Musk’s Crackdown on Bureaucracy Intensifies
Elon Musk has escalated efforts to reduce the federal workforce, pressuring employees to accept a deferred resignation offer ahead of Thursday’s deadline. The initiative, backed by President Donald Trump, aims to streamline government agencies and cut costs. However, federal workers are resisting, citing fears of broken promises and job insecurity.
Trump Administration Urges Mass Resignations
Over the past few weeks, federal employees have received multiple messages urging them to accept the buyout. Officials within the administration have promised benefits, including paid vacations, while also warning that layoffs will follow if resignation numbers remain low.
Josh Gruenbaum, who oversees the Federal Acquisition Service at the General Services Administration (GSA), reinforced this point in an email obtained by POLITICO. He stated that the agency is cutting redundant jobs, exploring AI automation, and that certain regional offices would be downsized.
Employees Fear the Offer is a Trap
Despite assurances, many federal employees remain skeptical. David Casserly, a Department of Labor staffer speaking in a personal capacity, expressed distrust:
“If you have to send us 10 emails saying this is totally not a scam, then it’s probably a scam.”
Union leaders echo similar sentiments. Sheria Smith, president of Local 252 of the American Federation of Government Employees, called the offer insulting and noted that fewer than ten of her 2,000 members had expressed interest in the program.
Musk’s Online Taunts Add to the Pressure
Musk has aggressively promoted the plan on his social media platform, X, referring to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) as a “wood chipper for bureaucracy.” He has also accused Treasury Department employees of “breaking the law every hour of every day” and attacked the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) as a “viper’s nest of radical-left Marxists.”
The tech billionaire’s history with mass layoffs at Twitter (now X) is adding to employees’ concerns. Lawsuits against him for allegedly failing to pay severance packages after cutting 80% of Twitter’s staff remain unresolved. This precedent has led many to doubt whether the government buyout program will honor its commitments.
What’s Next?
With the deadline fast approaching, the Trump administration is aiming for a 5-10% workforce reduction, but so far, only 1% of employees have accepted the offer. If the goal isn’t met, mass layoffs could be next, setting up a major legal and political battle.
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