"I'm a Federal Worker. People Don't Understand the Level of Heist Elon Musk Is Perpetrating."

[Nevilledog]

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2025/02/elon-musk-us-aid-social-security-data-heist-trump.html

No paywall link
https://archive.li/qPJ43

On Friday night, reports emerged that Elon Musk’s aides had tussled with Office of Personnel Management and Treasury staffers while demanding access to troves of information about federal employees. And on Sunday, it was reported that Musk had ousted top officials at the U.S. Agency for International Development for refusing him access to classified security and personnel information.

Those of us within the ranks of the federal workforce looked on in horror at all of this. Those outside the federal government might not understand the gravity of this situation. Think of OPM and the Treasury’s Bureau of the Fiscal Service as the valet sheds of the federal government. They’re not flashy or big, but they hold all the keys. OPM maintains the private information of federal civil servants—bank codes, addresses, insurance information, retirement accounts, employment records. The Treasury’s system processes every payment to everyone from grandmothers waiting for their Social Security check to cancer researchers working to crack the cure. Now there’s a ham-fisted goon in an ill-fitting valet attendant’s coat rummaging in broad daylight through all of the keys—all of that private information, previously given in trust, handled with care, and regulated by law.

Now is the moment to act. We should not be waiting until the perps are driving off with every Bimmer in the lot. This information demands careful management, and transparency around its collection and use. Its inadvertent disclosure could irreparably harm millions of American families. And it’s being taken by people that still can’t figure out how to send an email from within the government without having it flagged as a likely phishing attempt. Someone needs to do something.

But while a few civil servants have bravely stepped into the fray, for the most part federal workers can only watch. We have been effectively silenced. The administration issued gag orders to many agencies, curbing their official communications with the general public, regulated communities, or even sometimes one another. Career staffers are struggling to keep up with lists of who they’re allowed to talk to and who they’re not. And the administration has made it chillingly clear it is willing to fire people without any legal justification whatsoever. It cannot be up solely to the cubicle workers of the federal government to stare down certain retribution in order to delay lawless power grabs. Many of us in the platoons of the federal workforce cannot afford to be dismissed, however illegal the dismissal might be. Litigating our termination is also not a privilege for which we have the resources or time.

*snip*

[SheltieLover]

1. K&R! Contact the media to complain of their lack of coverage of these folks speaking out about eloon's rape of our count

Americans are ABSOLUTELY clueless.

NBC viewer comment phone, address, and email:
30 Rockefeller Plaza.
New York, NY 10112.
phone - 212-664-2333.
email - [e-mail].

CBS contact information:
PHONE: [phone]
NEWSLINE: 800-CH-2-NEWS (800-242-6397)
FAX: [phone]
(Note: Story ideas should be faxed to the attention of "Assignment Desk." News releases should be faxed to the attention of "Planning Desk.&quot
ASSIGNMENT DESK: 212-975-5867, [e-mail]
CBS NEWS NEW YORK'S DIGITAL EDITORIAL STAFF: 212-975-7675, by email or via Facebook
WLNY-TV
524 W. 57th Street
New York, NY 10019

ABC contact information
https://support.abc.com/hc/en-us/articles/360025250811-How-do-I-contact-ABC-Customer-Service
please call Audience Relations at [phone]

MSNBC:
Dec 9, 2022 — For press inquiries only, please call the 24/7 PR hotline at 212-413-6142 or e-mail [e-mail].


faux snooze, if you choose to hold your nose and call, pretending to be a magat upset with rump. lol

(From Google AI. )

LiveNOW from FOX: You can call the East Coast newsroom at [phone] or the West Coast newsroom at [phone].
Fox Nation: You can call Fox Nation at [phone].

[ancianita]

8. Very helpful. Thank you!

[SheltieLover]

27. Yw!

[dalton99a]

2. An evil terrorist is holding the United States hostage for his amusement

[TheBlackAdder]

37. I work in the financial sector, anyone accessing data like that would get 20+ years in prison.

[Autumn]

3. I think most people understand the level of heist Musk Is perpetrating.

Republican don't fucking care.

[gab13by13]

5. I don't think they do, even here.

[erronis]

10. Most Americans don't follow the news.

They'll find out when their heating bills rise by 100%. Or a trip to the lumber yard will end without being able to get any 2x4s.

