In a recent development, Elon Musk, a top adviser to President Donald Trump and DOGE lead, issued an ultimatum demanding that workers list their accomplishments over the past week or face termination. Multiple U.S. federal agencies have directed employees to disregard the ultimatum. The move has fueled tensions between the some Republican and Musk, who leads the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The new department was tasked with drastically reducing the federal workforce.
The directive, sent via email from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), was issued late Saturday and required all federal employees to submit “approximately five bullets of what you accomplished last week” by 11:59 p.m. ET on Monday. Musk reinforced the demand on his social media platform, X, warning that failure to comply “will be taken as a resignation.”
Despite Musk’s mail, several high-ranking officials have advised employees not to respond without further guidance. The FBI, State Department, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Defense, and intelligence agencies, among others, have refused to comply. FBI Director Kash Patel stated in an internal email that “the FBI, through the office of the director, is in charge of all our review processes” and that employees should not respond. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard directed similar sentiments and advised intelligence personnel against responding due to the classified nature of their work.
The chaotic campaign to trim the 2.3 million-strong federal workforce has already resulted in more than 20,000 layoffs, with another 75,000 employees offered buyouts. Departments such as Defense and Homeland Security have run to rehire essential staff in order to secure the nation’s nuclear arsenal and handle urgent public health crises, including the worsening bird flu outbreak that has driven egg prices higher.
The approach taken by Musk and DOGE in order to bring efficacy in the system has drawn criticism from both sides of the political spectrum. Senator John Curtis (R-Utah) urged Musk to “put a dose of compassion” into the process, emphasizing the real-life consequences for federal employees who depend on their salaries to pay mortgages and support families.
Trump, however, appeared to support Musk’s initiative, calling it “genius” and suggesting that it would reveal whether employees were actually working. The president further supported the message by sharing a meme on his Truth Social account that mocked disgruntled federal workers.
The largest federal workers’ union, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), condemned the demand, asserting that Musk does not have the authority to fire workers who refuse to comply. The union has vowed to challenge any unlawful terminations in court. It has also warned members to seek guidance from their immediate supervisors before taking any action.
The legality of Musk’s directive remains in question. Several lawsuits have already been filed against DOGE’s mass terminations and hiring freezes. On Monday, a federal judge barred the Department of Education and OPM from sharing sensitive employee data with Musk’s department. Several legal experts speculate additional challenges may arise as courts determine whether Musk’s authority extends to federal workforce management.
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Adding to the uncertainty, different agencies have issued conflicting guidance. While some, like the FBI and intelligence agencies, have blocked the directive, the Treasury Department has instructed employees to comply, stating that the request “reflects an effort to increase accountability by the federal workforce, just as there is in the private sector.”
Federal employees remain in a state of confusion and distress. Some workers have questioned how they are supposed to respond if their job involves confidential or classified work, while others worry about the precedent Musk’s management style could set for government operations. A worker from the IRS, expressed his frustration and asked to keep his name anonymous, saying, “I really wonder when someone is going to say, ‘Enough.’”
According to some reports, the new system is creating disruption in government function and has started impacting Americans beyond Washington, D.C.
Delays in public services, foreign aid distribution, and regulatory oversight have sparked a public backlash, with recent polls indicating that most Americans disapprove of the sweeping changes.
It will be interesting to see how DOGE, under Musk, would enforce the termination of the employee who refused to comply with the Musk notice. Despite Trump’s continued support, resistance from lawmakers, unions, and federal agencies has slowed the implementation of Musk’s cost-cutting vision.
For now, it looks like a battle between Musk’s corporate-style governance approach and traditional bureaucratic structures in the American Federal government. The time will tell whether Musk’s directive stands or crumbles under legal and political pressure. However, one thing is certain: the battle over the federal workforce is far from over as it threatens to pull the Trump Presidency into uncharted waters of a complex and muddy bureaucratic clash.
