WASHINGTON: Elon Musk has raised alarm among federal employees after publicly naming government workers he wants removed, sparking fears of harassment and intimidation.
When President-elect Donald Trump suggested that figures like Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy would push for significant cuts in federal positions, many government workers braced themselves for job losses. But now, they are facing a new source of anxiety: becoming the personal targets of Musk, the world’s wealthiest individual, and his massive online following.
Last week, amid his usual social media activity, Musk shared two posts on X that included the names and roles of four government employees working in lesser-known climate-related positions. While the information was publicly accessible, Musk’s decision to highlight these individuals has exposed them to widespread online backlash. These posts, which have been viewed tens of millions of times, led to significant harassment, with at least one of the women named deleting her social media accounts.
Several federal employees, speaking anonymously to CNN, expressed their growing concern over the personal attacks, fearing for their safety and privacy. The threat of becoming a target of Musk’s online mob has led some to consider leaving their jobs altogether, effectively contributing to the billionaire’s goal of shrinking the federal workforce without undergoing any formal review process.