Rapid Unscheduled Disassembly

Created
Sun, 09/03/2025 - 02:30
Updated
Sun, 09/03/2025 - 02:30
Coming soon to a federal agency serving you An “important safety recall” on my car arrived via U.S. Mail the other day. The notice arrived, it said, “in accordance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act” (NHTSA, passed in 1966). A wiring issue could cause “the unintentional deployment of the airbag(s).” Dealers will fix the defect at no cost. It’s the newest car I’ve ever owned and my first recall. Your recall mileage may vary. Literally. The notice is required under Sec. 113 of NHTSA: Yup, that’s pretty much what arrived in the mail (not from Tesla). But it got me thinking. NHTSA is now administered by Donald Trump Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. He got into a little Cabinet Room dustup this week with Elon Musk, he of reusable self-parking rocket booster and “rapid unscheduled disassembly” fame. With his youthful but inexperienced DOGE saboteurs, Musk is bringing his cutting-edge, rapid unscheduled disassembly technology to bear on a government agency serving you. For example, the one required by law to set safety standards for motor vehicles and ensure I got the recall notice that was dropped into my mailbox by a union mail carrier. The New York Times reported on the cabinet meeting here (gift link): At least two secretaries aired their grievances about Musk and engaged in heated clashes with the billionaire. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was particularly incensed. After Musk accused him of failing to slash his staff, Rubio accused Musk of not…