Tribe-owned company's USAID contracts among those axed by DOGE
Mashantucket — Two contracts a Mashantucket Pequot-owned company had with the U.S. Agency for International Development are among the thousands of government contracts the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, has terminated.
The contracts, which had been held by CeLeen LLC, an information technology company, totaled $106.7 million. They were canceled last month.
'We did have contracts terminated 'for convenience' — the government's convenience,' said Jon Panamaroff, chief executive officer of Command Holdings, the tribal holding company that acquired CeLeen in 2021. 'We're trying to be tight-lipped about this,' he said, declining to discuss details of the contracts or DOGE.
'Contracts come, contracts go,' Panamaroff said. 'We had diversified well in both the commercial and private sectors. We have other contracts ... and we want to do more business with the government.'
CeLeen offers a variety of IT and professional services.
One of the canceled contracts had a total value of $82.4 million and was for 'institutional support services for USAID/OTI operations and programs.' OTI refers to USAID's Office of Transition Initiative, which 'focuses on supporting political transitions and stabilization efforts in response to political crises,' according to a description on the website HigherGov.com, which tracks the government contracting and grant markets.
CeLeen's other canceled contract, with a total value of about $24.3 million, was for 'administrative and technical support for DRG (democracy, human rights and governance) offices and projects.'
The Mashantuckets, owners of Foxwoods Resort Casino, launched Command Holdings amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused the casino to close for 11 weeks in 2020 and focused the tribe's attention on its need to diversify.
'We're here to build a network of companies involved in federal and private, commercial contracting,' Panamaroff said at the time. 'The federal government sends out billions of dollars worth of business to companies, and tribes have the ability to participate in that marketplace.'
Command Holdings also acquired Washington, D.C.-based Quattro Publishing in 2021 and the next year added WWC Global, a woman-owned consulting firm. WWC's clients included the Departments of Defense, State and Homeland Security as well as USAID. Command also owns Copperhead Technologies, a computer programming and systems design company.
On Friday, DOGE's website said the agency has so far terminated 5,634 contracts, generating about $20 billion in savings.
b.hallenbeck@theday.com
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Donald Trump Reveals What's Next For That Tesla He Bought From Elon Musk
Donald Trump on Monday addressed a question that's been on many people's minds ever since the president's spectacular blow-out with former so-called 'First Buddy' Elon Musk last week. Namely, what will happen to the red Tesla model S that Trump bought during a White House event in March to promote Musk's electric vehicle brand amid backlash to the billionaire's now-ended role leading the public spending-slashing, unofficial Department of Government Efficiency. 'Are you going to get rid of the Tesla and the Starlink system that you have here at the White House?' Trump was asked by a reporter. 'No, I haven't heard that,' the president replied. 'I mean, I may move the Tesla around a little bit but I don't think we'll be doing that with Starlink, it's a good service,' he added, the latter being Musk's satellite internet service. The journalist pressed Trump on the Tesla: 'Where are you going to move it to? Move it around? What do you mean?' Trump replied: 'I have a lot of locations. I've got so many locations I don't know what to do with them all.' Watch the exchange here: Earlier this month, a White House official had claimed that Trump would sell or give away the car. Karoline Leavitt Squirms Over Maria Bartiromo's Blunt Question About Elon Musk Trump Accused Of Inciting Violence With Chilling New Rhyme Mike Johnson Offers Bizarre Justification For ICE Masks. Backlash Follows. George Clooney Reveals The 1 Line He Used To Silence Protesters During Broadway Play
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Readers sound off on the Trump/Musk rift, anti-ICE protests and Diddy's abuse
Dartmouth, Mass.: Being the richest man in the world does not appear sufficiently ego-gratifying for Elon Musk. Observing his recent involvement with the Trump administration, with his destructive actions leading the DOGE crusade to disrupt or destroy American governance, one wonders what his motivation is. Is it financial gain, media attention or a quest for power? Or is it a grand plan conceived by a man with a deep psychological disorder? Musk's recent severe criticism of President Trump's legislative agenda is perhaps the first salvo in his plan to save America from the conflagration he ignited and helped enlarge. Is the grand scheme to now be the white knight who comes to the rescue and douses the flames, thereby becoming the hero who saved America? The legislative and judicial branches of government have either enabled, been enriched by or ignored the destruction occurring to American democracy. Musk can now assume the role of hero by utilizing his enormous resources to defeat Trump's agenda by threatening to 'out-primary' any Republican legislators who continue to support the president. Trump