In Washington, recent directives by President Donald Trump have backed Tesla founder Elon Musk’s bold demand for federal employees to account for their weekly achievements. Employees were given until the end of Monday to report or face the risk of termination. This directive, although reportedly voluntary according to some government officials, has sparked widespread confusion and frustration across federal agencies.
During a White House meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, Trump elaborated on Musk’s intentions, questioning the productivity of government workers. “What he’s doing is asking, ‘Are you actually working?’” Trump remarked, alluding to potentially non-respondent employees being “semi-fired.” Trump supported Musk’s belief that many federal employees might not even exist and claimed that significant financial fraud had been uncovered—though no evidence was provided to substantiate these claims.
Meanwhile, the Office of Personnel Management communicated to agency leaders that compliance with Musk’s directive was not mandatory. Despite this, employees received mixed cues dependent on their specific agency. Some were instructed to comply with the reporting request, while others were told participation was optional or directly advised against it.
Musk doubled down on his demands even after the clarification was issued, critiquing federal employees for what he described as reluctance to embrace accountability. On his social media platform, Musk reiterated that failing to submit their work reports would result in termination, though a second chance might be possible under presidential discretion.
This approach prompted litigation from various unions, businesses, and organizations, who argued Musk was in violation of the law regarding mass terminations. The lawsuit claims it is among the largest employment frauds witnessed in U.S. history. White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly dismissed the lawsuit, suggesting the time spent filing it could have been used for productive employee evaluations.
Musk, who is spearheading efforts for downsizing and reforming the federal workforce under Trump’s administration, has faced growing opposition, both public and internal, including protests in Washington. Concerns have also circulated within government channels, with the Office of Special Counsel warning that certain fired probationary workers might have been terminated illegally.
Some top administration figures, including key allies like FBI Director Kash Patel, have opposed Musk’s request, urging employees not to disclose their weekly activities citing privacy and security reasons. This marked a rare public divergence among typically supportive Trump Cabinet members.
The controversy accelerated following Trump’s social media commentary suggesting Musk be more assertive. Subsequently, Musk announced the imminent rollout of a directive across federal agencies to document accomplishments—an action reflecting his corporate management style. However, the Office of Personnel Management’s follow-up communication lacked any mention of consequences for non-compliance.
Significant resistance emerged from critical agencies such as the State Department, Homeland Security, and the Pentagon, among others. They rejected participation in Musk’s mandate with varying legal defenses. Conversations about the legal framework for such demands arose across political spheres. Despite this, some departments, including the Education Department, directed employees to acknowledge and respond to Musk’s communications, emphasizing basic compliance.
With murmurs of potential future changes to personnel policies, the acting director of OPM even suggested possibly formalizing expectations for regular reporting of weekly goals. Thousands of federal employees are reported to have faced termination or coerced resignation during Trump’s ongoing push for government downsizing, though official statistics are unavailable.
