Elon Musk publicized the names of government employees he wants to cut. It’s terrifying federal workers

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So apparently the goal isn't just to cut out waste and save money, it's also to intimidate and terrify other people, in this case the federal workforce. Sadly, this is not news to me.

https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/27/busi...ex.html?iid=cnn_buildContentRecirc_end_recirc

CNN —​
When President-elect Donald Trump said Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy would recommend major cuts to the federal government in his administration, many public employees knew that their jobs could be on the line.​
Now they have a new fear: becoming the personal targets of the world’s richest man – and his legions of followers.​
Last week, in the midst of the flurry of his daily missives, Musk reposted two X posts that revealed the names and titles of people holding four relatively obscure climate-related government positions. Each post has been viewed tens of millions of times, and the individuals named have been subjected to a barrage of negative attention. At least one of the four women named has deleted her social media accounts.​
Although the information he posted on those government positions is available through public online databases, these posts target otherwise unknown government employees in roles that do not deal directly with the public.​

Several current federal employees told CNN they’re afraid their lives will be forever changed – including physically threatened – as Musk makes behind-the-scenes bureaucrats into personal targets. Others told CNN that the threat of being in Musk’s crosshairs might even drive them from their jobs entirely – achieving Musk’s smaller government goals without so much as a proper review.​
“These tactics are aimed at sowing terror and fear at federal employees,” said Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, which represents more than 800,000 of the 2.3 million civilian federal employees. “It’s intended to make them fearful that they will become afraid to speak up.”​
This isn’t new behavior for Musk, who has often singled out individuals who he claims have made mistakes or stand in his way. One former federal employee, previously targeted by Musk, said she experienced something very similar.​
“It’s his way of intimidating people to either quit or also send a signal to all the other agencies that ‘you’re next’,” said Mary “Missy” Cummings, an engineering and computer science professor at George Mason University, who drew Musk’s ire because of her criticisms of Tesla when she was at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.​

Going dark after attacks​

Last week Musk reposted an account with the handle Fentasyl and the name “Datahazard,” which describes itself as “Unincorporated Think Tank ~~ Focus: Govt Efficiency, Civil Rights, Victim Advocacy.”​
One of the posts reads: “I don’t think the US taxpayers should pay for the employment of a ’Director of Climate Diversification (she/her)’ at the US International Development Finance Corporation,” with a partial screengrab of an employee and her location.​
Musk, who called himself “super pro climate” in an X post last year, reposted and commented: “So many fake jobs.” The post has received more than 33 million views and a storm of negative comments. Some called the role a “fraud job” and others demanded Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency cut jobs like it. One user commented: “Gravy train is over.”​
It appears the woman Musk targeted has since gone dark on social media, shutting down her accounts. The agency, the US International Development Finance Corporation, says it supports investment in climate mitigation, resilience and adaptation in low-income countries experiencing the most devastating effects of climate change. A DFC official said the agency does not comment on individual personnel positions or matters.​
Related articleRemote work crackdown: How Trump’s DOGE could push federal workers to quit​

Musk also called out the Department of Energy’s chief climate officer in its loan programs office. The office funds fledgling energy technologies in need of early investment and awarded $465 million to Tesla Motors in 2010, helping to position Musk’s electric vehicle company as an EV industry leader. The chief climate officer works across agencies to “reduce barriers and enable clean energy deployment” according to her online bio.​
Another woman, who serves as senior advisor on environmental justice and climate change at the Department of Health and Human Services, was another Musk target. HHS focuses on protecting the public health from pollution and other environmental hazards, especially in low-income communities and communities of color that are experiencing a higher share of exposures and impacts. The office first launched at Health and Human Services under the Biden administration in 2022.​
A senior adviser to climate at the Department of Housing and Urban Development was also singled out. The original X post said the woman “should not be paid $181,648.00 by the US taxpayer to be the ‘Climate advisor’ at HUD.” Musk reposted with the comment: “But maybe her advice is amazing.” Followed by two laughing emojis.​
CNN reached out to all four federal employees who either declined comment or were unable to be reached. CNN also reached out to HHS, DOE and HUD for comment.​
X did not respond to an email seeking comment.​
The AFGE public union pointed out that as a federal contractor, Musk himself has benefited from government programs, with $750 billion per year spent on federal contractors compared to about $200 billion for the civilian federal workforce. “We are a comparative steal, and we want to help clean it up too,” Kelley said.​

