On February 3, Elon Musk tweeted about the General Services Administration's 18F office, triggering confusion about its status and operations. This agency, rather than being a radical entity as some claimed, focused on tech consulting and improving government efficiency. Despite their ongoing civic tech projects, staff were left uncertain when Musk claimed 18F had been deleted. In early March, staff received a surprise email about layoffs and the office's closure, leaving agencies in limbo over their projects. The situation exemplifies the impact of public statements on government operations and employee morale.
Musk's tweet led to widespread confusion within 18F, a tech consulting arm of the GSA, ultimately resulting in their layoff and shutdown.
Former staffers described 18F's work as crucial for providing tech services that improve government efficiency, similar to Musk's vision with Doge.
The confusion regarding Musk's declaration of deletion persisted for weeks, leaving 18F staff in the dark about their future and project status.
By the time the definitive email about layoffs came, partner agencies were left questioning the future of important civic tech projects that were already under development.
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