WASHINGTON — As federal employees start their workweek on Monday, uncertainty reigns following a controversial directive from President Trump’s cost-efficient appointee, Elon Musk. The directive demands that many workers explain their recent achievements or risk job loss, creating a turbulent environment for hundreds of thousands of government staff.
Several major U.S. agencies, including the FBI, the State Department, the Pentagon, and the Homeland Security Department, resisted Musk’s unique request. Over the weekend, these agencies’ leaders issued guidance encouraging workers to refrain from compliance, arguing that Musk’s ultimatum may violate legal frameworks. Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle expressed concerns about the legitimacy of the demand, and labor unions are contemplating legal action.
As tensions mounted, Trump urged Musk to intensify his approach to cost reduction through the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), even sharing a meme online that ridiculed federal employees who had voiced grievances regarding his administration and Musk’s oversight.
An email dispatched by Musk’s team on Saturday mandated that federal employees report five specific accomplishments from the prior week within 48 hours. Musk also stated on social media that failure to submit this information by 11:59 p.m. EST on Monday would result in termination.
As the deadline neared, confusion erupted, with various agencies offering conflicting directions. The Department of Health and Human Services sent out mixed messages; initially contradicting itself before advising employees to “pause activities” linked to Musk’s request until noon on Monday. The acting general counsel for the department, Sean Keveney, expressed concern over the impersonal nature of the email, citing uncertainty and stress among staff, while also raising issues about the confidentiality of responses due to potential attorney-client privilege.
Criticism of Musk’s approach proliferated, even from some Trump supporters. Senator John Curtis from Utah urged Musk to display more compassion, emphasizing the real-life implications these job threats have on workers and their families. Curtis stressed that economic reductions do not necessitate cruelty.
In keeping with this sentiment, newly appointed FBI Director Kash Patel instructed his team to disregard Musk’s requests for the time being, affirming that the FBI would follow its established procedures for reviews.
Additional examples of confusion emerged from various government offices. The interim U.S. attorney for D.C., Ed Martin, sent contradictory guidance to his staff regarding compliance with the request. Meanwhile, leaders at the Departments of State and Defense established clearer directives, stating that employees are not obliged to report their activities to Musk, with assurance that leadership would act on their behalf.
Reports indicate that thousands of federal employees have already been displaced from their positions during the initial month of Trump’s second term, whether through firings or “deferred resignation” offers. While precise statistics on job cuts are not public, it is estimated that more than a million employees feel the impact of these changes across the country.
Musk’s recent request has been portrayed as a “basic pulse check” on government productivity, with claims of reduced work output purportedly justifying his measures. He has alleged without substantiation that a significant number of government employees are underperforming, suggesting even that instances of “fraud” could involve deceased individuals receiving government paychecks.
In the coming week, thousands of employees are expected to leave the federal government, including probationary staff at the Pentagon and most of the workers with the U.S. Agency for International Development due to recent cuts or leave.