Putting people in harm’s way​

Musk has done this kind of thing before – and it’s led to real danger for the people named.​
Missy Cummings angered Musk when she was appointed a senior advisor at the NHTSA because her research and public comments were critical of Tesla’s driver-assist programs and she had called for regulating the systems.​
Musk targeted Cummings on what was then called Twitter, and his legions of fans followed.​
In an interview, Cummings said she received a torrent of attacks, including death threats, and had to temporarily relocate before she eventually moved.​
Cummings said she already knows of federal employees who “have dedicated their lives to civil service,” already quitting their jobs in anticipation of what’s to come.​
“He intended for them, for people just like this, to be intimidated and just go ahead and quit so he didn’t have to fire them. So his plan, to some extent, is working,” she said.​
CNN reached out to multiple experts and academics who specialize in cyber harassment, doxing and online abuse. But several declined to comment on the record for fear of themselves becoming Musk’s targets.​
“What has happened has an incredible and horrific chilling effect,” one of them said.​
Another said they are “not surprised” with Musk’s re-posts, adding they are an example of a “classic pattern” of cyber harassment.​
What do you think?2.3K comments have been posted​
Ramaswamy did not directly respond to questions about singling out individual federal employees but told CNN: “Most federal employees, like most human beings, are fundamentally good people and deserve to be treated with respect, but the real problem is the bureaucracy.”​
“Our opponent is not any particular individual. Our opponent is the bureaucracy,” he added.​
In a follow-up post, the Fentasyl account, which itself is anonymous, wrote: “It goes without saying that you should not harass someone solely because they hold a senior government plum job that should probably not exist,” the account posted. “But senior government officials are not mere rank-and-file employees. We deserve to know who is running our government & what they do.”​
Cummings, who was also one of the first female fighter pilots in the US Navy, said she felt an obligation to speak out.​
“Somebody has got to speak out,” she said. “I’m just not going to let him win on this point.”
 
We get it. Layoffs are never fun, but most people in private industry have gone through at least one - and through no fault of their own - when the outfit they work for is operating in the red.

And Musk isn’t targeting PEOPLE. He is targeting roles that can be eliminated, with the work farmed out among others who remain. And from what I understand, they are talking about a generous termination offer.

They need to start getting their resumes out. It’s very possible that if they find a new job within several months, they will be better off when you factor in the severance money.
 
So apparently the goal isn't just to cut out waste and save money, it's also to intimidate and terrify other people, in this case the federal workforce. Sadly, this is not news to me.

https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/27/busi...ex.html?iid=cnn_buildContentRecirc_end_recirc

CNN —​
When President-elect Donald Trump said Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy would recommend major cuts to the federal government in his administration, many public employees knew that their jobs could be on the line.​
Now they have a new fear: becoming the personal targets of the world’s richest man – and his legions of followers.​
Last week, in the midst of the flurry of his daily missives, Musk reposted two X posts that revealed the names and titles of people holding four relatively obscure climate-related government positions. Each post has been viewed tens of millions of times, and the individuals named have been subjected to a barrage of negative attention. At least one of the four women named has deleted her social media accounts.​
Although the information he posted on those government positions is available through public online databases, these posts target otherwise unknown government employees in roles that do not deal directly with the public.​

Several current federal employees told CNN they’re afraid their lives will be forever changed – including physically threatened – as Musk makes behind-the-scenes bureaucrats into personal targets. Others told CNN that the threat of being in Musk’s crosshairs might even drive them from their jobs entirely – achieving Musk’s smaller government goals without so much as a proper review.​
“These tactics are aimed at sowing terror and fear at federal employees,” said Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, which represents more than 800,000 of the 2.3 million civilian federal employees. “It’s intended to make them fearful that they will become afraid to speak up.”​
This isn’t new behavior for Musk, who has often singled out individuals who he claims have made mistakes or stand in his way. One former federal employee, previously targeted by Musk, said she experienced something very similar.​
“It’s his way of intimidating people to either quit or also send a signal to all the other agencies that ‘you’re next’,” said Mary “Missy” Cummings, an engineering and computer science professor at George Mason University, who drew Musk’s ire because of her criticisms of Tesla when she was at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.​