Most of them are dazed and have plenty to worry themselves about - housing, car expenses, kids, food, etc. They can probably be easily told that all of the problems in 2025 going forward are because of Old Man Biden and that black dude.

I also know plenty of liberal people who aren't actively monitoring what's going on - for their own mental health or lack of interest.

Apathy Abounds.

[Evolve Dammit]

33. Half the country doesn't even know. Can't be bothered. Don't vote either.

[Autumn]

34. You're wrong, half of the country does not sit out and not vote.

Almost half the country showed up to vote for him. Take it to the bank those who vote for him know what is going on and what he is doing.

[Evolve Dammit]

35. Google the percentage of population that actually votes. It's about half. Some states are way less.

[Autumn]

39. He still got almost half of the vote, enough to beat Kamala.

[Evolve Dammit]

40. Did he? Some would argue that Muskovite swung this one. Hillary beat him by 4 million and he still won, thanks to EC.

[Autumn]

42. Some would say there was no proof that Muskovite swung this one, that some

saying that being the leadership of the Democratic party. Hillary got more votes but we don't elected a president by the popular vote. She didn't get the only votes that counted.Trump got them.

[Evolve Dammit]

36. only hit 60% once (2020)

https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/statistics/data/voter-turnout-in-presidential-elections

[Solly Mack]

4. K&R

Oh, I know.

How to get this fact out there to everyone?

[Trueblue Texan]

9. Many, if not most, myself included...

…do not really understand the full danger of the threat. I need someone to paint the picture more clearly for me. Yes, I am a Social Security recipient .

[erronis]

11. It's evolving and growing. Please follow a couple of non-MSM media.

Everyone has their favorites but mine are EmptyWheel.Net, The Guardian, Heather Cox Richardson.

[Beck23]

13. See my post later this thread

[Solly Mack]

18. Musk now has all your information and the ability to use that information or sell that information

or anything else he wants to do. He may decide to target individuals or groups of people.

If he has a person's medical information, then he can use it to blackmail that person.

If he has access to your direct deposit, then he can stop deposits.

Think of everything that is stored on government computers - he controls a lot of it now.

He's working to control more.

Information really is power, and Musk is being given the motherlode.

[Beck23]

22. Yes.

He has your SS number and home address. Your contributions to political parties, although not at the Treasury, is public information. With that, and their home addresses he could send the Proud Boys after all Democrats.

[Trueblue Texan]

46. Everything except my SS # is public record. NT

[SheltieLover]

28. Right!

[Nictuku]

31. Retired Federal worker

Last Friday I made a big decision to remove my life savings from the TSP (government version of 401k). Now I'm waiting with baited breath to see the $ transferred to my bank account. Maybe I am over reacting, but I can just see Musk&Co drooling over the 963 Billion that is in that retirement fund. This morning, I got an email saying my request is being processed now and I should see the money tomorrow (*whew* so far, according to the normal flow of things)

My monthly income is my measly government annuity (pension) AND my SS (which I paid into for 40 years). If those are screwed with, I'll be in trouble because my TSP would only last a couple of years if it was my only source of money.

I'm still worried about the last 2, but feel pretty certain that my TSP money will come through.

Do you think I over-reacted?

[Solly Mack]

32. I don't know. I can see many of things that can go terribly wrong with someone like Musk

having that much control, that much access, but I can't say for certain what he will do.

I don't trust him or his minions.

The claim is that they are cutting government waste, which no one should believe.

He wouldn't need access to all that information if it was about government waste.

So, what's he really up to?

That's what bothers me.

[Joinfortmill]

44. Musk has all your personal data. Watch to see if your deposit/check arrives.

[Norbert]

6. And to think 52 years ago a 3rd rate burglary peaked their interest

This is sad.

[BattleRow]

7. And shameful..

[Beck23]

12. I am a recent government contractor

I am very familiar with national data privacy laws. Musk's breach of these systems are the biggest cyber security breach in the history of the USA. In addition, they copied the data to external drives, which they took. This data will allow anyone to access our financial and medical records wherever they are stored, such as our doctor's records, and our financial records. If you have direct deposits to your checking account for Social Security checks or tax refunds, your checking account information is also in these systems. Now we have no idea who has this data.

