Elon Musk recently caused controversy by directly targeting four federal officials, CNN wrote this Wednesday. On These employees, occupying relatively obscure roles without direct contact with the public, were criticized for their positions deemed unnecessary.
One of the posts attacked a director of climate diversification at the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), a role considered by Elon Musk to be “fake jobs.” Another targeted a senior environmental justice advisor at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), while similar comments were made against female climate advisors at the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). .
A strategy denounced as intimidation
Although the information shared is available in public databases, this spotlighting of previously unknown officials raises serious concerns. Several federal employees told CNN they feared for their safety, with some even considering quitting in the face of pressure.
According to Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), representing more than 800,000 civilian employees, these tactics aim to “instill terror and fear among federal employees.” He believes that Elon Musk is seeking to discourage employees from speaking out and, indirectly, to downsize the government without going through formal reforms.
Controversy over climate positions
This is not the first time that Elon Musk has targeted individuals. Mary “Missy” Cummings, former advisor to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), was attacked for her criticism of Tesla. She had to temporarily move after receiving threats. “It’s his way of intimidating people into quitting and signaling to other agencies that they’re next,” she says.
The Department of Energy, which once provided a landmark $465 million loan to Tesla, employs one of the targeted officials to coordinate clean energy efforts. As for the Department of Housing and Urban Development, it is criticized for paying a climate advisor more than $181,000 per year, which Elon Musk ridiculed with laughing emojis.
A dissuasive impact and a call to resist
These attacks are causing a wave of fear among federal officials. Their effect is clear: they generate growing fear among public employees, pushing them to leave their posts before becoming targets in turn.
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“Elon Musk wanted these people to be intimidated and quit. His plan, to a certain extent, is working,” laments Mary “Missy” Cummings. However, she calls for resistance. “Someone has to speak up. I’m not going to let him win on this,” she says.