Going dark after attacks​

Last week Musk reposted an account with the handle Fentasyl and the name “Datahazard,” which describes itself as “Unincorporated Think Tank ~~ Focus: Govt Efficiency, Civil Rights, Victim Advocacy.”​
One of the posts reads: “I don’t think the US taxpayers should pay for the employment of a ’Director of Climate Diversification (she/her)’ at the US International Development Finance Corporation,” with a partial screengrab of an employee and her location.​
Musk, who called himself “super pro climate” in an X post last year, reposted and commented: “So many fake jobs.” The post has received more than 33 million views and a storm of negative comments. Some called the role a “fraud job” and others demanded Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency cut jobs like it. One user commented: “Gravy train is over.”​
It appears the woman Musk targeted has since gone dark on social media, shutting down her accounts. The agency, the US International Development Finance Corporation, says it supports investment in climate mitigation, resilience and adaptation in low-income countries experiencing the most devastating effects of climate change. A DFC official said the agency does not comment on individual personnel positions or matters.​
Related articleRemote work crackdown: How Trump’s DOGE could push federal workers to quit​

Musk also called out the Department of Energy’s chief climate officer in its loan programs office. The office funds fledgling energy technologies in need of early investment and awarded $465 million to Tesla Motors in 2010, helping to position Musk’s electric vehicle company as an EV industry leader. The chief climate officer works across agencies to “reduce barriers and enable clean energy deployment” according to her online bio.​
Another woman, who serves as senior advisor on environmental justice and climate change at the Department of Health and Human Services, was another Musk target. HHS focuses on protecting the public health from pollution and other environmental hazards, especially in low-income communities and communities of color that are experiencing a higher share of exposures and impacts. The office first launched at Health and Human Services under the Biden administration in 2022.​
A senior adviser to climate at the Department of Housing and Urban Development was also singled out. The original X post said the woman “should not be paid $181,648.00 by the US taxpayer to be the ‘Climate advisor’ at HUD.” Musk reposted with the comment: “But maybe her advice is amazing.” Followed by two laughing emojis.​
CNN reached out to all four federal employees who either declined comment or were unable to be reached. CNN also reached out to HHS, DOE and HUD for comment.​
X did not respond to an email seeking comment.​
The AFGE public union pointed out that as a federal contractor, Musk himself has benefited from government programs, with $750 billion per year spent on federal contractors compared to about $200 billion for the civilian federal workforce. “We are a comparative steal, and we want to help clean it up too,” Kelley said.​

Putting people in harm’s way​

Musk has done this kind of thing before – and it’s led to real danger for the people named.​
Missy Cummings angered Musk when she was appointed a senior advisor at the NHTSA because her research and public comments were critical of Tesla’s driver-assist programs and she had called for regulating the systems.​
Musk targeted Cummings on what was then called Twitter, and his legions of fans followed.​
In an interview, Cummings said she received a torrent of attacks, including death threats, and had to temporarily relocate before she eventually moved.​
Cummings said she already knows of federal employees who “have dedicated their lives to civil service,” already quitting their jobs in anticipation of what’s to come.​
“He intended for them, for people just like this, to be intimidated and just go ahead and quit so he didn’t have to fire them. So his plan, to some extent, is working,” she said.​
CNN reached out to multiple experts and academics who specialize in cyber harassment, doxing and online abuse. But several declined to comment on the record for fear of themselves becoming Musk’s targets.​
“What has happened has an incredible and horrific chilling effect,” one of them said.​
Another said they are “not surprised” with Musk’s re-posts, adding they are an example of a “classic pattern” of cyber harassment.​
What do you think?2.3K comments have been posted​
Ramaswamy did not directly respond to questions about singling out individual federal employees but told CNN: “Most federal employees, like most human beings, are fundamentally good people and deserve to be treated with respect, but the real problem is the bureaucracy.”​
“Our opponent is not any particular individual. Our opponent is the bureaucracy,” he added.​
In a follow-up post, the Fentasyl account, which itself is anonymous, wrote: “It goes without saying that you should not harass someone solely because they hold a senior government plum job that should probably not exist,” the account posted. “But senior government officials are not mere rank-and-file employees. We deserve to know who is running our government & what they do.”​
Cummings, who was also one of the first female fighter pilots in the US Navy, said she felt an obligation to speak out.​
“Somebody has got to speak out,” she said. “I’m just not going to let him win on this point.”
These "workers" have been slurping at the gravy boat long enough... if they are no longer useful they must find new work... its that simple...
 
