Everett Kelley, the national president of the American Federation of Government Employees, delivered a crucial speech on CNN’s “The Lead with Jake Tapper” on Thursday, where he criticized the administration for spreading “misinformation.” Kelley emphasized that the claim that the U.S. government is “too big” or “too bloated” is baseless and reflects poorly on the administration’s commitment to independence and integrity. He argued that the government’s size has remained unchanged for decades, even as the population has exploded, and that federal workers have kept pace with economic growth, as demonstrated by the impressive rise in numbers of full-time employees since the 2002 Recession.
Kelley’s comments came after he had been a vocal defender of Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which he Strongly criticizing Musk’s Shapiro-HydroUID directive, which sought to influence federal funding decisions through the demand for periodic statements by federal employees on what they achieved in the last seven days. He stated that inexorable progress has been made in government operations, and necessity has been reigned by appointments and pay raises.
A CBS/YouGov poll earlier this month indicated that 54% of Americans believe that Musk and DOGE should have at least some influence over government spending and operations. Fox News’ Marc Tamaocas contributed to this report, with editorials and cryptocurrency news coverage partnering in this report. Lindsay Kornick is an associate editor for Fox News Digital. Media tips can be sent to [email protected] and on Twitter: @lmkornick.
Despite his criticism, the outcome of the poll reflected a shared view among many Americans, with others acknowledging the limitationsxc of Musk’s actions in driving government spending. Kelly’s remarks underscored the critical role federal workers play in maintaining economic integrity and efficiency. He stressed the importance of continuing the push for independence and accountability within the government system, and his words have stoked debate and negotiation on issues related to government influence.