Elon Musk, the world’s richest person and a prominent supporter of former President Donald Trump, has given U.S. federal workers “another chance” to justify their jobs or face termination. This comes after an initial deadline passed on Tuesday, with staff at multiple federal agencies instructed to disregard Musk’s request.
Musk, who heads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), had originally given federal employees until the end of Monday to submit “approximately 5 bullets of what you accomplished last week” via an email from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM). The email warned that failure to respond would be taken as a resignation.
However, the deadline sparked confusion and anxiety among federal workers, with several agencies—including some led by Trump loyalists—advising staff to ignore the email, at least temporarily.
Musk’s Response
On Monday evening, Musk announced on X (formerly Twitter) that federal workers would be given “another chance” to respond, subject to the President’s discretion. He warned that failure to respond a second time would result in termination but did not provide a new deadline.
Musk described his original email as a “pulse check” to determine if employees were capable of responding. He added, “This mess will get sorted out this week. A lot of people are in for a rude awakening and a strong dose of reality. They don’t get it yet, but they will.”
Agency Reactions
Several federal agencies, including the Defense Department, FBI, State Department, and Office of the Director of National Intelligence, instructed staff not to respond directly to Musk’s email. Cybersecurity concerns were cited as a key reason, with employees warned that their responses could be accessed by foreign actors.
At the Treasury Department, however, staff were directed to comply with Musk’s request, as it “reflects an effort to increase accountability by the federal workforce, just as there is in the private sector.”
Political and Union Backlash
Unions, including the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), vowed to challenge any unlawful terminations resulting from Musk’s demands. Meanwhile, some Republican lawmakers expressed concern over the disruption to the federal workforce.
Senator John Curtis of Utah, whose state has 33,000 federal employees, urged Musk to show compassion. “These are real people. These are real lives. These are mortgages,” Curtis said on CBS’s Face the Nation.
Legal Challenges
Dozens of lawsuits have been filed against Musk’s demands, with mixed results. On Monday, a federal judge barred the Education Department and OPM from sharing sensitive information with DOGE, citing potential risks to employee privacy and data security.
Public Opinion
Recent polls indicate that most Americans disapprove of the disruption caused by Musk’s cost-cutting campaign. Critics argue that the approach undermines the stability and efficiency of federal agencies, while supporters believe it increases accountability and reduces wasteful spending.
As the situation unfolds, federal workers remain in limbo, awaiting further instructions and potential legal outcomes.
