Federal employees faced renewed uncertainty on Tuesday after Elon Musk granted them “another chance” to justify their roles or risk termination.
His latest announcement contradicted guidance from some Trump administration officials, who had previously suggested that responding to his ultimatum was voluntary.
Confusion and Resistance Within the Government
The conflicting directives have thrown the federal workforce into chaos, with some agencies, like the U.S. Treasury Department, instructing workers to comply, while others, such as the Pentagon, have remained silent. The turmoil highlights the extent of Musk’s influence over government operations as he pushes an aggressive cost-cutting campaign with President Donald Trump’s backing.
In a dramatic protest, 21 workers resigned from Musk’s newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) on Tuesday, citing ethical concerns.
“We will not use our skills as technologists to compromise core government systems, jeopardize Americans’ sensitive data, or dismantle critical public services,” the employees wrote in a resignation letter posted online.
The group included data scientists, product managers, designers, and the head of IT in an office formerly known as the United States Digital Service before Musk rebranded it after his favorite cryptocurrency.
Musk Doubles Down Despite Internal Pushback
Over the weekend, Musk had sent an email to federal employees demanding they summarize their accomplishments of the past week by Monday. In a post on X, he warned that failing to respond would be considered a resignation.
As the Monday deadline loomed, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), run by Musk aides, told workers they could ignore the request. However, Musk pushed back late Monday night, saying:
“Subject to the discretion of the president, they will be given another chance. Failure to respond a second time will result in termination.”
Trump further fueled confusion, telling reporters that employees who ignored Musk’s request would be “sort of semi-fired.” The White House did not issue an official statement on the matter.
New Crack in the Trump Administration
The back-and-forth exposed fractures within the Trump administration, with some allies distancing themselves from Musk’s approach. FBI Director Kash Patel advised his employees to ignore the email, while other agencies, like the General Services Administration (GSA), sent mixed messages.
On Monday morning, GSA’s acting administrator, Stephen Ehikian, urged employees to comply. Hours later, another memo suggested that responding was voluntary, though GSA leadership was still “encouraging” participation.
Other agencies also issued conflicting guidance:
- The Interior Department told some employees they were required to respond, while leadership at the Bureau of Land Management called it voluntary.
- The Department of Health and Human Services warned workers to keep their responses vague, advising them not to mention specific drugs or contracts.
- The Small Business Administration, led by Kelly Loeffler, fully endorsed Musk’s directive, with Loeffler saying, “We just want to know: Are people doing their jobs?”
Mass Layoffs and Legal Challenges
Musk’s downsizing efforts have already resulted in the termination of over 20,000 federal workers. Another 75,000 employees have been offered buyouts as part of the administration’s restructuring efforts.
Most of those laid off were “probationary employees” with less than a year of service, meaning they lacked the legal protections of career civil servants. However, sources say OPM has now begun terminating long-term employees, using its own agency as a testing ground for further mass layoffs.
On Monday, federal labor unions filed a lawsuit against the firings, asking a judge to declare Musk’s email ultimatum illegal. Meanwhile, a federal judge blocked the DOGE team from accessing sensitive data from the Education Department and OPM, a sign of growing legal pushback against Musk’s influence over government operations.
With no clear direction from the White House, federal workers remain caught in a power struggle between Musk, Trump, and agency leaders—leaving the fate of thousands of jobs hanging in the balance.
