SNS Reveals Identities of Four Climate Officials
"Too Many Fake Jobs" Criticism Gains Followers
"Intent to Suppress Backlash by Creating Atmosphere of Fear"
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, who has announced a large-scale restructuring of the U.S. federal government, has sparked fear among federal employees by publicly revealing the identities of civil servants targeted for layoffs online.
On the 27th (local time), CNN reported, "When Musk was appointed head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), many civil servants instinctively felt their jobs might be at risk, but now they face a new fear," adding, "The world's richest person (Musk) and his numerous followers are targeting them personally."
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, is watching the launch of SpaceX's Starship in Brownsville, Texas, on the 19th (local time) together with Donald Trump, the President-elect of the United States. (Photo by Reuters and Yonhap News)
The incident originated from Musk CEO's social media activity. Last week, Musk shared a post on his X (formerly Twitter) stating, "Taxpayers don't need to pay for the 'Director of Climate Diversification' at the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (USIDFC)," criticizing, "There are too many fake jobs." The post has garnered over 33 million views.
USIDFC is an investment support agency that helps low-income countries respond to climate change. CNN reported that the woman holding the position has since closed her social media account. When Musk CEO publicly revealed the identity of a civil servant likely to be targeted for restructuring by the Department of Government Efficiency, many supporters perceived it as a 'coordinate' and joined the offensive.
Musk CEO also identified a woman serving as the Chief Climate Officer at the Loan Programs Office under the U.S. Department of Energy as an unnecessary civil servant. Additionally, he mentioned the names of women working as Senior Advisors for Environmental Justice and Climate Change at the Department of Health and Human Services and as Senior Climate Advisors at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
CNN conveyed the atmosphere, stating, "Negative attention is pouring down on civil servants targeted by Musk, and some other civil servants fear for their safety or worry they may have to quit their jobs because of Musk." It also pointed out that the Loan Programs Office, targeted by Musk CEO, supports early investments in energy technology developers, and Tesla itself received $465 million in support in 2010.
Everett Kelly, chairman of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), described Musk CEO's actions as "a tactic to instill fear and terror among federal employees," diagnosing, "The intention is to scare civil servants into silence and prevent them from voicing resistance."
Having taken the helm of the newly established Department of Government Efficiency under the Donald Trump administration, Musk CEO has announced $2 trillion in federal spending cuts along with the abolition of large federal agencies and regulations. On the same day, he argued on X, "There are too many overlapping regulatory agencies," calling for the elimination of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), established during former President Barack Obama's administration. On the same day, House Speaker Mike Johnson announced, "Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy will visit Congress on December 5 to discuss government reform with Republican congressional leaders."
However, there is also analysis that it is uncertain whether Musk CEO will be able to freely manipulate the federal government as he has promised. Civil servants are guaranteed their status and tenure by law, and federal contractors in the private sector can initiate lawsuits to delay proceedings.
The Washington Post (WP) emphasized, "The Reagan administration in the 1980s also established a task force to eliminate regulations and issued executive orders freezing various regulations but failed to achieve its initial goals." However, it noted, "Unlike during Reagan's time, the Republicans now control Congress, and the Supreme Court has a conservative majority of 6 to 3," adding, "If all else fails, they could use tactics such as sending disliked departments to remote locations to encourage civil servants to quit."
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