These "workers" have been slurping at the gravy boat long enough... if they are no longer useful they must find new work... its that simple...
Yup. These government workers seem to think that nobody ever lost a job before, and that they are entitled to earn full-time salaries (some approaching $200,000) for a few hours behind their laptop in the spare bedroom every morning. Then it’s off for tennis lessons or a matinee movie.
 

Elon Musk publicized the names of government employees he wants to cut.​


LESSEE:
  1. Joe Biden
  2. Kammy Harris
  3. Nancy Pelosi
  4. Mitch McConnell
  5. Put a CoGos in where Obumma lives.
  6. Chuck Schumer
  7. Mark Kelly
  8. Adam Schiff
  9. Cory Booker
  10. Maxine Waters
  11. Jamie Raskin
  12. Merrick Garland
  13. Alejandro Mayorkas
  14. The Department of Education
  15. The FBI
  16. The Department of Justice
  17. Department of the Interior
  18. Department of Housing and Urban Development
  19. Department of Veteran's Affairs.
 
No administration can cut our bloated government spending by just stopping money giveaways to various foreign nations and for absurd weird studies. For every presidential term, two new agencies have been repeatedly created. Some agencies have to be eliminated and others reduced and combined. That unfortunately means layoffs. Layoffs happen all the time in the private sector. Generally, the last hired is the first to be fired.
 
We get it. Layoffs are never fun, but most people in private industry have gone through at least one - and through no fault of their own - when the outfit they work for is operating in the red.

And Musk isn’t targeting PEOPLE. He is targeting roles that can be eliminated, with the work farmed out among others who remain. And from what I understand, they are talking about a generous termination offer.

They need to start getting their resumes out. It’s very possible that if they find a new job within several months, they will be better off when you factor in the severance money.

But the question is, will we be better off?

When Nana's social security check starts coming in late because half the bureaucracy that keeps things running has moved on to the private sector, and the nitwits Trump and Elon put in their place have no idea what they are doing (and don't really give a shit about Nana anyway) is that going to be a good thing?
 
No administration can cut our bloated government spending by just stopping money giveaways to various foreign nations and for absurd weird studies. For every presidential term, two new agencies have been repeatedly created. Some agencies have to be eliminated and others reduced and combined. That unfortunately means layoffs. Layoffs happen all the time in the private sector. Generally, the last hired is the first to be fired.

Guy, here;s the problem with that kind of thinking.

It's what got us Covid.

Trump got rid of the Pandemic Response team and threw out the Pandemic response plan. Some people quit, others were reassigned, but no one really had their eye on the ball on a Pandemic... until one hit.
 
But the question is, will we be better off?

When Nana's social security check starts coming in late because half the bureaucracy that keeps things running has moved on to the private sector, and the nitwits Trump and Elon put in their place have no idea what they are doing (and don't really give a shit about Nana anyway) is that going to be a good thing?
Both Democrats and Republicans alike have been repeatedly saying that Social Security will no longer be solvent by 2035. It wouldn't have mattered who won the 2024 presidential election. Blame is shared by both parties. As to why, just look back to shortly after social security was initiated. A mere 9 years after it began, the government began shelling out money. The public had not put enough years of paying into it to begin earning money that soon after it began. Add to this, the social security trust fund kept being raided by the spendthrift loving politicians to fund other projects. So, whether it would have been Harris or Trump, the problem is still there.
The idea of shifting social security to investments isn't any better, as the stock market periodically goes belly up, causing recessions, or like in 1929, a crash and depression.
 
No administration can cut our bloated government spending by just stopping money giveaways to various foreign nations and for absurd weird studies. For every presidential term, two new agencies have been repeatedly created. Some agencies have to be eliminated and others reduced and combined. That unfortunately means layoffs. Layoffs happen all the time in the private sector. Generally, the last hired is the first to be fired.
The Federal Government is the only major employer that has never had a layoff. This is way overdue and will done in phases. Cut the fat first. Then start closing redundant departments and consolidating.
 
