The Trump administration began terminating the employment of or otherwise punishing federal workers caught posting negatively about Charlie Kirk or the White House’s response to his death.
The first known victim was Gavin Sylvia, an employee at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), who was put on administrative leave today for calling Kirk a “racist homophobe misogynist.” The agency accused Sylvia of “celebrating” Kirk’s death, but there’s no evidence that he expressed support for the murder. His post was complaining about Trump’s order to lower flags for Charlie Kirk.
At least two other employees were reprimanded by Homeland Security over the next 48 hours, setting an example for what the federal workforce should expect if they call out Kirk’s past comments.
A fourth employee, Secret Service staffer Anthony Pough, was fired for posting that he didn’t want to be online friends with folks who would mourn Charlie Kirk and suggested his murder was karma.
The Dept. of Defense warned employees that it was watching their social media accounts and would take appropriate action against anyone who celebrates or mocks Kirk’s death. The total number of fired employees is unknown. The U.S. government employs around 3 million Americans, not including hundreds of thousands of active-duty military members.
During an appearance on Fox Business, Republican House member and Trump loyalist Nancy Mace said she is “working to root out the teachers and healthcare workers” who “celebrate” the murder of Charlie Kirk.
“We’re not dealing with sane people. They need to be dealt with boldly, strongly. I support everything Trump is saying and wanting to do,” Mace said. “That’s why I’m working to root out the teachers and healthcare workers in South Carolina who celebrate murder. I don’t want them around our kids.”
This is the start of an extended crackdown on freedom of speech after Charlie Kirk’s death.
