Tesla CEO Elon Musk has once more threatened job termination for federal workers who fail to reply to a controversial email asking them to list their top five accomplishments from the past week. Despite being informed by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management that responding to the email was optional, Musk reinforced his position in a post on his social media platform, X.
In response to potential job losses from Musk’s actions, New York Governor Kathy Hochul has encouraged federal workers affected by potential layoffs to seek employment through the state’s online portal. She emphasized New York’s welcoming stance by stating, “The federal government might say, ‘You’re fired,’ but here in New York, we say, ‘You’re hired.’ In fact, we love federal workers.”
The reduction of government personnel is part of a broader initiative by Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which aims to decrease bureaucratic overhead. However, exact figures on the number of workers dismissed remain unverified.
Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made a visit to the Guantanamo Bay U.S. base in Cuba on Tuesday. His trip aims to assess the new migrant center, which temporarily detains immigrants who illegally entered the United States. Guantanamo Bay, previously known for holding detainees linked to the September 11 attacks, has been repurposed to manage recent immigration issues by housing individuals in low-security tent facilities.
In the corporate arena, Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan spoke out in favor of the company’s commitment to a diverse workforce, during a discussion that sidestepped the controversial Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) label. Moynihan highlighted the hiring of 30,000 employees from low to moderate-income communities over the past decade, emphasizing opportunity within the company.
Simultaneously, two days before a meeting with President Donald Trump, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged to increase the UK’s defense spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027. Highlighting the evolving security landscape in Europe, Starmer underscored the necessity of supporting Ukraine and bolstering NATO ties.
In a notable appointment, Dan Bongino, a popular right-wing podcaster, has been chosen by Trump as the new deputy director of the FBI. Despite lacking direct experience in federal law enforcement, Bongino is anticipated to bring bold changes aligned with the visions of FBI Director Kash Patel.
However, recent cost-cutting measures by Musk’s DOGE appear inefficient, with nearly 40% of canceled contracts resulting in no savings, according to the administration’s data. These terminations were partly criticized as many involved fully obligated financial commitments.
In some places, the Food and Drug Administration has begun rehiring staff let go earlier, a move owing to lobbying pressures from the medical device industry that requires the agency’s expertise. This exemplifies the wavering strategies under Trump’s administration, which have seen abrupt employment changes across various federal sectors.
Federal workers have also been transitioning back to office environments following an order from President Trump, despite logistical challenges. Some offices, particularly those in major cities like Boston and San Francisco, are not yet ready to accommodate employees returning from remote work.
Throughout these developments, Trump has voiced his support for Elon Musk’s directives, which include having federal employees account for their weekly productivity, despite agency advisory that the directive was non-compulsory. This has created confusion across different federal departments, emphasizing the volatility in current federal employment strategies.
