan is to just not bother to hold the election, change the subject when someone tries to bring it up and hope the Democrats are too afraid of being rude or disruptive to make an issue of it.

[EnterpriseSovereign]

Would that allow Vance to run for a second elected term, thereby becoming a 3 term president? No idea.

Only if he does it on or after January 21st, 2027. A Vice President who assumes the Presidency is barred from running again if he serves more than two years of the incomplete term of his predecessor.

So, they found anything less then 50% of the term served to 0, and anything more to 1. Got it.

So, if Vance is planning to do that, he's going to wait 2 years?

After 2 years of Trump, there may not be a US left to become President of!

Depending on the results of the midterms, hopefully there will be a blue wave which will leave the president a lame duck, whoever he is.

[LadyTevar]

Depending on the results of the midterms, hopefully there will be a blue wave which will leave the president a lame duck, whoever he is.

While that would be nice, we can't just sit back and pin our hopes on "Oh, Midterms in two years"
We have to do things NOW.

But my Senators and Representatives have stopped taking calls. Fuckin' GOP.

[Zwinmar]

Feels like I am going nuts, everyone around me has bought into their fascistic rhetoric and nothing I can say or do even makes a dent.

[bilateralrope]

U.S. grid operators scramble over Canadian electricity imports

By Mathieu Dion
Updated: March 06, 2025 at 6:07PM EST

Published: March 06, 2025 at 6:02PM EST

Northeastern US grid operators don’t know how to deal with U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs on power imported from Canada — or if the electricity is even subject to duties.

Since Tuesday, most goods imported into the U.S. from Canada incur a 25% levy, but the duty is 10% for energy imports.

“Based on legal precedent, we do not believe the tariffs placed on Canadian imports apply to electricity, but we are seeking additional guidance,” Mary Cate Colapietro, spokesperson for grid operator ISO New England Inc., said in a statement on Thursday.

ISO New England told the United States Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Feb. 28 that it lacks direction on how to allocate, collect and pay the import duties, which could amount to between $66 million and $165 million per year.

“Failure to have a cost-recovery mechanism in place prior to the effective date of a Canadian import tariff would place the ISO at risk of noncompliance with a federal obligation and, in a worst case scenario, could force the ISO to seek bankruptcy protection,” the operator said.

Colapietro said ISO New England is prepared to argue that electricity imports should not be covered by the tariffs, and if they are, “that the ISO should not be charged with collecting the duties.”

A spokesperson for Midcontinent Independent System Operator said it had not received confirmation from federal agencies “regarding the duties’ applicability to electricity or who will be responsible for paying or collecting them,” noting that the situation was “fluid” and “uncertain.”

New York Independent System Operator said in a news release on Feb. 28 that it is “essential” to “have clarity on this issue,” but declined to elaborate.

Ontario and Quebec are the Canadian provinces that export the most electricity to the US. On Monday, Ontario will add a 25% surcharge on its power exports to Minnesota, Michigan and New York in response to Trump’s tariffs. “It really bothers me that we have to do this,” Doug Ford, leader of Ontario, said on CNN Thursday.

It’s unclear if Ford’s decision will affect the states’ power supplies. Prices on the US electricity spot markets, the exchanges where the provinces sell their power, are based on short-term supply and demand.

Quebec, which sends power to New England and New York, hasn’t yet retaliated. “It’s far from evident how that works,” Hydro-Quebec’s Chief Executive Officer, Michael Sabia, told reporters last month. “If you come in at a price that is 10% or 15% higher, the market is just going to stay at whatever the spot market price is.”

--With assistance from Josh Saul.

©2025 Bloomberg L.P.

This has the potential to get nasty very quickly.

What happens if the company managing the grid goes bankrupt ?

Is the Trump administration capable of producing the specific instructions that they require ?

[Raw Shark]

This has the potential to get nasty very quickly.

What happens if the company managing the grid goes bankrupt ?

Is the Trump administration capable of producing the specific instructions that they require ?

Of course not. Donny Jingles is operating in the mode of, "If I don't do what Vlad says he'll release the Epstein house video where I fucked a ten-year-old." Nothing else matters to his bloated, dead heart.