So apparently the goal isn't just to cut out waste and save money, it's also to intimidate and terrify other people, in this case the federal workforce. Sadly, this is not news to me.

https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/27/busi...ex.html?iid=cnn_buildContentRecirc_end_recirc

CNN —​
When President-elect Donald Trump said Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy would recommend major cuts to the federal government in his administration, many public employees knew that their jobs could be on the line.​
Now they have a new fear: becoming the personal targets of the world’s richest man – and his legions of followers.​
Last week, in the midst of the flurry of his daily missives, Musk reposted two X posts that revealed the names and titles of people holding four relatively obscure climate-related government positions. Each post has been viewed tens of millions of times, and the individuals named have been subjected to a barrage of negative attention. At least one of the four women named has deleted her social media accounts.​
Although the information he posted on those government positions is available through public online databases, these posts target otherwise unknown government employees in roles that do not deal directly with the public.​

Several current federal employees told CNN they’re afraid their lives will be forever changed – including physically threatened – as Musk makes behind-the-scenes bureaucrats into personal targets. Others told CNN that the threat of being in Musk’s crosshairs might even drive them from their jobs entirely – achieving Musk’s smaller government goals without so much as a proper review.​
“These tactics are aimed at sowing terror and fear at federal employees,” said Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, which represents more than 800,000 of the 2.3 million civilian federal employees. “It’s intended to make them fearful that they will become afraid to speak up.”​
This isn’t new behavior for Musk, who has often singled out individuals who he claims have made mistakes or stand in his way. One former federal employee, previously targeted by Musk, said she experienced something very similar.​
“It’s his way of intimidating people to either quit or also send a signal to all the other agencies that ‘you’re next’,” said Mary “Missy” Cummings, an engineering and computer science professor at George Mason University, who drew Musk’s ire because of her criticisms of Tesla when she was at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.​

Going dark after attacks​

Last week Musk reposted an account with the handle Fentasyl and the name “Datahazard,” which describes itself as “Unincorporated Think Tank ~~ Focus: Govt Efficiency, Civil Rights, Victim Advocacy.”​
One of the posts reads: “I don’t think the US taxpayers should pay for the employment of a ’Director of Climate Diversification (she/her)’ at the US International Development Finance Corporation,” with a partial screengrab of an employee and her location.​
Musk, who called himself “super pro climate” in an X post last year, reposted and commented: “So many fake jobs.” The post has received more than 33 million views and a storm of negative comments. Some called the role a “fraud job” and others demanded Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency cut jobs like it. One user commented: “Gravy train is over.”​
It appears the woman Musk targeted has since gone dark on social media, shutting down her accounts. The agency, the US International Development Finance Corporation, says it supports investment in climate mitigation, resilience and adaptation in low-income countries experiencing the most devastating effects of climate change. A DFC official said the agency does not comment on individual personnel positions or matters.​

Musk also called out the Department of Energy’s chief climate officer in its loan programs office. The office funds fledgling energy technologies in need of early investment and awarded $465 million to Tesla Motors in 2010, helping to position Musk’s electric vehicle company as an EV industry leader. The chief climate officer works across agencies to “reduce barriers and enable clean energy deployment” according to her online bio.​
Another woman, who serves as senior advisor on environmental justice and climate change at the Department of Health and Human Services, was another Musk target. HHS focuses on protecting the public health from pollution and other environmental hazards, especially in low-income communities and communities of color that are experiencing a higher share of exposures and impacts. The office first launched at Health and Human Services under the Biden administration in 2022.​
A senior adviser to climate at the Department of Housing and Urban Development was also singled out. The original X post said the woman “should not be paid $181,648.00 by the US taxpayer to be the ‘Climate advisor’ at HUD.” Musk reposted with the comment: “But maybe her advice is amazing.” Followed by two laughing emojis.​
CNN reached out to all four federal employees who either declined comment or were unable to be reached. CNN also reached out to HHS, DOE and HUD for comment.​
X did not respond to an email seeking comment.​
The AFGE public union pointed out that as a federal contractor, Musk himself has benefited from government programs, with $750 billion per year spent on federal contractors compared to about $200 billion for the civilian federal workforce. “We are a comparative steal, and we want to help clean it up too,” Kelley said.​

