Elon Musk and DOGE Address Federal Workforce Issues Amid Controversies

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Elon Musk and his team at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have softened their criticism of federal workers during a recent Fox News interview, where they also reiterated claims of government fraud. This discussion took place during DOGE’s weekly 10 p.m. meeting at a White House office building.

When asked about the government agency that has resisted DOGE’s efforts the most, a staff member claimed that the United States Institute of Peace had ‘loaded guns’ and had a $130,000 contract with a former Taliban member. They also alleged that a chief accountant deleted over a terabyte of accounting records, referring to it as a ‘cover-up.’ NBC News has reached out to the USIP for comments on these claims.

One DOGE staff member emphasized the illegality of deleting accounting records, stating, ‘Congress would certainly want to know where the congressionally appropriated funds are going from taxpayers.’ They added that DOGE has referred evidence of these claims to the FBI and the Justice Department.

After facing backlash for dehumanizing federal employees, Musk expressed gratitude for the contributions of government employees. ‘I’m not trying to say that government employees are bad. That’s absolutely not the case,’ he remarked. Another staff member, who identified himself as ‘Donald P.,’ noted, ‘We are encountering troves of government employees who are missionaries, not mercenaries, who are actually here serving because they believe in what they’re doing.’

Joe Gebbia, another DOGE official, announced that for the first time, 25 government retirees are now navigating an entirely online retirement process. According to DOGE official Anthony Armstrong, 80,000 federal employees have accepted deferred resignation offers so far.

In a related political context, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated in an interview that the gap between Russia and Ukraine remains significant despite ongoing discussions for a ceasefire. He mentioned recent developments while discussing his new role as interim national security adviser.

As the national and international political landscape evolves, the focus remains on the impact of government efficiency initiatives and the ongoing ramifications of federal workforce management decisions.