Donald Trump has issued a strong warning. One million federal employees are at risk of losing their jobs. The reason? They ignored an email from Elon Musk. The email demanded that they report on their work accomplishments.
Trump’s message to federal workers
Trump spoke out during his first Cabinet meeting. He told reporters that his team was working to track down employees who failed to respond. Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is now investigating. The team is looking into why these employees didn’t answer the email. Trump speculated about their reasons for not responding. He mentioned they might be absent, have moved, or found new jobs. “There are many reasons they might not have replied,” Trump said. “But we are going to find out who they are.”
Email deadline sparked chaos
Musk sent the email to 2.3 million federal workers. The message was clear: respond by 11:59 p.m. Monday. He instructed workers to send five bullet points detailing their weekly work. It wasn’t just a casual request. Musk clarified on social media: failing to reply would count as resignation.
This email caused confusion. Some department leaders warned their employees not to respond. The email came from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) HR account. Many didn’t know what to do. They were unsure if replying was the right move.
Trump says workers are “on the bubble”
Trump didn’t hold back during the meeting. He stated that workers who didn’t respond were “on the bubble.” This phrase is sports slang for being on the verge of being cut. “These workers are under close scrutiny,” Trump said. “We are making decisions on them right now.”
Trump made it clear: those workers could be fired soon. “We’ll find out who didn’t respond,” he warned. The president is putting federal workers on notice. Their jobs could be at risk if they don’t step up.
Musk’s approach to firing workers
Musk joined Trump at the Cabinet meeting. He spoke to reporters about his approach to firing workers. Musk said there is no specific number of cuts planned. However, he emphasized that only essential workers should stay. “We want to keep those doing essential jobs well,” Musk explained. “But if a job isn’t essential, or the worker isn’t performing, they shouldn’t be on the public payroll.”
Musk made it clear: efficiency is the priority. Those who aren’t contributing effectively to the government won’t stay. It’s about making sure taxpayers aren’t paying for unnecessary roles. The message was strong. If you’re not pulling your weight, you’re out.
Trump urges agencies to take over firing decisions
Trump has made it clear that each agency will take charge of firing decisions. He wants department heads to lead the way. Musk and DOGE won’t make all the tough calls. Each department will now have the power to decide which workers stay and which go. Trump said it’s important that agencies handle this process themselves. He mentioned that some agencies would be more aggressive than others.
For example, Trump shared that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) might cut as much as 65% of its workforce. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin is already considering drastic cuts. Trump pointed out that other departments are handling the email responses differently. Each department head is taking a tailored approach.
Sensitive work handled with care
Trump also acknowledged that some departments handle sensitive work. This includes the State Department, which deals with classified information. He mentioned that Secretary of State Marco Rubio is taking a different approach with his team. “Marco has people working on highly confidential tasks,” Trump explained. “We are being more surgical with those decisions.”
The same goes for other departments with sensitive operations. Trump and Musk understand that not every department can be treated the same. Some positions need extra protection due to the nature of the work. Still, the goal remains the same: ensuring efficiency and eliminating unnecessary roles.
What’s next for the federal workforce?
Now, one million federal workers face uncertainty. They are under intense pressure to prove their worth. Trump and Musk are taking a no-nonsense approach. The clock is ticking for those who haven’t responded. The fate of many federal employees could be decided in the coming weeks.
