Billionaire Elon Musk claims that the government tech team that’s helped with projects like the IRS free tax filing website and the government’s web design system is “deleted.”
On Monday, Musk re-posted another account calling the General Services Administration’s 18F team a “far left government wide computer office” that helped build “Elizabeth Warren’s ‘Direct File’ tax program,” saying in his repost “that group has been deleted.”
Some Republicans have called for the free online tax filing website — which 18F helped build — to be shuttered, but it remains available for this tax season at least. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., did lead legislative efforts to have the IRS study the feasibility of such a tool and has since praised the Direct File, which helps people file taxes with the IRS online for free.
Last week, Musk simply posted the word “deleted” in another repost about the Technology Transformation Service and 18F “surrendering” and deleting swaths of code after a Musk deputy took over. The Trump administration has directed agencies to end programs and remove online references to “gender ideology” and diversity, equity and inclusion work.
Currently, it is not clear whether the 18F team — which is housed within TTS — or TTS itself is actually gone, although their X accounts no longer exist. GSA did not immediately respond to requests for comment for this story.
As of press time, staff could still perform their work, one TTS employee told Nextgov/FCW. Tesla alum and TTS director Thomas Shedd told employees last week in an email obtained by Nextgov/FCW that “this Administration has a list of urgent digital projects and TTS has been identified as a key source of technical talent.”
The social media edicts come shortly after Musk wielded his influence over the U.S. Agency for International Development: Its headquarters were closed Monday, its website is down and employees have reported that they aren’t able access email after Musk announced on his social media platform that he and Trump “agreed we should shut it down,” drawing criticism from some congressional Democrats who promised to push back.
Musk’s posts come as employees within TTS are being invited to one-on-one meetings with sometimes unidentified “advisors” being badged into the government building by Shedd himself, as Nextgov/FCW and GovExec have previously reported.
Musk himself visited GSA last week, following his appearance at the Office of Personnel Management before it sent out a mass email to federal employees offering them delayed resignations. Several of Musk’s longtime associates now work at GSA, which serves as a hub for government procurement and real estate, in addition to its role in tech.
Other work done by TTS includes running the government’s identity proofing system, which itself has come under scrutiny, as well as fielding technical training on artificial intelligence for federal employees, housing an early career tech program for the government and more.