[Zaune]

But my Senators and Representatives have stopped taking calls. Fuckin' GOP.

Write down what you want to say on paper and wrap it around a brick.

[Solauren]

But my Senators and Representatives have stopped taking calls. Fuckin' GOP.

Write down what you want to say on paper and wrap it around a brick.

Or, if you want to do something a bit more legally, flood their facebook and other social media with it, maybe print up fliers to put up near their offices.

But make the bricks, just in case.

[EnterpriseSovereign]

But my Senators and Representatives have stopped taking calls. Fuckin' GOP.

Write down what you want to say on paper and wrap it around a brick.

Or, if you want to do something a bit more legally, flood their facebook and other social media with it, maybe print up fliers to put up near their offices.

But make the bricks, just in case.

And wrap the flyers round the bricks

[bilateralrope]

Carve the message into the bricks. That way it's still readable even if someone spills a coloured fluid on it.

[Solauren]

Carve the message into the bricks. That way it's still readable even if someone spills a coloured fluid on it.

I wonder how much bus ads and billboards cost?

[EnterpriseSovereign]

Carve the message into the bricks. That way it's still readable even if someone spills a coloured fluid on it.

I wonder how much bus ads and billboards cost?

More than bricks Probably take less time than carving them if it's a long message

[LadyTevar]

US Secret Service Shoots Armed Man near White House

The US Secret Service shot a man outside the White House early on Sunday after an "armed confrontation", the service said in a statement.

It had earlier received a tip-off from local police about a "suicidal individual who may be travelling to Washington DC from Indiana", it said.

Its officers approached a man matching that description, "who brandished a firearm", adding that shots were fired. The man is now in hospital in an "unknown" condition, it said.

President Donald Trump was not in the White House at the time, as he is spending the weekend at his Florida residence, Mar-a-Lago.

"As officers approached, the individual brandished a firearm and an armed confrontation ensued, during which shots were fired by our personnel," the statement said.

The incident is now under investigation by Washington's Metropolitan Police, which investigates all law-enforcement shootings in the District of Columbia.

Suicidal Man with Gun tries to take Trump with him as he goes for Suicide by Cop?
Either way, looks like he didn't get the job done. Hope he gets some mental care.

[EnterpriseSovereign]

Trump considers pulling troops out of Germany

Donald Trump is considering pulling US troops from Germany and redeploying them to Eastern Europe, The Telegraph can reveal.

Mr Trump is weighing up withdrawing some 35,000 active personnel out of Germany in a move that would further sour US-Europe relations.

The US president, who has repeatedly warned that Europe must commit more to its defensive capabilities, is becoming increasingly frustrated that the continent is “pushing for war”, sources close to the administration said.

Around 160,000 active-duty personnel are stationed outside of the United States, a vast quantity of whom are in Germany.

“Trump is angry that they [Europe] appear to be pushing for war,” a source close to the White House said.

Brian Hughes, a US national security spokesman, said: “While no specific announcement is imminent, the US military is always considering the redeployment of troops around the world to best address current threats to our interests.”

The Telegraph understands that the president is considering redeploying troops from Germany to Hungary, which has maintained a close relationship with Russia.

At an emergency EU summit in Brussels on Thursday, Viktor Orbán, the Hungarian prime minister, vetoed a commitment to bolster support for Ukraine which was signed by all other member states.

Mr Orbán has maintained a relatively close relationship with Russia, often opposing EU sanctions on Moscow.

Mr Trump is said to be considering repositioning some US troops in Europe so they are focused around NATO countries that have upped their defence spending to meet GDP targets.

It is part of plans by the administration to redraw NATO engagement in a way that favours member countries with higher defence spending.

Mr Trump has repeatedly criticised NATO countries for not meeting the current two per cent spending goal, arguing that the disparity puts an unfair burden on the United States.

On Thursday, he suggested the US may not defend NATO allies who do not meet his spending targets as part of a major shake-up of the alliance.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, he said: “When I came to NATO, when I first had my first meeting, I noticed that people weren’t paying their bills at all, and I said I should wait till my second meeting.

