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Senator Patty Murray Criticizes Musk and Trump Over Federal Workforce Cuts

Senator Patty Murray of Washington has openly criticized tech entrepreneur Elon Musk and former President Donald Trump for their handling of federal workforce issues, stating that they “do not know what they are doing.”

In a recent virtual press conference, Murray expressed her concerns about the impact of ongoing layoffs in the federal sector. She stated, “Elon Musk and Donald Trump are proving every single day they do not know what they are doing, and they do not know what our federal workers actually do, and they don’t care if their firing spree ends up burning down something really important.” This comment was part of her broader critique of the administration’s approach to workforce management.

Murray highlighted the recent termination of approximately 1,400 employees at the Veterans Affairs (VA) department, emphasizing the significance of these positions in supporting veterans. “Just this week, they fired another 1,400 staff at the VA, people who are helping serve our veterans gone, for no reason,” she remarked, further noting that the administration continues to seek additional cuts without adequate consideration. “The Trump-Musk firing spree continues to be as surgical as a wrecking ball,” she added.

During the initial meeting of Trump’s Cabinet on Wednesday, Musk defended his controversial email sent to federal workers, which requested details of their professional accomplishments. He referred to this outreach as a “pulse check” meant to assess the productivity of federal employees and ensure they are fulfilling their job responsibilities.

Musk commented on the necessity of this email directive, stating, “There are fictional individuals collecting paychecks. Are they alive, and can they write an email?” His remarks, however, met with disapproval from some Senate Republicans. Senator Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia expressed her concerns regarding the way the email was communicated, saying she felt it lacked proper context and sensitivity.

The administration’s handling of federal workforce issues continues to draw attention, raising questions about the impacts of these layoffs and the overall strategy for government employment under the current leadership. The Hill has sought reactions from the White House regarding this situation.

Source
thehill.com