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On 3 February, an unexpected tweet from Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, drew attention to a little-known office within the General Services Administration (GSA) known as 18F. This agency specializes in technology and consulting services for various government departments.
Musk’s tweet stated, “That group has been deleted,” which sparked confusion and concern among 18F employees. The tweet was a response to a rightwing activist who mischaracterized the agency as a radical leftist faction within the government. This activist incorrectly claimed that 18F was responsible for creating a government program aimed at managing individuals’ tax returns.
Contrary to these claims, 18F is a group dedicated to providing technology consulting and developing software solutions to enhance operational efficiency across government agencies. Following Musk’s tweet, employees were left wondering about the future of their ongoing projects and the ramifications of what Musk described as the group’s deletion. The lack of clarity from agency leadership left many uncertain about whether assistance and resources would continue.
As confusion reigned, the situation worsened on 1 March when 18F staff received an email at approximately 1 a.m. announcing mass layoffs and the shutdown of the office, reportedly ordered by senior leadership within both the GSA and the current administration.
This incident exemplifies a broader pattern often associated with Musk’s engagement with misinformation and highlights the growing influence of rightwing media narratives on his decisions. Critics argue that Musk’s actions reflect an ideological agenda that jeopardizes government operations.
Misleading Tweets and the Fate of Dedicated Workers
Although 18F is virtually unknown to the general public, the office had been instrumental in developing numerous government services, including an initiative by the IRS for free online tax filing. These efforts were specifically designed to streamline services and cut costs for taxpayers.
Elon Musk’s description of having “deleted” 18F originated from a retweet of rightwing activist Alex Lorusso, who has a history of controversial statements on social media. Lorusso’s allegations about 18F were swiftly challenged by community members who clarified that the agency’s initiatives were aimed at empowering citizens with free tax filing options, a service designed to save Americans money.
Rosiak, another conservative commentator, also spread misinformation about 18F, portraying it as a “far-left agency” and suggesting it jeopardized national security. His characterization of 18F has been disputed by former employees, asserting that critical security decisions were made within entirely different units of the GSA and that claims of negligence towards security protocols were unfounded.
In response to the prevailing narrative, former members of 18F have attempted to clarify their agency’s mission and achievements through a dedicated website. They highlight the diversity of projects completed by the office while drawing attention to the troubling trend of targeting government agencies based on political ideology rather than operational effectiveness.
“We were living proof that the talking points of this administration were false. Government services can be efficient,” stated Lindsay Young, the former executive director of 18F. This sentiment underscores the concern that the political landscape may threaten the essential functions of government, particularly as those in power align themselves with extreme partisan views.
Source
www.theguardian.com