“And I did. And I brought that up, and I said, ‘if you don’t pay your bills, we’re not going to participate. We’re not going to protect you.’

During his first term, Mr Trump ordered the withdrawal of almost 12,000 troops from Germany, where the US had several major military facilities including Ramstein Air Base, the headquarters for US European Command.

But the move was halted by Joe Biden amid widespread criticism from Congress.

Earlier this week, the two political parties expected to form the next German government agreed to loosen the country’s constitution restrictions on borrowing, enabling one trillion euros ($1.08 trillion) in spending on defence and infrastructure.

It is a major change in Germany’s debt-averse political culture, rejecting conventional economic wisdom that long dominated Europe’s biggest economy and one of the world’s wealthiest countries.

Fears that the US would pull its troops from the continent have been brewing for some time.

Ahead of the Munich Security Conference, head Christoph Heusgen said: “The US will likely announce a massive withdrawal of American soldiers from Europe.”

JD Vance, the vice-president, has floated the idea that America could reconsider its military presence in Germany, tying continued American defence commitments to Berlin’s stance on free speech.

Speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington last month, he said: “Germany’s entire defence is subsidised by the American taxpayer. There are thousands upon thousands of American troops in Germany today. Do you think that the American taxpayer is going to stand for that if you get thrown in jail in Germany for posting a mean tweet? Of course, they’re not.”

In January, it was reported that the president wants to reduce the American contingent in Europe by 20 per cent and plans to ask for a “financial contribution” for the maintenance of the remaining troops.

Europe, which has long feared that Mr Trump might cut them adrift, launched a day of emergency talks on Thursday in a bid to beef up their own security.

Twenty countries could join Sir Keir Starmer’s plan to deploy peacekeeping troops to Ukraine as part of a post-war settlement.

British officials said the group of countries, made up “largely of European and commonwealth partners”, held a fresh round of talks over the strategy.

Britain and France are leading efforts to form a so-called “coalition of the willing” prepared to put boots on the ground to uphold any agreement to end the three-year war between Russia and Ukraine.

The Prime Minister and Emmanuel Macron, the French president, on Friday night spoke to “compare notes” on their work to get a lasting peace in Ukraine, Downing Street said.

In Brussels, European leaders pressed ahead with their support for Ukraine despite Hungary’s veto.

“Achieving ‘peace through strength’ requires Ukraine to be in the strongest possible position, with Ukraine’s own robust military and defence capabilities as an essential component,” a joint statement said.

“The European Union remains committed, in coordination with like-minded partners and allies, to providing enhanced political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support to Ukraine and its people.”

I'm not sure what transferring troops from Germany to Hungary is going to accomplish?

[Zaune]

Suicidal Man with Gun tries to take Trump with him as he goes for Suicide by Cop?
Either way, looks like he didn't get the job done. Hope he gets some mental care.

And that Trump doesn't issue an Executive Order that he be put to death, because that seems like the sort of thing he would do right now.

[Grand Moff Yenchin]

Those who control the present, control the past and those who control the past control the future.

The news website has embedded examples of the situation.

Trumpers have been complaining about "Cancel Culture" for years. I guess it isn't cancel culture as long as they do it themselves.


War heroes and military firsts are among 26,000 images flagged for removal in Pentagon’s DEI purge

WASHINGTON (AP) — References to a World War II Medal of Honor recipient, the Enola Gay aircraft that dropped an atomic bomb on Japan and the first women to pass Marine infantry training are among the tens of thousands of photos and online posts marked for deletion as the Defense Department works to purge diversity, equity and inclusion content, according to a database obtained by The Associated Press.

The database, which was confirmed by U.S. officials and published by AP, includes more than 26,000 images that have been flagged for removal across every military branch. But the eventual total could be much higher.

One official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to provide details that have not been made public, said the purge could delete as many as 100,000 images or posts in total, when considering social media pages and other websites that are also being culled for DEI content. The official said it’s not clear if the database has been finalized.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had given the military until Wednesday to remove content that highlights diversity efforts in its ranks following President Donald Trump’s executive order ending those programs across the federal government.

