this post was submitted on 24 Mar 2026
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politics

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[–] quick_snail@feddit.nl 31 points 2 days ago (1 children)

No. You cannot get back the data they stole. The harm was done.

[–] partofthevoice@lemmy.zip 5 points 2 days ago (1 children)

That data is still valuable. Best case scenario would be that we invalidate all of it before its natural expiration date. That’s probably closer to impossible than any sense of practical, but certainly not unachievable by a rightly motivated party. It could start with finally replacing the social security system as some weird form of identity password.

[–] quick_snail@feddit.nl 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)
[–] partofthevoice@lemmy.zip 2 points 2 days ago

They don’t call you quick_snail for nothing.

[–] knobbysideup@sh.itjust.works 137 points 3 days ago (2 children)

The work was to steal information and cripple agencies getting in the way of musks businesses. You aren't undoing that. People need to be in prison or executed.

[–] dylanmorgan@slrpnk.net 31 points 2 days ago

Even if every penny of funding was restored and every person rehired, the damage is done and will affect the US for a long time.

[–] phutatorius@lemmy.zip 9 points 3 days ago (1 children)

That's not a likely outcome, at least with the formal system of justice.

[–] trackball_fetish@lemmy.wtf 6 points 2 days ago

Eventually people will realize there is no formal system of justice anymore

[–] SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca 12 points 2 days ago

the damage was done and can't be reversed. See the La Guardia crash.

[–] 14th_cylon@lemmy.zip 86 points 3 days ago (1 children)

i think that the biggest "win" for musk was the chance to steal all that data and that definitely cannot be undone...

[–] Typhoon@lemmy.ca 31 points 3 days ago (1 children)

More importantly to install monitoring software and backdoors.

[–] 14th_cylon@lemmy.zip 12 points 3 days ago (1 children)

that can be undone, unlike the stolen data, which are never coming back...

[–] stringere@sh.itjust.works 3 points 2 days ago

So we just get new data, duh. Or make him give it back.

~/s~

[–] CharlesDarwin@lemmy.world 10 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Doubtful. It might be possible to start rolling some things back, but they've already been able to kill people. Can't unring that bell.

Lots and lots of their stupid actions that didn't result in death will take decades to repair, if ever.

[–] Treczoks@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago

Except for the leaks of private and confidential data and the wholesale destruction of formerly working structures.

[–] kmartburrito@lemmy.world 53 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Unfortunately the damage done can't be reversed, even if the 'work' can.

[–] cheat700000007@lemmy.world 16 points 3 days ago (2 children)

Yeah good luck getting all the people back, if they even want to

[–] grue@lemmy.world 18 points 3 days ago

The loss of institutional knowledge is only part of the damage, and arguably not even the worst part.

[–] Burninator05@lemmy.world 8 points 3 days ago (1 children)

If all of the agencies poofed back into existance tomorrow with all the same workers and resources, it will take decades to unfuck the credibility damage he has done.

Honestly, the world that MAGA feared was the one the ushered in with applause.

[–] CharlesDarwin@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago

Honestly, the world that MAGA feared was the one the ushered in with applause.

Always was. Many of them sit around fearful of government overreach and civil war, etc., and yet nearly everything they do helps enable both of those scenarios.

[–] trackball_fetish@lemmy.wtf 23 points 2 days ago

It really can't but nice wishful thinking. Stolen data on every citizen doesn't get unstolen. Just like the infrastructure doesn't get magically re-utilized, you have to start from scratch as its compromised.

[–] jacksilver@lemmy.world 4 points 2 days ago (1 children)

It would be nice to see someone face some consequences, but this is just a step towards correcting the country and can not undo the damages dealt by this administration.

Even with concerted efforts to rebuild, it will take decades to undo the damages.

[–] HubertManne@piefed.social 1 points 2 days ago

this administration would be spectacular if their role was to advise and the people taking the advice were told to treat it as the exact opposite.

[–] zod000@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 2 days ago

I don't think they can resurrect the people that have died because of their USAID cuts nor can get un-steal all the data.