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Musk Slammed for Claiming It's Unlawful to Publicly Identify DOGE Personnel
"It's illegal to publish the names of government workers? What???" remarked one Capitol Hill reporter.
Feb 04, 2025
Self-described " free speech absolutist" Elon Musk—the billionaire leading U.S. President Donald Trump's new Department of Government Efficiency—claimed this week that revealing the names of people working for DOGE is somehow illegal, provoking swift backlash from journalists and experts.
Responding to Musk's Tuesday morning post on X, the social media platform the billionaire bought in 2022, Washington Post reporter Jeff Stein challenged the claim that identifying individuals working for the government is unlawful and highlighted his hypocrisy.
"It's illegal to publish the names of government workers?" Stein wrote in part. "What???"
Trump announced DOGE and its leadership shortly after he won the November election, boosted by over a quarter-billion dollars from Musk, the richest person on Earth. After the president returned to the White House for a second term last month, the Musk-led presidential advisory commission quickly got to work on its agenda of cutting spending and regulations, amid a flurry of lawsuits.
The legal battles continue. On Monday, the Alliance for Retired Americans, the American Federation of Government Employees, and the Service Employees International Union sued to revoke Musk and DOGE's access to a key government payment system, provided by Trump's treasury secretary. Wiredreported Tuesday that two federal employees "are seeking a temporary restraining order as part of a class action lawsuit accusing a group of Elon Musk's associates of allegedly operating an illegally connected server from the fifth floor of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) headquarters."
Wired on Sunday also "identified six young men—all apparently between the ages of 19 and 24, according to public databases, their online presences, and other records—who have little to no government experience and are now playing critical roles" in DOGE. The reporting named the following individuals: Akash Bobba, Edward Coristine, Luke Farritor, Gautier Cole Killian, Gavin Kliger, and Ethan Shaotran.
"The six men are one part of the broader project of Musk allies assuming key government positions," the outlet continued, explaining that "Musk's lackeys—including more senior staff from xAI, Tesla, and the Boring Company—have taken control of" the General Services Administration (GSA), OPM, and the Treasury payment system.
After a now-suspended X user shared those six names on the platform—describing them as "techies on the ground helping Musk gaining and using access to the U.S. Treasury payment system," and suggesting that fired FBI agents may want to "dox them and maybe pay them a visit"—Musk responded early Monday, saying, "You have committed a crime."
Cliff Lampe, professor of information and associate dean for the School of Information at the University of Michigan, toldForbes on Tuesday that "doxxing has a broad definition, but is typically described as releasing private details about an individual into the public, specifically with the purpose of harming that person, where harm can range from embarrassment to promoting violent action against the individual."
"Typically, government employees have less privacy protections than do private citizens. Listing individuals who are working on behalf of the government would not fall into previous definitions of doxxing, though of course definitions can always change over time," Lampe said. "Whether doxxing is a crime has traditionally been related to the type of information that has been released and how that information was acquired."
Late Monday morning, Ed Martin, U.S. attorney in the District of Columbia, posted on X a letter to Musk that says in part: "I ask that you utilize me and my staff to assist in protecting the DOGE work and the DOGE workers. Any threats, confrontations, or other actions in any way that impact their work may break numerous laws."
Forbes noted that one legal expert said he couldn't understand "what on Earth Musk or the U.S. attorney" thinks was violated.
Less than 10 minutes after Martin's post, Musk said on X Monday morning: "Time to confess: Media reports saying that DOGE has some of world's best software engineers are in fact true."
However, as the Daily Beastdetailed Monday, "he was wrong—not all the group are even 'software engineers.' Three do not even have degrees. And one who does is trying to cash in on his new job by charging people to read his Substack entry which boasts, 'Why DOGE: Why I gave up a seven-figure salary to save America.'"
In a Monday evening statement on the official X account for Martin's office, the U.S. attorney signaled that legal action may be coming.
"Our initial review of the evidence presented to us indicates that certain individuals and/or groups have committed acts that appear to violate the law in targeting DOGE employees," Martin said. "We are in contact with the FBI and other law enforcement partners to proceed rapidly. We also have our prosecutors preparing."
Musk then returned to his claim of illegal behavior. After businessman and software engineer Marc Andreessen said on X late Monday, "I'm so old, I remember when doxxing and threatening federal employees was considered bad," the DOGE leader replied Tuesday, "It is against the law."