has certainly provided a roadmap by imposing or threatening tariffs, or defunding and then dowsing the flames with a change of course, thus appearing as though he's coming to the rescue of America. Musk has far more personal resources and grasp of political strategy than Trump, and may have greater aspirations as he interjects himself into the politics of Brazil, Germany and the United States. Betty Ussach Glendale: From the ancient text 'The Art of War' by Sun Tzu, it is said, 'All war is based on deception.' The same applies to the accusations of division now viewed as front-page news regarding Trump versus Musk. Such antics create a storyline that hurts people. Also stated in the book: 'There's no instance of a nation benefiting from prolonged warfare.' Our country is experiencing a period of adjustment whereby deception has been made to separate us. The lesson from the book stipulates, 'There are times when you have to forgive your enemies and love them as your own.' Hatred never ends if people embrace only what makes them comfortable. Jonathan Kiddrane Brooklyn: Let me get this straight. TACO man sits on his hands when his criminal cultists storm the Capitol, but he unleashes the National Guard on peaceful protesters? When is this madness going to end? Don't tell me America is not in the midst of a constitutional crisis. June Lowe Staatsburg, N.Y.: Trump deploys the National Guard for individuals who are protesting in Los Angeles. Rioters attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6 and the National Guard was not deployed, then the rioters were pardoned. What's wrong with this picture? I really hope no one tries to explain this to me, because it's obvious that this so-called president has no idea how to run this joke of a country that the United States has become. Glenn Marowitz Manhattan: Joe Biden thought he needed woke approval to be reelected. Woke devotees created sanctuary cities and no immigrants could be deported. That and no bail for repeat criminals was the end for Biden and the Dems. They would not allow the bad apples to be vetted and deported. Trump had a royal straight flush in this game of hold 'em. An inexperienced Vice President Kamala Harris only added to the pot. Trump got elected and decided to deport everyone. All those righteous people are now thrown in with the criminals. These uprisings in California are just the beginning. We will soon see violent terrorist operations carried out secretly. People like AOC and City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams are responsible. Fascist Trump is smiling and licking his lips as if he just had a jelly donut. There are no strong Dems to counteract him. We are in big trouble. Michael Malewich Avon-by-the-Sea, N.J.: There were a few letters in yesterday's edition questioning why ICE agents cover their faces. Simple answer: Same reason the protesters do — to avoid discovery. Protesters want to evade arrest and prosecution. ICE agents want to protect their families and selves from retaliation. The liberal justice system would most likely free the criminals while ICE agents face physical retaliation. Robert Stiloski Bronx: Where is the outcry from the left demanding that protesters remove their masks? More importantly, where is their condemnation of the violence and destruction taking place? Those who take part in destructive mobs should be held accountable and required to pay for any damages caused. Even a simple act of assault or resistance against a federal officer can carry up to a year in jail. Enforcing the law consistently is essential to stopping this wave of violence. Al D'Angelo Smithtown, L.I.: Voicer Katherine Raymond agrees with democratic-socialist ideas such as taxing the rich but, like almost all liberals, 'the rich' are anyone making more than her. She shows her hand by questioning how anyone can think a household income of $1 million qualifies as rich. Is she kidding or is this a misprint? Andrew Ross Bronx: As a 48-year Belmont/Little Italy resident, community advocate and 37-year NYC Board of Education/Department of Education educator and parent, it has become abundantly clear that neither Rafael Moure-Punnett, the rest of Bronx Community Board 6, The Belmont BID or, as of yet, any of our local politicians have shown a genuine or active interest in the safety and wellbeing of the children, teenagers or families in our neighborhood in regard to the completely unchecked speeding that has been going on for more than a decade one block from our local elementary, middle and high schools. Despite the Department of Transportation claiming to have done a study in this area, one of their representatives would not provide the time or date they did so, yet insisted that their conclusion had been there was no need for a traffic light on the corner of this highly dangerous intersection. Jeff Vargon Peekskill, N.Y.: To Voicer John Weiss: Wrong you are! On page 24 in Friday's Daily News, there was an article on the 81st anniversary of that momentous day ('WWII vets are still toast of Normandy even 81 years later,' June 6)! I guess it appeared in my paper and no one else's. Steven Bevacqua Pleasantville, N.Y.: To Voicer Nick Smith: My letter wasn't saying that criticism of Israel is always antisemitic, it was more about why Israel is the only country heavily criticized for fighting terrorism. Every year, when Yom Haatzmaut, which is known as Israeli Independence Day, and the Salute to Israel Parade come