Musk & Ramaswamy Wrong: Federal Workers Are Underpaid & Under Attack

Democrats’ First Order of Battle in 2025: Defending Federal Workers Against the DOGE Commission

Federal government workers are often portrayed as overpaid and numerous, a narrative pushed by figures like Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, and their Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) commission. However, the reality is that federal workers have seen limited gains relative to the private sector over the last four decades. A robust defense of federal workers presents a key opportunity for Democrats to reframe the narrative and portray the GOP, and its associated figures, as uncaring towards working people.

The ongoing discussions surrounding DOGE highlight a significant absence: the voices of actual federal workers. As a former employee of the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) for over 15 years, ending in March 2022, I’ve witnessed firsthand the steady erosion of conditions for federal employees.

Shrinking Workforce, Stagnant Pay

The federal workforce, as a proportion of the total U.S. Population, has remained relatively stagnant since 1982. In October 1982, there were 2.890 million federal workers. By October 2024, that number had only increased to 3.001 million – a modest rise of less than four percent. During the same period, the total U.S. Population increased by over 104 million, or roughly 45 percent. State and local government employment grew at a much faster pace, increasing by nearly five million and about 1.9 million respectively, keeping pace with population growth.

federal pay has not kept pace with the private sector. The Federal Employees Pay Comparability Act (FEPCA) of 1990 aimed to close the gap, but successive presidents – both Democratic and Republican – have circumvented the intended pay increases, citing economic conditions. For the 2025 pay raise, the Employment Cost Index (ECI) increased by 3.86%, but the decreed raise will only be 2%.

federal worker pay is now 24.72% behind comparable private-sector pay, according to a report from the Federal Salary Council, which uses Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data.

A Bipartisan Pattern of Disregard

The lack of support for federal workers isn’t limited to one party. While Musk and Ramaswamy express open hostility, even Democrats have demonstrated a willingness to compromise federal employee interests. Barack Obama, for example, froze federal pay for two years in 2010, framing it as a necessary austerity measure. He also increased pension contributions for newer federal employees, creating a generational divide within the workforce.

Democratic administrations have also appointed Cabinet secretaries with histories of opposing worker rights. Penny Pritzker, Obama’s longest-serving Secretary of Commerce, previously opposed raising teachers’ salaries and had a contentious relationship with the Chicago Teachers Union. Similarly, Gina Raimondo, Biden’s Commerce Secretary, cut state workers’ pensions as Rhode Island Treasurer.

The Scale of Federal Responsibilities

Despite the rhetoric surrounding “wasteful” government spending, the federal workforce is surprisingly lean given its responsibilities. Of the 2.3 million federal workers tallied by FedScope (Federal Workforce Database – excluding Postal employees and intelligence agencies), over 750,000 work for the Department of Defense. Another 500,000 work in the Veterans Administration, and over 200,000 in the Department of Homeland Security.

This leaves approximately 800,000 employees to handle all other federal functions, including tax collection, economic statistics, national park maintenance, and law enforcement. The Social Security Administration, for instance, manages $1.4 trillion in annual benefits with only about 60,000 employees, at an administrative cost of just 0.5% of benefits paid – significantly lower than private retirement annuities.

DOGE’s Rhetoric and the Lack of Federal Worker Input

The proposals coming from DOGE, led by Musk and Ramaswamy, often lack a grounding in reality. Ramaswamy, in a podcast, suggested a system for cutting federal jobs based on whether an employee’s Social Security number ends in an odd or even number – a clearly arbitrary and dismissive approach. Musk has repeatedly used dismissive language towards federal workers on social media, questioning what they “do here.”

This rhetoric is particularly concerning given the lack of federal worker representation in the DOGE discussions. The commission’s focus on cutting costs and streamlining government seems to ignore the vital services provided by federal employees and the challenges they already face.

The Require for a Democratic Counter-Narrative

Democrats have an opportunity to counter this narrative by championing the rights of federal workers. Unlike state and local government employees, federal workers are prohibited from striking, limiting their ability to advocate for better conditions. A strong Democratic stance in support of federal workers could serve as a powerful message to voters and demonstrate a commitment to the working class. The party must move beyond simply acknowledging the importance of federal employees and actively fight for their interests, resisting the attacks from DOGE and others who seek to dismantle the federal government.