Stein wasn't alone in calling out Musk's Tuesday morning post. White House speechwriter-turned-podcaster Jon Favreau said: "Threatening anyone: very bad, possibly against the law depending on the threat. Knowing the names of the people who work for us, the American taxpayers, is an entirely legal and appropriate expectation. This isn't one of your companies. This is our government. Understand?"
Chris Anderson, chair of the Democratic Party in Ohio's Mahoning County,
responded: "Imagine being in charge of auditing the government and knowing so little about the government that you don't know that salaries of federal employees, what department they work for, and yes, their names, are all public record. And not only that, THERE'S AN ENTIRE WEBSITE FOR IT."
In fact, there are multiple: the Library of Congress has a
webpage that details sources for federal employee data and there are some nongovernment sites that compile it, such as FederalPay.org, GovSalaries.com, and OpenPayrolls.com.
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US Judge Delivers Another Blow to 'Harmful' Trump Funding Freeze
"The Trump administration's OMB grant freeze memo plunged people and communities across the country into chaos and uncertainty," said one lawyer. "This order is a lifeline."
Feb 03, 2025
Organizations that challenged U.S. President Donald Trump's attempted federal funding freeze welcomed a Washington, D.C.-based judge's Monday order that further restricts its implementation, which followed a similar decision from another court on Friday.
District Judge Loren AliKhan issued a temporary restraining order following her administrative stay last week. While her initial block on the policy prompted the Trump administration to rescind the relevant memo from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), both AliKhan and District Judge John J. McConnell Jr. of Rhode Island determined that further action was needed, citing White House messaging.
McConnell's Friday decison stemmed from a challenge filed by the attorneys general of 22 states plus D.C., and his decision only applied to them. AliKhan's case was filed by Democracy Forward on behalf of the American Public Health Association, Main Street Alliance, the National Council of Nonprofits, and SAGE, which all celebrated the judge's 30-page order that bars the Trump administration from "implementing, giving effect to, or reinstating under a different name the directives" in the OMB memo.
"A halt on federal agency grants would mean state, local, tribal, and territorial health departments don't get what they need to fund public health and prevention programs and research," said Dr. Georges C. Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association, in a Monday statement. "Today's ruling is a major victory towards continuing these vital programs. We will continue to work with partners to protect funds for public health, which were approved by Congress and are making the difference between life and death."
Diane Yentel, chief executive of the National Council of Nonprofits, noted such groups "have been left in limbo by the Trump administration's callous actions" and "now, they finally have some needed clarity and can continue to do their essential work."
"We are determined to continue to do all we can to prevent this administration's reckless attempt to halt funding that would put people's lives and safety at risk, from pausing research on cures for childhood cancer to halting food assistance, [limiting] safety from domestic violence, and closing suicide hotlines," Yentel added.
SAGE CEO Michael Adams, whose group supports older LGBTQ+ people and their caregivers, also highlighted the freeze's impact.
"Restricting federal grants and loans would severely impact the lives of older Americans, including LGBTQ+ elders, who are more vulnerable to health issues, disabilities, and social isolation, and often struggle to access the care and services they need," he said. "We are grateful for this ruling, which protects our older neighbors, friends, and loved ones from the harmful freeze on federal grants and loans."
Companies are similarly "counting on federal funding," said Main Street Alliance executive director Richard Trent, "for services like infrastructure development, workforce training, and childcare programs that allow small businesses to thrive."
"Main Streets in America can't afford for these services to crumble," he continued, "and this ruling is a welcome step in the fight to protect the funding small businesses count on."
Although the decision from AliKhan—an appointee of former Democratic President Joe Biden—is another step toward thwarting Trump's attack on federal funding, Skye Perryman, president and CEO of Democracy Forward, acknowledged that the fight is far from over.
"The Trump administration's OMB grant freeze memo plunged people and communities across the country into chaos and uncertainty as they waited to see if critical programs—from childcare, to eldercare, to food services, to health programs, to community initiatives—would continue," Perryman said.
"This order is a lifeline that provides the breathing room needed for our clients to continue to provide services people across this country rely on," she added. "We look forward to pursuing this case on its merits in court on the behalf of our clients and the American people."
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'A Day Without Immigrants': Protests Against Trump's Mass Deportation Plans Across US
"D.C. depends deeply on immigrants, who work vital jobs in our local economy, pay taxes, and make the city a vibrant place to live," said one restaurant that joined the day of action.
Feb 03, 2025
In cities across the United States on Monday, businesses closed their doors for "A Day Without Immigrants," to protest Republican President Donald Trump's mass deportation plans and other attacks on migrants.
