Federal workers panic as DOGE audits expose culture of waste and incompetence

• The federal government has long operated with minimal accountability, fostering a culture where inefficiency and waste are rampant. Performance reviews are overwhelmingly positive, with over 99% of employees rated as “fully successful” or higher, highlighting a system that rewards mediocrity over merit.
• Elon Musk’s DOGE has exposed billions in wasteful spending by demanding federal employees justify their work. This unprecedented accountability has sparked outrage and panic among workers unaccustomed to such scrutiny.
• Federal employees, shielded by job security and conflict-avoidance practices, are resisting DOGE’s efforts. Many view basic accountability measures as harassment, revealing a workforce deeply resistant to change and merit-based evaluation.
• Democrats, while acknowledging government waste, criticize DOGE’s methods as overly disruptive. Their opposition underscores a reluctance to challenge the status quo, which prioritizes employee protection over taxpayer-funded efficiency.
• With the federal workforce costing taxpayers $270 billion annually, DOGE’s audits signal a long-overdue reckoning. The panic among federal employees reflects a shift toward private-sector accountability, aiming to create a more efficient and transparent government.

For decades, the American taxpayer has footed the bill for a bloated federal bureaucracy that operates with little accountability and even less efficiency. Now, thanks to Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the curtain is being pulled back on the staggering waste and fraud that have long defined federal employment. The response from federal workers? Outrage, panic and a refusal to justify their existence.

The DOGE audits, which have exposed billions in wasteful spending, have sent shockwaves through the federal workforce. For the first time, federal employees are being asked to answer a simple question: What did you accomplish last week? The reaction to this basic request has been nothing short of hysterical.

The culture of conflict avoidance

Federal employment has long been synonymous with job security, regardless of performance. As the source text reveals, federal supervisors are incentivized to give glowing performance reviews to avoid backlash from employees and unions. The result? A system where incompetence is rewarded and meritocracy is nonexistent.

In 2013, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) reviewed performance management systems across 24 CFO Act agencies and found that more than 99% of non-Senior Executive Service employees received a rating of “fully successful” or higher. This statistic is not just laughable — it’s a damning indictment of a system that prioritizes conflict avoidance over accountability.

The Washington Post noted in 2016 that only 0.1% of federal employees ever receive a negative performance review. In what world does this reflect reality? It doesn’t. It reflects a culture where mediocrity is celebrated, and excellence is irrelevant.

DOGE’s meritocracy shock

Enter Elon Musk and DOGE. The billionaire entrepreneur, known for slashing 80% of Twitter’s workforce and improving the platform’s functionality, has turned his attention to the federal government. His approach is simple: ask federal employees to justify their work.

The response has been telling. Federal workers, many of whom have never faced real accountability, are treating DOGE’s emails as an act of “harassment” and a “distraction.” One National Institutes of Health employee, granted anonymity for fear of retaliation, described the experience as “one long funeral.”

But let’s be clear: the emails are not harassment. They are a litmus test. As the source text explains, the emails are not necessarily meant to act as performance indicators but rather to identify who is willing to engage in basic accountability. Those who refuse to respond are outing themselves as part of the problem.

Democrats’ hypocrisy on waste

While Democrats claim to oppose government waste, their vocal opposition to DOGE’s efforts reveals their true priorities. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) told Fox News Digital, “Of course there’s some wasteful spending, but you don’t use a meat ax and cut everything.”

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) went further, accusing DOGE of “turning the country over to the billionaires.” Yet, when pressed, Murphy admitted, “There’s plenty of money to be cut.” So why the outrage? Because DOGE’s approach threatens the status quo—a system where federal employees are insulated from accountability and taxpayers are left holding the bag.

Sen. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) acknowledged that “there’s certainly waste and efficiencies that we can get better at,” but criticized DOGE’s methods as “causing way too much chaos.” What Kim and his colleagues fail to grasp is that chaos is often the necessary precursor to meaningful reform.

A long overdue reckoning

The federal workforce has ballooned to over 3 million employees, costing taxpayers $270 billion annually in salaries and benefits. For too long, these workers have operated under the assumption that they are untouchable. DOGE’s audits have shattered that illusion.

The panic among federal employees is not just about losing their jobs — it’s about losing their sense of entitlement. For the first time, they are being held to the same standards as private-sector workers, and they don’t like it.

As President Donald Trump noted, “You’ve got a lot of people who have not responded. So we’re trying to figure out, do they exist, who are they, and it’s possible that a lot of people will be actually fired.”

This is not tyranny. This is accountability. And it’s long overdue.

Meritocracy vs. entitlement

The DOGE audits have exposed a federal workforce that is allergic to meritocracy. Federal employees, accustomed to a culture of conflict avoidance and participation trophies, are now facing a reality check.

Elon Musk’s approach may be disruptive, but disruption is exactly what the federal government needs. The American people deserve a government that operates efficiently and transparently. They deserve a government where employees are held accountable for their work.

The panic among federal workers is a sign that DOGE is on the right track. It’s time to drain the swamp—again.

Sources include:

ZeroHedge.com

Politico.com

FoxNews.com