Elon Musk has wasted no time trying to deliver on a promise he made: that he would gut the United States federal government in the name of saving money for the White House.
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Since Donald Trump assumed the presidency and signed an executive order establishing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Musk has essentially had the power to send his delegates into federal agencies and demand access to highly sensitive data, primarily on government workers.
In addition, DOGE operatives recently sent a memo offering financial incentives for federal workers to resign from their posts, a move that legal experts have flagged as illegal. Others have warned workers that Musk’s offer is likely a scam and that they should approach it with extreme caution.
But as it turns out, many federal government employees have no intention of bowing to Musk. In fact, they are committed to standing against him.
Federal government employees are sending Musk a 'memo' of their own
Over the past few weeks, Musk’s actions at DOGE have cast clouds of uncertainty over Capitol Hill as federal staffers face an uncertain future. The legality of what he is attempting to do remains questionable, especially as a federal judge recently blocked him from offering these incentives to government workers, albeit temporarily.
But for anyone wondering if all government workers will fold and give Musk what he wants, the answer largely seems to be no. Thousands of federal staff members have joined a social media community to let the world and Musk know where they stand, and they are doing so on a platform that rivals Musk’s X.
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On a Reddit (RDDT) forum titled r/fednews, many federal government employees have voiced their take on Musk’s actions against them. Data shows that since Trump’s victory in November 2024, the number of subscribers to the subreddit has jumped from 100,000 to 354,000, indicating federal workers feel a need to congregate and coordinate plans.
As The Daily Dot reports, though, “Activity on r/fednews didn’t truly pick up, however, until the days after Jan. 28, when the Office of Personnel Management sent a “deferred resignation” offer to the vast majority of federal employees at Musk’s behest.”
Unlike some subreddits, r/fednews’ guidelines don’t mention restricting political discussion, though they do clarify that it has no direct affiliation or endorsement from the U.S. government.
Reading through it, though, it is evident that many members are committed to staying in their positions and not caving to Musk’s offers. “I will hold the line and not resign,” many commenters declare, while others express similar sentiments.
“I'll be honest, before that email went out, I was looking for any way to get out of this fresh hell,” one post states. “But now I am fired up to make these goons as frustrated as possible, RTO be damned. Hold the line!”
Other comments have stated that Musk’s actions are only firing them up to stay in federal positions even more. Another urges fellow government workers to hold the line, stating, “We made an oath to protect the Constitution from threats, both foreign and domestic.”
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This post included a sketch of federal workers standing against Trump, highlighting departments such as the Center for Disease Control (CDC), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and U.S. Postal Service, all areas caught in the crossfires of Musk’s war on federal funding.
The r/WallStreetBets of government is here
This community spirit and commitment to the principles of the U.S. Constitution are evident throughout the forum. It calls to mind the passion displayed on another Reddit forum that ultimately made history.
In March 2021, discussion and community commitment on subreddit r/wallstreetbets led to the now infamous Gamestop (GME) short squeeze that shocked financial markets, as enthusiasm from aperture retail traders pushed the struggling company to new heights.
Related: Elon Musk's recent DOGE decision raises major red flags
These events would lead to similar phenomena involving companies such as AMC Entertainment (AMC) and Bed Bath and Beyond.
Granted, the members of r/fednews aren’t trying to make money, as the members of r/wallstreetbets were. But they are demonstrating the power of community while standing together, clearly inspiring others in the field to do the same.
On both forums, the phrase “hold the line” is commonly used, urging members to stand together and remain focused on their mission, while supportive memes and illustrations help keep the threads entertaining.
It is presently unclear how Musk’s campaign to upend the federal government will proceed, but one thing is apparent. The people he is targeting aren’t backing down without a fight.
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