This weekend, President Trump urged Elon Musk to take a more assertive approach with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a unit that has already seen the dismissal of tens of thousands of federal employees. Following this directive, Musk issued an ultimatum to federal workers: report their accomplishments from the past week or face job loss. This move has sparked confusion within various government agencies, as some leaders are advising their teams to ignore Musk’s request.
On Saturday, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) sent an email to federal employees asking for five bullet points detailing their recent work. In a post on his social media platform, X, Musk stated that failure to respond would be interpreted as a resignation. He framed the OPM’s request as a necessary measure to combat fraud and as a "basic pulse check" on government performance. However, some high-ranking officials, including FBI Director Kash Patel and other defense leaders, have instructed their employees to refrain from responding to Musk’s demands.
Republican Senator John Curtis of Utah defended Musk’s approach during an appearance on CBS News, suggesting that the request was not overly burdensome. However, he also acknowledged that Musk’s management style has been challenging for federal workers, urging him to show more compassion in his leadership.
At the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), Musk made headlines by wielding a chainsaw, symbolizing his commitment to reducing government bureaucracy. Trump celebrated Musk’s efforts, touting the creation of DOGE as a significant step in addressing government waste and inefficiency.
Federal employees have been given until midnight on Monday to submit their reports or risk losing their jobs. The American Federation of Government Employees, representing nearly a million civil servants, has vowed to contest any job losses that result from Musk’s ultimatum in court. As tensions rise, the future of federal employment under Musk’s leadership remains uncertain.