The Trump administration’s goal of eliminating wasted programs and unnecessary government positions has caused Washington bureaucrats to panic, people told CNN.
Government officials are reportedly suffering from anxiety over access to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)’s various computer systems, and are afraid of monitoring communications.
Some employees are paranoid to be able to monitor conversations, emails, or texts. Some buy Faraday bags to block electromagnetic signals and block potential surveillance. According to To CNN.
One employee of the General Services Agency (GSA), responsible for government procurement, said he was not carrying a workphone outside the office. (Related: Federal judges further expand deadlines for Trump’s “folk directive” offering federal workers acquisitions)
👀 pic.twitter.com/djzkghwoyh
– I’m a libertarian (@beinlibertarian) February 17, 2025
“I used to have my work phone everywhere, hours and weekends in case I needed something,” the employee complained to CNN. “Now I won’t take it out of my office space.”
The GSA said it had no plans to investigate employees, the outlet noted.
Another employee at the Veterans Affairs Bureau (VA) uses a personal phone when connected to office WiFi and uses a personal phone when considering covering a computer camera He said it was particularly creepy.
“There’s a lasting sense that we’re being monitored,” the employee said.
Federal employees in Nevada have expressed caution about the terms used in Microsoft team messages, and, according to CNN, avoiding the term “straightforward” to artificial intelligence. (Related: Luke: Trump’s administrator discovered a massive fraud bomb set up to explode leftist narratives in Doge)
Another employee at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said CNN scientists were encouraged by their leaders to take notes in an offline program instead of Google Docs.
People are taking part in the “Tesla Turtown” protest against Elon Musk outside the Tesla showroom in Seattle, Washington on February 15, 2025 (via Getty Images by Jason Redmond/AFP)
They were reportedly instructed to post a version online that did not contain words that could lead to scrutiny. For the first time in 10 years, the employee told CNN that he was “picking up a phone” when there were no online memos or meetings.
“We’re that level of delusion,” the individual added.
President Trump signed an executive order on Thursday, sought to cut the size of the federal government by allowing Doge to eliminate positions that are not legally necessary.
The order requires federal agencies to adhere to the roles of employees and demonstrate that positions are legally mandatory. The order exempts certain employees, including law enforcement. (Related: Exclusive: Musk quietly inserts Doge into a mobile federal agency that can uproot 162,000,000 governments)
If he resigns by February 6, it will trigger a “acquisition” of Trump, which will provide eight months’ salary to government employees. The acquisition took place shortly after government officials ordered them to return to full-time on January 20th.
There is now @doge Describes all government departments and exposes waste, fraud and abuse. wonderful. pic.twitter.com/wm96haxqzp
– David Sachs (@davidsacks) February 17, 2025
Recently Doge Release X explains multiple federal sectors and agencies and urges the public to send examples of “waste, fraud, abuse.”
The Department of Defense, the Department of Justice, and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) all have Doge X accounts.
Doge Aid arrived at the IRS headquarters in February and requested information about the agency’s operations.
