Elon Musk Gives Federal Workers Another Chance to Justify Their Jobs
Tech billionaire Elon Musk has sparked fresh controversy by issuing a new ultimatum to federal employees, warning them they have “another chance” to justify their jobs or face termination. This directive, which forms part of Musk’s ongoing efforts to reform the federal workforce, follows the expiration of his original compliance deadline on Monday. Many federal workers have been left confused after receiving conflicting instructions from their respective agencies.
Musk’s Directives and Government Response
Musk, who is also the world’s richest person and a close adviser to President Donald Trump, was recently appointed head of the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). This White House initiative is aimed at reducing federal staffing and cutting costs. As part of this initiative, Musk initially set a deadline for federal employees to submit an email outlining their work contributions and achievements. Failure to respond would be considered a resignation.
However, amid growing resistance, Musk announced that federal workers would have a second opportunity to comply. “Subject to the discretion of the President, they will be given another chance,” Musk wrote on his social media platform, X (formerly Twitter). “Failure to respond a second time will result in termination,” he warned, though he did not specify a new deadline.
The directive has sparked widespread confusion and anxiety among federal workers, as different agencies have responded in different ways. Several major government departments, including the Justice Department, FBI, State Department, Pentagon, Department of Energy, Department of Homeland Security, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, advised employees to ignore the directive, at least temporarily.
In contrast, other agencies, such as the Department of Transportation, Department of Education, Department of Commerce, and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), instructed their employees to comply with the request and submit their work summaries.
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM), which oversees the federal workforce, later informed agencies that each department could decide how to handle Musk’s directive, deepening the uncertainty for many employees who are unsure of the potential consequences of either complying or refusing.
Musk and Trump Defend the Directive
Musk has defended the directive, stating that it was merely a basic check to evaluate federal employees’ engagement and responsiveness.
“This was basically a check to see if the employee had a pulse and was capable of replying to an email,” Musk stated on X.
A lot of people are in for a rude awakening and a strong dose of reality. They don’t get it yet, but they will.”
President Donald Trump has strongly supported Musk’s initiative, calling the directive “ingenious.” Trump believes the email request will expose inefficiencies in the federal government and help determine whether employees are truly working.
“If people don’t respond, it’s very possible that there is no such person or they’re not working,” Trump said. He further suggested that non-responders would be “sort of semi-fired” or fully dismissed, though he did not explain what “semi-fired” would entail.
Unions, Lawmakers, and Courts Push Back
Despite Trump’s support, Musk’s directive has faced intense opposition from federal worker unions, lawmakers, and legal experts.
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the largest federal employees’ union, has condemned Musk’s actions and vowed to challenge any unlawful terminations.
On Capitol Hill, even some members of Trump’s own Republican Party have raised concerns. Senator John Curtis of Utah, who represents 33,000 federal workers, urged Musk to show more compassion in handling the situation.
“If I could say one thing to Elon Musk, it’s like, ‘Please put a dose of compassion in this,’” Curtis said during an interview on CBS’ Face the Nation.
The controversy has also led to multiple lawsuits challenging Musk’s directive, with court rulings divided. Some judges have denied immediate requests to block Musk’s executive orders, while others are still considering legal challenges.
Growing Uncertainty for Federal Employees
More than two million federal workers reportedly received emails from the OPM instructing them to submit “approximately five bullets of what you accomplished last week.” However, many employees are in limbo, uncertain whether failing to comply will result in job loss.
The situation remains highly uncertain as federal agencies, Congress, and the courts continue to grapple with the implications of Musk’s aggressive cost-cutting efforts.
As the deadline for the second compliance window remains unclear, federal employees across the country anxiously await their fate in the ongoing battle over government efficiency and job security.
