A Boston University employee is facing backlash after posting a death threat against staff members of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the controversial government agency led by Elon Musk and tasked with cutting waste and bureaucracy in the federal government.
Jared May, who was listed online as an assistant media technician at Boston University, posted to the Bluesky social media platform a graphic that included pictures of several young men alleged to be DOGE staff. The graphic read:
“WANTED FOR TREASON, DEAD OR ALIVE.”
Alongside the image, May also listed the names of some of the individuals pictured—a move widely condemned as a targeted threat against government employees.
Someone at @DOGE should seriously look into the millions of funding that @BU_Tweets gets from nearly 2 dozen federal agencies. pic.twitter.com/Y7eNQTzcEi
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) February 4, 2025
Once the post gained attention, Boston University attempted to distance itself from May’s remarks, issuing a short statement to Boston.com:
“We are aware of a post made by an employee on his personal social media account…. We do not comment on personnel matters. The views expressed do not reflect the values of Questrom School of Business.”
While the university has not publicly confirmed any disciplinary action, May’s staff webpage appears to have been removed—suggesting that the school is taking steps behind the scenes to address the situation.
When a screenshot of May’s post began circulating on X (formerly Twitter), Musk himself took notice.
In response, Musk bluntly stated:
“Noted.”
Then, in a follow-up post, he added:
“He has committed a crime.”
Musk’s comments suggest that the federal government may now be looking into the matter, given that direct threats against federal employees—especially in connection with their official duties—can carry serious legal consequences.
This highly charged incident comes as DOGE faces growing attacks from Democratic leaders. The agency, which Musk describes as a one-time opportunity to slash government waste, has been a lightning rod for controversy as it pushes forward with spending cuts and bureaucratic downsizing.
In a fiery statement, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) accused DOGE of acting outside the law, calling it an “unelected shadow government” that is “conducting a hostile takeover of the federal government.”
“DOGE is not a real government agency. DOGE has no authority to make spending decisions. DOGE has no authority to shut programs down or to ignore federal law. DOGE’s conduct cannot be allowed to stand. Congress must take action to restore the rule of law,” Schumer posted on X.
Musk, unfazed, fired back at Schumer’s outrage, stating:
“Hysterical reactions like this is how you know that @DOGE is doing work that really matters.”