[HipChick]

14. I'm assuming these external drives are not encrypted...

Who knows where that data could end up? Dark Web?

[Beck23]

16. China would love these.

[slightlv]

19. Also what meds you take....

which, with the level of control they're getting ready to exert over our lives, means they can check for any med that could be an abortifacient... even if it's not. They may declare that "D" is a made-up disease and deny all medications for it as fake.

Besides wondering when Elon is going to steal my SS check, tho... I'm concerned about how many more scams are going to be going on out there. Hubby has already been rooked by one that cleaned out our bank account. Information downloaded onto external, unsecured drives, is basically information out there in the wild. Elon will be offered so much money for this info, or caches of it, and you KNOW he won't turn it down. Watch by how much his $$$ goes up over the next few months. And then wonder who has your data.

[Beck23]

15. Let's ve clear.

Musk has our Social Security numbers.

[Wuddles440]

17. I'm a retired Federal LE Special Agent...

with 30 years of both conducting and supervising criminal investigations and, believe me, I do understand the extent of the absolute lawlessness and wanton destruction that we are witnessing in realtime! In the past, what took most authoritarians years to accomplish, this administration may be able to achieve all their critical goals within the first 100 days. Hell, at the rate they're going it may be in 30 days.

[Baron2024]

26. FBI Resistance

There is word that a number of FBI Agents are resisting. This is some good news. As a retired federal agent I was wondering what your take is on this? Here is a link to the thread about it--

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=19985497

[Wuddles440]

30. It's somewhat heartening to hear,...

but once Patel takes charge it'll be comply or be fired. They only want personnel who are 100% loyal to their leader and cause. Any oath that was taken to defend the Constitution is no longer applicable as they now owe their fealty to one man.

[Baron2024]

20. A Plan For Lawful Resistance

A partial Plan for Lawful Resistance. You may agree or disagree. Constructive comments always appreciated--

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100219985541

[Betty Boom]

21. Federal retiree here

When I heard this story, I literally got a chill down my spine because I understood the implications. Bless those security people who bravely physically blocked access but in the end, were unsuccessful.

I was talking earlier to a friend and saying how many of the bed rocks of Federal rules and regulations now seem laughable. The hatch act. Security clearances Records management. Ethics training

It’s a very sad day in America and more than half of the country doesn’t even realize it

[Beck23]

23. Once he is locked up

He does need to be locked up. Once that is done, the government needs to issue new SS numbers right away.

[Evolve Dammit]

38. Who is going to do that? Orange Julius runs the show and gave Felon Elon permission to "have fun."

[bucolic_frolic]

24. Sounds to me like most everyone gets fired in the end, no matter what.

The economic fallout from pausing or ending all this spending, payrolls, jobs, benefits, will be massively massive.

By June, it will be like 2008 all over again.

[meadowlander]

25. The Vandals are sacking Rome. The barbarians are through the gates.

The best we can try to do is board up and disguise the temples and wait for them to finish gorging themselves.

Thanks 2024 electorate!

The cost in taxpayer dollars and the body count from this are both going to be staggering if anyone is left to count and tell the story,

[UTUSN]

29. Knr

[JI7]

41. Trump supporter response is Musk is he wealthiest man in the world

so who are we to question him.

They think he is going to make them wealthy.

[Joinfortmill]

43. The Coup is in full swing. Make a decision and then make a plan...

1. I'm going to stand up to these f*ckers. I'm old. My life is almost done, so f*ck 'em.
2. If there are protests near you, join them, but stay as safe as you can.
3. I told my grown children to get passports (they did) and make a plan - they haven't.
4. If you can, keep some cash on hand or at the least keep some extra canned goods.
5. Keep gas in your car.
6. I'm hoping the worst that happens is that my social security check is not deposited, not that money is siphoned out of my account (I doubt this will happen - yet).
7. Try not to be afraid. Speak out against these traitors, but do it wisely.
8. Hug your family.

That's all I can think of. Take care and stay safe.

[Initech]

45. He wants to be a trillionaire and he can't achieve that without pulling off the largest heist in the world.

And he attached himself to Trump because Trump is the kind of worthless asshole who will let him get away with it. Fuck Elon and his money.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

47. musk is targeting agencies and groups who are investigating him and his companies

Musk is targeting agencies/groups/inspector generals who have targeted Musk.

Link to tweet