The vast majority of the Pentagon purge targets women and minorities, including notable milestones made in the military. And it also removes a large number of posts that mention various commemorative months — such as those for Black and Hispanic people and women.

But a review of the database also underscores the confusion that has swirled among agencies about what to remove following Trump’s order.

Aircraft and fish projects are flagged

In some cases, photos seemed to be flagged for removal simply because their file included the word ”gay,” including service members with that last name and an image of the B-29 aircraft Enola Gay, which dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, during World War II.

Several photos of an Army Corps of Engineers dredging project in California were marked for deletion, apparently because a local engineer in the photo had the last name Gay. And a photo of Army Corps biologists was on the list, seemingly because it mentioned they were recording data about fish — including their weight, size, hatchery and gender.

In addition, some photos of the Tuskegee Airmen, the nation’s first Black military pilots who served in a segregated WWII unit, were listed on the database, but those may likely be protected due to historical content.

The Air Force briefly removed new recruit training courses that included videos of the Tuskegee Airmen soon after Trump’s order. That drew the White House’s ire over “malicious compliance,” and the Air Force quickly reversed the removal.

Many of the images listed in the database already have been removed. Others were still visible Thursday, and it’s not clear if they will be taken down at some point or be allowed to stay, including images with historical significance such as those of the Tuskegee Airmen.

Asked about the database, Pentagon spokesman John Ullyot said in a statement, “We are pleased by the rapid compliance across the Department with the directive removing DEI content from all platforms. In the rare cases that content is removed that is out of the clearly outlined scope of the directive, we instruct components accordingly.”

He noted that Hegseth has declared that “DEI is dead” and that efforts to put one group ahead of another through DEI programs erodes camaraderie and threatens mission execution.

Some images aren’t gone

In some cases, the removal was partial. The main page in a post titled “Women’s History Month: All-female crew supports warfighters” was removed. But at least one of the photos in that collection about an all-female C-17 crew could still be accessed. A shot from the Army Corps of Engineers titled “Engineering pioneer remembered during Black History Month” was deleted.

Other photos flagged in the database but still visible Thursday included images of the World War II Women Air Service Pilots and one of U.S. Air Force Col. Jeannie Leavitt, the country’s first female fighter pilot.

Also still visible was an image of then-Pfc. Christina Fuentes Montenegro becoming one of the first three women to graduate from the Marine Corps’ Infantry Training Battalion and an image of Marine Corps World War II Medal of Honor recipient Pfc. Harold Gonsalves.

It was unclear why some other images were removed, such as a Marine Corps photo titled “Deadlift contenders raise the bar pound by pound” or a National Guard website image called “Minnesota brothers reunite in Kuwait.”

Why the database?

The database of the 26,000 images was created to conform with federal archival laws, so if the services are queried in the future, they can show how they are complying with the law, the U.S. official said. But it may be difficult to ensure the content was archived because the responsibility to ensure each image was preserved was the responsibility of each individual unit.
In many cases, workers are taking screenshots of the pages marked for removal, but it would be difficult to restore them if that decision was made, according to another official, who like the others spoke on the condition of anonymity to provide additional details that were not public.

A Marine Corps official said every one of its images in the database “either has been taken down or will be taken down.” The Marines are moving on the directive as fast as possible, but as with the rest of the military, very few civilian or contractor employees at the Pentagon can perform content removal, the official said.

In the Marine Corps, just one defense civilian is available to do the work. The Marine Corps estimates that person has identified at least 10,000 images and stories for removal online, and after further review, 3,600 of those have been removed. The total does not count more than 1,600 social media sites that have not yet been addressed.

Many of those social media sites were military base or unit support groups created years ago and left idle. No one still has the administrative privileges to go in and change the content.

The Marine official said the service is going through each site and getting new administrative privileges so it can make the changes.

On Feb. 26, the Pentagon ordered all the military services to spend countless hours poring over years of website postings, photos, news articles and videos to remove any mentions that “promote diversity, equity and inclusion.”

If they couldn’t do that by Wednesday, they were told to “temporarily remove from public display” all content published during the Biden administration’s four years in office.

[Solauren]

As a programmer and database designer, it almost sounds to me like someone just filtered for certain keywords without looking at historical context.