Putting people in harm’s way​

Musk has done this kind of thing before – and it’s led to real danger for the people named.​
Missy Cummings angered Musk when she was appointed a senior advisor at the NHTSA because her research and public comments were critical of Tesla’s driver-assist programs and she had called for regulating the systems.​
Musk targeted Cummings on what was then called Twitter, and his legions of fans followed.​
In an interview, Cummings said she received a torrent of attacks, including death threats, and had to temporarily relocate before she eventually moved.​
Cummings said she already knows of federal employees who “have dedicated their lives to civil service,” already quitting their jobs in anticipation of what’s to come.​
“He intended for them, for people just like this, to be intimidated and just go ahead and quit so he didn’t have to fire them. So his plan, to some extent, is working,” she said.​
CNN reached out to multiple experts and academics who specialize in cyber harassment, doxing and online abuse. But several declined to comment on the record for fear of themselves becoming Musk’s targets.​
“What has happened has an incredible and horrific chilling effect,” one of them said.​
Another said they are “not surprised” with Musk’s re-posts, adding they are an example of a “classic pattern” of cyber harassment.​
What do you think?2.3K comments have been posted​
Ramaswamy did not directly respond to questions about singling out individual federal employees but told CNN: “Most federal employees, like most human beings, are fundamentally good people and deserve to be treated with respect, but the real problem is the bureaucracy.”​
“Our opponent is not any particular individual. Our opponent is the bureaucracy,” he added.​
In a follow-up post, the Fentasyl account, which itself is anonymous, wrote: “It goes without saying that you should not harass someone solely because they hold a senior government plum job that should probably not exist,” the account posted. “But senior government officials are not mere rank-and-file employees. We deserve to know who is running our government & what they do.”​
Cummings, who was also one of the first female fighter pilots in the US Navy, said she felt an obligation to speak out.​
“Somebody has got to speak out,” she said. “I’m just not going to let him win on this point.”
Those people need to be gone.

I didn't read your whole cut and paste...I got to right here, and that's all I need to know.

"holding four relatively obscure climate-related government positions. "



If they were White, male Anglo-Saxon Priests holding these obscure climate-related job, I'd say the same thing. If that's their job... It's a waste of money.

Hand them their hat and show them the door.
 
Guy, here;s the problem with that kind of thinking.

It's what got us Covid.

Trump got rid of the Pandemic Response team and threw out the Pandemic response plan. Some people quit, others were reassigned, but no one really had their eye on the ball on a Pandemic... until one hit.

Oh but we had Fauci, the highest paid employee in gov't, leading the way. He saved us.
 
But the question is, will we be better off?

When Nana's social security check starts coming in late because half the bureaucracy that keeps things running has moved on to the private sector, and the nitwits Trump and Elon put in their place have no idea what they are doing (and don't really give a shit about Nana anyway) is that going to be a good thing?
Let the private sector handle mailing Nana's social security checks.

Fine them when they're late as part of the contract.
 
So apparently the goal isn't just to cut out waste and save money, it's also to intimidate and terrify other people, in this case the federal workforce. Sadly, this is not news to me.

https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/27/busi...ex.html?iid=cnn_buildContentRecirc_end_recirc

CNN —​
When President-elect Donald Trump said Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy would recommend major cuts to the federal government in his administration, many public employees knew that their jobs could be on the line.​
Now they have a new fear: becoming the personal targets of the world’s richest man – and his legions of followers.​
Last week, in the midst of the flurry of his daily missives, Musk reposted two X posts that revealed the names and titles of people holding four relatively obscure climate-related government positions. Each post has been viewed tens of millions of times, and the individuals named have been subjected to a barrage of negative attention. At least one of the four women named has deleted her social media accounts.​
Although the information he posted on those government positions is available through public online databases, these posts target otherwise unknown government employees in roles that do not deal directly with the public.​

Several current federal employees told CNN they’re afraid their lives will be forever changed – including physically threatened – as Musk makes behind-the-scenes bureaucrats into personal targets. Others told CNN that the threat of being in Musk’s crosshairs might even drive them from their jobs entirely – achieving Musk’s smaller government goals without so much as a proper review.​
“These tactics are aimed at sowing terror and fear at federal employees,” said Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, which represents more than 800,000 of the 2.3 million civilian federal employees. “It’s intended to make them fearful that they will become afraid to speak up.”​
This isn’t new behavior for Musk, who has often singled out individuals who he claims have made mistakes or stand in his way. One former federal employee, previously targeted by Musk, said she experienced something very similar.​
“It’s his way of intimidating people to either quit or also send a signal to all the other agencies that ‘you’re next’,” said Mary “Missy” Cummings, an engineering and computer science professor at George Mason University, who drew Musk’s ire because of her criticisms of Tesla when she was at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.​

