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Federal Unions Sue DOGE Over Email
Above: Federal workers protest outside 26 Federal Plaza in Manhattan, the headquarters of the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Image copyright: Erik McGregor/ContributorLightRocket via Getty Images
The Spin
Democratic narrative
This email is an irresponsible and impulsive action from Musk, likely due to DOGE's failure to streamline the government. Instead of following the law and leaving budgeting to government officials, Musk is using scare tactics against federal employees who are simply trying to do their jobs in peace. Luckily, the real adults in the government — judges — are protecting the Constitution.
Republican narrative
The hysterical meltdowns in response to this email show how problematic the federal workforce has become. If this were a Chief Executive Officer requesting a brief update from his employees, no one would bat an eye. But in Washington, countless staff have gotten used to receiving a paycheck for little work. Hopefully, individual department heads will be inspired to check in on their staff more often.