Elon Musk has sparked controversy by targeting federal workers on X, resulting in widespread harassment and threats. Cyber harassment experts describe Musk’s actions as “incredible” with a “horrific chilling effect,” emphasizing the fear and intimidation experienced by these employees.
Federal employees now face the daunting reality of being personal targets of the world’s wealthiest individual and his extensive follower base. As the Department of Government Efficiency co-chair, Musk has been vocal about eliminating what he calls “fake jobs,” publicly naming associated federal employees.
Elon Musk has taken to posting the identities of relatively unknown government officials and federal workers whose jobs he wants to eliminate, and his followers are taking it upon themselves to harass and threaten those they can find.
Story: https://t.co/eUeBeJHmls pic.twitter.com/QbCP2GQu38
— Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) November 27, 2024Last week, Musk highlighted employees in climate-related government roles by reposting their names and titles from an account known as Fentasyl under the username “Datahazard.” These posts garnered significant negative attention, compelling one woman to delete her social media accounts due to the backlash, as reported by CNN.
Current federal workers express deep concerns about becoming personal targets. “These tactics are aimed at instilling terror and fear among federal employees,” stated Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees.
Musk frequently sings out individuals who oppose him. For instance, he criticized the role of a ‘Director of Climate Diversification (she/her)’ at the US International Development Finance Corporation, questioning the necessity of US taxpayers covering their salary. He shared this viewpoint and a screenshot displaying the employee’s name and location.
Elon Musk publicized the names of U.S. government employees he wants to cut. It's terrifying federal workers https://t.co/Ewr3dJ41C3
— CTV News (@CTVNews) November 27, 2024While Vivek Ramaswamy acknowledged that most federal employees are good people who deserve respect, he criticized the bureaucracy without directly addressing Musk’s singling out individuals.
Mary “Missy” Cummings, who faced Musk’s ire after criticizing Tesla during her tenure at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, shared that she received death threats and attacks, forcing her to relocate. “It’s his way of intimidating people to either resign or signal to other agencies that ‘you’re next,'” she explained, suggesting Musk’s strategy partly aims to coerce employees into quitting to avoid dismissals.
