Don Moynihan: The Era of Purges -The firing of trans officials is part of a broader pattern of exclusion

[Dennis Donovan]

Don Moynihan - The Era of Purges

The firing of trans officials is part of a broader pattern of exclusion

Don Moynihan
Feb 27, 2025

Here is what happened. An intelligence employee at the National Security Agency leaked chats of fellow officers to a political activist. The chats included inappropriate messages, mostly around medical issues, plus mockery of political commenters. The political activist published the chats, calling for the employees to be punished. The richest man in the world used his social media platform to promote the attack. The new Director of National Intelligence immediately fired the analysts.



What seems problematic with this story? The inappropriate discussion on a work platform is unprofessional. But it is also hard to eliminate. If you are a supervisor, maybe you issue a warning.

The bigger issue is that a political activist has a direct pipeline into everything government employees are saying, even platforms that are supposed to include sensitive security messages. Who leaked the information?

The bigger issue is that the DNI fired these employees without even a hint of due process.

/snip

[Historic NY]

1. Sounds like 100 stupid people wouldn't believe their private chats on a agency chat

wouldn't show up. There are people out there seeking revenge. one way or another

[obamanut2012]

2. No, it was an LGBT+ safe space ERG chat to discuss transitioning

And, it is being very, very misrepresented.

[Historic NY]

3. It still shouldn't have been on the company dime...

Plenty of places to private chat outside the workplace. Never assume what's private is private.

[lapfog_1]

4. They worked at a US government security agency

OF COURSE their government emails and chats are going to be read by someone.

Their are always people watching the security people... and people that watch the watchers.

BTW, I don't care that they were LGBT+ or whatever... even if they were just chatting about Baseball teams... you simply cannot do that on government issued computer equipment or phones. Yeah, it happens... and it is mostly ignored. But unless the rules have changed since I worked for over a decade at secure and non-secure sites, it is made clear that to you to NOT do this.

There are limits on "personal matters" that can be discussed. There is mandatory training sessions. Like every year.

Carry a second personal laptop and a second cell phone ( if allowed ), use those to talk to your friends... even you co-worker friends if it is regarding non-government issues.