Adapted by:
Miguel Jorge
WriterJournalist. I've spent more than half of my life writing about technology, science, and culture. Before landing here, I worked at Telefónica, Prisa, Globus Comunicación, Hipertextual, and Gizmodo. I'm part of Webedia's cross-section team.
Karen Alfaro
WriterCommunications professional with a decade of experience as a copywriter, proofreader, and editor. As a travel and science journalist, I've collaborated with several print and digital outlets around the world. I'm passionate about culture, music, food, history, and innovative technologies.
In February, an unprecedented event occurred in the U.S. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), headed by Tesla CEO Elon Musk in the Trump administration—the agency responsible for carrying out the “cuts” he orchestrated with the chainsaw given to him by Argentina’s President Javier Milei—fired 350 officials from the Department of Energy. Musk’s actions spiraled so far out of control that he had to reinstate specialists in assembling nuclear warheads. Now, his chainsaw has crossed the border into Italy.
The controversy in Aviano. Musk, known for his aggressive management and cost-cutting style, has sparked a new international controversy after imposing his productivity control system at the U.S. air base in Aviano, northern Italy.
In an email to Italian employees at the base, he demanded they report five weekly achievements or face dismissal. This measure, which DOGE has already implemented in the U.S., directly conflicts with Italy’s labor laws, which guarantee workers strong protections and rights. The directive provoked an immediate reaction from Italian unions, the government, and the public. It triggered a clash between Musk’s business model and the European nation’s labor regulations.
Musk’s email and the fallout. Employees at the Aviano base who work in catering, maintenance, logistics, and other essential services received the email. The directive, initially meant for employees in Washington, was mistakenly forwarded to Italian workers, causing confusion and alarm.
Italy’s Constitution protects the right to work, and labor contracts provide job stability. The government viewed Musk’s demands as an unacceptable intrusion. According to The New York Times, Roberto Del Savio, a union representative for the base’s workers, immediately rejected the directive: “We are in Italy here. There are precise rules and thank God for that.”
The backlash extended beyond Aviano. In total, some 4,000 Italian civilian employees work at U.S. bases, supporting 15,000 American soldiers and maintaining facilities that function like small U.S. towns on European soil.
@alberico_dip Anche se non è vero io gli risponderei così
♬ suono originale - 😂 Alberico Di Pasquale 😂
Italy’s labor system. Italy has one of the most protected labor systems in Europe. While exceptions exist, laws guarantee job stability, unionization, and rights that are difficult to change, particularly in the public sector. Unlike in the U.S., where companies can fire employees with relative ease, dismissals in Italy require strong legal justification.
Pierpaolo Bombardieri, general secretary of the Uil union, called Musk’s email “unacceptable and abnormal.” In response to the outrage, unions sent letters to the Italian government and the U.S. embassy seeking clarification on whether the measure could affect Italian workers at U.S. bases.
What does the Aviano base say? Current regulations state that Italian civilian employees only have to follow instructions directly from the U.S. government, not from forwarded emails. However, it remains unclear whether the Defense Department plans to extend these productivity control practices to local workers.
Reactions in Italy. The episode has fueled union outrage and become a subject of ridicule in Italy. Some see the country’s rigid labor laws as a safeguard, while others view them as an obstacle to modernization.
Right-wing journalist Nicola Porro said, “We would need Musk’s axe and Milei’s chainsaw in Italy too,” according to an English translation provided by Google. Meanwhile, a viral video by content creator Alberico Di Pasquale humorously depicted how an Italian worker might respond to Musk’s directive, reflecting many Italians’ views on their work culture and its clash with Musk’s vision of extreme productivity.
Musk, Trump, and uncertainty. Beyond the controversy at Aviano, the incident takes place amid uncertainty about the U.S. commitment to its military bases in Europe. Trump has repeatedly insisted that European countries pay more for their defense, fueling speculation about potential cuts to bases like Aviano.
At the same time, the U.S. government froze credit cards used by Italian workers at Aviano to purchase equipment and halted new hiring. These moves have raised concerns among employees, who fear that cost-cutting measures could ultimately threaten their jobs. As union representative Emilio Fargnoli said: “Musk can do whatever he wants in the United States. If they are happy with it, sure.”
Images | Gage Skidmore | Niccolò Chiamori (Unsplash)
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