Going dark after attacks​

Last week Musk reposted an account with the handle Fentasyl and the name “Datahazard,” which describes itself as “Unincorporated Think Tank ~~ Focus: Govt Efficiency, Civil Rights, Victim Advocacy.”​
One of the posts reads: “I don’t think the US taxpayers should pay for the employment of a ’Director of Climate Diversification (she/her)’ at the US International Development Finance Corporation,” with a partial screengrab of an employee and her location.​
Musk, who called himself “super pro climate” in an X post last year, reposted and commented: “So many fake jobs.” The post has received more than 33 million views and a storm of negative comments. Some called the role a “fraud job” and others demanded Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency cut jobs like it. One user commented: “Gravy train is over.”​
It appears the woman Musk targeted has since gone dark on social media, shutting down her accounts. The agency, the US International Development Finance Corporation, says it supports investment in climate mitigation, resilience and adaptation in low-income countries experiencing the most devastating effects of climate change. A DFC official said the agency does not comment on individual personnel positions or matters.​

Musk also called out the Department of Energy’s chief climate officer in its loan programs office. The office funds fledgling energy technologies in need of early investment and awarded $465 million to Tesla Motors in 2010, helping to position Musk’s electric vehicle company as an EV industry leader. The chief climate officer works across agencies to “reduce barriers and enable clean energy deployment” according to her online bio.​
Another woman, who serves as senior advisor on environmental justice and climate change at the Department of Health and Human Services, was another Musk target. HHS focuses on protecting the public health from pollution and other environmental hazards, especially in low-income communities and communities of color that are experiencing a higher share of exposures and impacts. The office first launched at Health and Human Services under the Biden administration in 2022.​
A senior adviser to climate at the Department of Housing and Urban Development was also singled out. The original X post said the woman “should not be paid $181,648.00 by the US taxpayer to be the ‘Climate advisor’ at HUD.” Musk reposted with the comment: “But maybe her advice is amazing.” Followed by two laughing emojis.​
CNN reached out to all four federal employees who either declined comment or were unable to be reached. CNN also reached out to HHS, DOE and HUD for comment.​
X did not respond to an email seeking comment.​
The AFGE public union pointed out that as a federal contractor, Musk himself has benefited from government programs, with $750 billion per year spent on federal contractors compared to about $200 billion for the civilian federal workforce. “We are a comparative steal, and we want to help clean it up too,” Kelley said.​

Putting people in harm’s way​

Musk has done this kind of thing before – and it’s led to real danger for the people named.​
Missy Cummings angered Musk when she was appointed a senior advisor at the NHTSA because her research and public comments were critical of Tesla’s driver-assist programs and she had called for regulating the systems.​
Musk targeted Cummings on what was then called Twitter, and his legions of fans followed.​
In an interview, Cummings said she received a torrent of attacks, including death threats, and had to temporarily relocate before she eventually moved.​
Cummings said she already knows of federal employees who “have dedicated their lives to civil service,” already quitting their jobs in anticipation of what’s to come.​
“He intended for them, for people just like this, to be intimidated and just go ahead and quit so he didn’t have to fire them. So his plan, to some extent, is working,” she said.​
CNN reached out to multiple experts and academics who specialize in cyber harassment, doxing and online abuse. But several declined to comment on the record for fear of themselves becoming Musk’s targets.​
“What has happened has an incredible and horrific chilling effect,” one of them said.​
Another said they are “not surprised” with Musk’s re-posts, adding they are an example of a “classic pattern” of cyber harassment.​
What do you think?2.3K comments have been posted​
Ramaswamy did not directly respond to questions about singling out individual federal employees but told CNN: “Most federal employees, like most human beings, are fundamentally good people and deserve to be treated with respect, but the real problem is the bureaucracy.”​
“Our opponent is not any particular individual. Our opponent is the bureaucracy,” he added.​
In a follow-up post, the Fentasyl account, which itself is anonymous, wrote: “It goes without saying that you should not harass someone solely because they hold a senior government plum job that should probably not exist,” the account posted. “But senior government officials are not mere rank-and-file employees. We deserve to know who is running our government & what they do.”​
Cummings, who was also one of the first female fighter pilots in the US Navy, said she felt an obligation to speak out.​
“Somebody has got to speak out,” she said. “I’m just not going to let him win on this point.”

Yep they are terrified that their free paychecks will be coming to an end.
 

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