DOGE uses private sector management tool to intimidate federal employees

3 March 2025

Elon Musk’s cruel use of a private sector management tool to intimidate federal employees blew up in his face. If only Democrats adequately capitalized on the blunder.

James Carville advised Democrats this week to engage in a strategic retreat and “play possum.” 

I couldn’t agree more. 

Not solely because Republicans, as Mr. Carville argues, are doing a terrific job of creating chaos voters loathe.

But also because Democrats easily fall into the trap of being the party that runs around with their hair on fire and reveal that they really don’t understand how the corporate world works. 

Take the request to employees to list 5 things they did last week.  Though not overly common in the corporate world, some managers use this tool when taking over a new division or assuming a new role.

Think of this request as a tool, like a screwdriver. There’s a right way to use a screwdriver and the wrong way.

Fastening a screw to a board is an appropriate use for that tool.

However, stabbing someone with a screwdriver is both cruel and the incorrect use of said tool.

It was the toxic use of this tool that was wrong.

I have answered such a request a couple of times over my corporate career.  It took me a couple of minutes to do mine.

I have spoken with a half dozen friends who worked for large corporations over the years and to a person they also had such a request over the years.  Some managers ask for a weekly list of activities performed.  

Instead of condemning the mean-spirited intent of this particular management tool wielded by Musk, Democrats attacked the tool, showing how out of touch they are with the private sector. 

Some Democratic leaders said it was “unheard of.” 

Others said it was oppressive and that government employees spent all day Monday trying to figure out how to answer it.  I and others were shocked that this is the first time anyone had received such a request.  Is no one in the federal government preparing weekly activities lists?

Yet threatening employees with the task, giving a completely unreasonable timeline, and actually stating that the purpose of the request was to weed out slackers, on the other hand, is toxic and destructive.  It is stabbing the hand with a screwdriver.

What should Democrats have done?

Democrats should have pointed out that Elon Musk took a corporate tool used by management in the private sector and weaponized it against public sector employees. 

Weaponizing that tool and sending it out with a threat to people who do not report to you on a ludicrous timeline is a hallmark of bad management. 

It sends the message that employees are untrustworthy, that their answers will be used against them, and that management, too, cannot be trusted. 

It crushes morale and makes it difficult to recruit new talent. It also encourages your most talented employees to leave.

By attacking the tool itself, Democrats exposed that they understand very little of how corporate America works.  It fuels the trope that government employees are part of the Coddled Class. 

For some of my corporate colleagues, the complaints that the request was burdensome and oppressive actually garnered some sympathy for Mr. Musk and what he is up against.  Perhaps this is exactly what Mr. Musk was hoping for.

Who should Democrats look to for leadership?

As Mr. Carville points out, the Democratic Party at this point has no leader.  This is where Ken Martin could shine.

Martin should have called a half dozen sources who work in management at Fortune 500 companies and asked about this tool and how it is used. 

He could then get in front of the issue by validating the tool (and showing empathy to workers in the private sector), but attacking how it was used.  The goal is to prevent Democrats from stumbling all over themselves. 

Martin should surround himself with people with real world experience.  The DNC staff of over 600 people should have on it someone who started a company, someone with a military background, someone from a farm, a gun owner, someone who is pro-life, and some people who have worked at companies in the private sector, as that is where almost 70% of American workers are employed. 

I looked at the staff of the DNC and there wasn’t a single person who had experience in management at a publicly traded company.  Nor do congressional staffers have this experience.  Martin needs to recognize that he is operating in an experience desert and reach out to those who have lived that life.  And get in front of the party.

Otherwise Democrats are better off playing possum, as Mr. Carville suggests.

Mark W. Yonkman                                                                                           3 March 2025