up, I always hear a bunch of anti-Israel fanatics calling it Nakba Day as an insult. Had the Arabs just accepted the UN Partition Plan back in 1947 rather than attack the Jews that day, there wouldn't be such issues now. As for me living where I do, it was because my father had a major job transfer when I was an infant that brought my family here. If you really believe in giving land back to indigenous groups, then give your property to the Native American tribe that originally lived there. Tal Barzilai Staten Island: So far, everything I have read or seen about Sean 'Diddy' Combs shows that he is rich, controlling and a bully. No matter what, people's lives have been ruined. I hope he can't buy his way out of this. Thomas Bell Bronx: To Voicer Stephanie Revander: You do not disagree with what I said, but how I said it. I could have made my point and saved four words by leaving out 'run-of-the-mill.' In retrospect, I should have stated that while some rapists can be reformed, that does not include those who brutally beat and/or choke their victims unconscious. They should serve life. Richard Warren
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
United Airlines disables Starlink on jets after cockpit-radio disruptions
The Brief United Airlines grounded Starlink WiFi on Embraer E175 jets due to cockpit radio interference. Pilots reported static while communicating with air traffic control after Starlink antennae were installed. United and SpaceX say the issue is minor and expect service to resume after testing. LOS ANGELES - Pilots aboard some United Airlines regional jets experienced a surprising form of turbulence recently — radio static tied to Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet system. According to a report from The Wall Street Journal, United has temporarily disabled Starlink-powered Wi-Fi on its Embraer E175 aircraft after pilots experienced interference while communicating with air traffic control. Though the airline says the issue was not considered a safety risk, the static was traced back to newly installed Starlink antennae. United is now working with SpaceX to investigate and resolve the issue, which may delay the rollout of the high-speed satellite internet system on more aircraft. What we know Initial findings offer a limited but telling view of the issue, which appears to be directly tied to Starlink's recent onboard installation and its interaction with cockpit radio systems. Roughly two dozen United Embraer E175 jets had been outfitted with Starlink equipment. Pilots began experiencing static during radio transmissions, prompting a pause in service. United issued a statement calling the issue "fairly common" with new Wi-Fi installations. The Points Guy first reported the shutdown, citing internal memos and a public statement. Starlink service remains suspended on the affected aircraft as tests continue. What we don't know Despite the swift pause in service, key questions remain about the scope of the interference and whether it could pose broader challenges as Starlink expands in commercial aviation. Whether the static interference could escalate under different flight conditions. How quickly the issue can be resolved and Starlink Wi-Fi restored. Whether other airlines using Starlink have experienced similar communication issues. The backstory Starlink, the satellite internet provider owned by Elon Musk's SpaceX, has rapidly expanded its presence in commercial aviation, marketing itself as a faster, more consistent alternative to traditional inflight Wi-Fi systems. The company has already signed deals with several airlines and boasts global coverage through its low-Earth orbit satellite network. But its rollout hasn't been entirely smooth. While high-speed connections are appealing to travelers, compatibility with sensitive cockpit electronics is now under scrutiny after this United incident. What they're saying "United and Starlink teams are working together to address a small number of reports of static interference during the operation of the Wi-Fi system," the airline said in a statement published by The Points Guy. "This is fairly common with any new airline Wi-Fi provider. We expect the service to be back up and running on these aircraft soon." Neither the FAA nor SpaceX has commented publicly on the issue, though both are expected to weigh in if additional safety testing is required. Big picture view This isn't just about in-flight Wi-Fi. The incident highlights how deeply Elon Musk's businesses are embedded in critical infrastructure — from internet satellites to rockets transporting astronauts to the ISS. It also comes at a time when confidence in air travel safety is already shaky due to aircraft malfunctions and staffing shortages in U.S. aviation. What's next United and SpaceX are expected to release an update after reviewing the interference issue. In the meantime, the airline has halted the Starlink rollout on additional aircraft. If the problem persists, it could spark wider industry concern — not only about in-flight internet safety, but about how much of the travel and tech ecosystem now depends on Musk's companies. The Source This report draws primarily from The Wall Street Journal, which first linked Starlink equipment to radio interference aboard United regional jets. Additional details were provided by The Points Guy, which obtained and published United Airlines' public statement. No FAA or SpaceX statements have been issued as of publication.
