Elon Musk's DOGE Sparks Controversy: Fired Tech Experts, Data Privacy Concerns
1min read Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has sparked controversy after firing a group of tech-savvy civil servants who had been instrumental in building the IRS's free tax-filing service and revamping government websites. The move, which took place under the Trump administration, left around 90 employees from the 18F digital services team without work equipment.
In a statement, the General Services Administration (GSA) confirmed that the 18F team had been deemed "non-essential" and their services were no longer required. This decision has raised concerns among critics who argue that the termination of these skilled professionals could hinder the government's ability to deliver efficient and accessible digital services to the public.
Musk, who heads the DOGE team, had previously expressed his disapproval of the 18F team on the social media platform "X," referring to them as a "far-left government in-house computing office" and stating that the team had been "deleted." This comment has been interpreted by some as a sign of Musk's disdain for the team's work and a possible motivation behind their termination.
In a separate development, The Washington Post reported that officials from Musk's team had expressed interest in using personal tax records to verify the existence of fraud in federal benefit payments. This revelation has raised concerns about the potential misuse of personal data and the implications for privacy and security.
The termination of the 18F team and the potential use of personal tax records for fraud verification have sparked a heated debate about the role of technology in government services and the importance of protecting citizens' personal data. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how these decisions will impact the delivery of digital services and the privacy of American citizens.
