Musk gives federal workers ‘another chance’ to justify jobs

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has announced that US federal employees will be given a second opportunity to justify their jobs or face termination. This comes after widespread confusion among federal agencies over an initial ultimatum requiring workers to outline their weekly accomplishments or risk being considered as having resigned.

Musk, who was appointed by President Donald Trump to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), reaffirmed his position on X, the social media platform he owns. "Subject to the discretion of the President, they will be given another chance. Failure to respond a second time will result in termination," Musk posted late Monday.

The directive has sparked chaos across the federal workforce, with mixed responses from agencies. While some, like the US Treasury Department, instructed employees to comply, others, including the Pentagon, advised staff to ignore the email. Ultimately, the US Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issued guidance stating that federal employees were not required to respond.

Musk’s ultimatum follows his aggressive push to downsize the federal government. Since taking charge of DOGE, more than 20,000 employees have been laid off, with an additional 75,000 offered buyouts. The majority of terminated workers have been probationary employees with less than a year of service, but recent reports suggest that career civil servants are now being targeted as well.

Musk’s approach has exposed internal divisions within the Trump administration. Trump himself initially supported Musk’s directive, calling it "ingenious" and stating that non-responders would be "sort of semi-fired." However, as agencies pushed back, confusion spread about the enforceability of Musk’s demands.

Kelly Loeffler, head of the Small Business Administration, publicly backed Musk’s plan, arguing that it would ensure accountability. "We just want to know: Are there people there doing their jobs?" she said in a Fox News interview. Similarly, the General Services Administration encouraged employees to respond voluntarily, despite OPM guidance suggesting otherwise.

Cybersecurity concerns have also emerged. The Department of Health and Human Services warned employees that any responses should assume potential exposure to foreign actors. Meanwhile, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration told workers their answers would remain internal for now but did not mandate responses.

Musk, in response to the backlash, remained firm on his stance. "This was basically a check to see if the employee had a pulse and was capable of replying to an email," he wrote on X. "A lot of people are in for a rude awakening. They don’t get it yet, but they will."

The initiative has faced mounting opposition from federal employee unions, with the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) vowing to challenge any unlawful terminations in court. Several lawsuits have already been filed to block Musk’s directives, and a federal judge has temporarily barred DOGE from accessing sensitive data from the Education Department and OPM.

Beyond the government workforce, Musk’s radical cost-cutting measures have rippled into the wider US economy, affecting businesses that rely on federal contracts. With foreign aid funding frozen and the US Agency for International Development effectively dismantled, shipments of essential supplies like medicine and food remain stranded in warehouses.

Public disapproval of Musk’s handling of the federal workforce crisis is growing. Even within the Republican Party, concerns are emerging over the disruption. Senator John Curtis of Utah, whose state has a significant federal workforce, urged Musk to consider the human impact of his policies. "These are real people. These are real lives. These are mortgages," Curtis said on CBS’ "Face the Nation."

Despite the pushback, Musk remains resolute in his restructuring efforts. While a specific new deadline for responses has not been set, Musk’s message is clear: comply or risk termination. With legal battles underway and political tensions rising, the fate of thousands of federal workers remains uncertain.