Ahead of the day of action, people took to the streets in several cities for what Migrant Insider's Pablo Manríquez called "a weekend of resistance," highlighting demonstrations in Arlington, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio, Texas; Atlanta, Georgia; Charlotte, North Carolina; Chicago, Illinois; Idaho City, Idaho; Las Vegas, Nevada; Los Angeles, Oxnard, San Diego, and Vista, California; New York, New York; Phoenix, Arizona; Santa Fe, New Mexico; Seattle, Washington; and St. Louis, Missouri.
In Los Angeles, opponents of recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids and deportations "closed the 101 Freeway for hours," according toCBS News. "Later in the day, about 250 people gathered in Pacoima for another rally, where police claimed drivers were performing stunts and blocking traffic with their cars."
Southern California also saw protests on Monday, with people marching through downtown Los Angeles and gathering outside the federal courthouse in Santa Ana.
"We're a community," one of the Santa Ana organizers told an ABC affiliate. "We're humans as well. We do so much for our family and friends. We're here for our people. We're here to fight, and show that we can do so much more than just what they call us to do."
The Chicago Tribunereported that in the suburb Waukegan on Saturday, hundreds of people rallied carrying Mexican flags and signs that read: "No Raids, No Deportation," "People United Will Defend Immigrant Rights," "The People Will Defeat Trump's Far-Right Agenda," and "Know Your Rights."
According to the newspaper:
With dozens of signs urging people to know their rights, Giselle Rodriguez, the executive director of Illinois Workers in Action, urged people to know their rights and communicate those entitlements to others.
"Do not open the door unless ICE has a warrant signed by a federal judge," Rodriguez said. "Once you open the door, either in your car or home, it allows them to enter. Be silent. You don't have to talk to them. You have the right to an attorney, get one."
Chicago's ABC affiliate reported that multiple local businesses joined the Monday action. Carmen Montoya, owner of Mis Tacos Mexican Food in West Lawn, told the outlet that her family participated due to growing fears in the Latino immigrant community, saying, "Like me, there are many, many people that just need the opportunity to work without being afraid."
The Illinois city's NBC affiliate collected statements from more regional restaurants, auto shops, and other businesses. In an Instagram post included in the list, Three Tarts Bakery and Cafe in Northfield called the day of action "an important statement on the invaluable contributions of immigrants to our communities, industries, and daily lives."
Businesses in Washington, D.C. shared similar messages. According to an NBC affiliate, Republic Cantina said in an Instagram story that "D.C. depends deeply on immigrants, who work vital jobs in our local economy, pay taxes, and make the city a vibrant place to live."
"We've been dismayed to see the rollout of policies that tear immigrants from their homes—which is both inhumane and will cause massive harm to communities and to small business," added the restaurant.
In addition to lifting restrictions on ICE to enable more raids and deportations that experts warn will have "catastrophic" economic consequences, Trump has sought to end birthright citizenship, signed the Laken Riley Act, declared a "national emergency at the southern border," and ordered federal departments to prepare the U.S. naval base in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba—infamous for torture and long-term detention without charges—to hold tens of thousands of migrants.
A coalition including the ACLU filed a federal lawsuit on Monday over Trump's attempt to shut down the asylum process at the U.S.-Mexico border. The complaint warns that the government "is returning asylum-seekers—not just single adults, but families too—to countries where they face persecution or torture, without allowing them to invoke the protections Congress has provided."
Recalling Trump's first-term attacks on immigration, Melissa Crow, director of litigation at the Center for Gender & Refugee Studies, which is part of the coalition, said that "this time around, his administration has fully embraced racist conspiracy theories, declaring that families, children, and adults seeking safety somehow constitute a hostile 'invasion.'"
Participants in the Monday action countered the kind of language coming from the Trump administration by highlighting the contributions of immigrants. Reporting on local businesses that joined the day of action, The Columbus Dispatchdetailed:
Toro Meat Market, which has shops in Northland, North Linden, and on the South Side, announced its closing Monday "in solidarity with our Latino community."
"Their effort and sacrifice are fundamental to this country, and we want to make their impact visible," the business posted on its Facebook page. In Spanish on Instagram, the market added, "The effort and sacrifice of immigrants make this country great."
In Oklahoma, restaurants owned by Good Egg Dining were also closed on Monday. According to The Oklahoman, the group said that "our industry, our restaurants, and our communities are built on the hard work, passion, and dedication of immigrants. They are the backbone of our kitchens, our service, and our culture. Today, we stand with them."
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