Musk Orders US Government Employees to Justify Work or Lose Jobs

WASHINGTON, February 23, 2025 (BSS/AFP) – Elon Musk, the billionaire tech entrepreneur and prominent advisor to Donald Trump, has announced a new directive for all U.S. federal employees: they must justify their work or face termination. The move came just hours after President Trump urged Musk to be “more aggressive” in cutting government spending.

New Directive for Federal Employees

Musk, the world’s wealthiest individual and a major Trump supporter, has been leading efforts to reduce the size of the U.S. government workforce. In a post on X, he revealed that all federal employees would soon receive an email requesting a summary of their weekly accomplishments. Those who fail to respond would be treated as having resigned.

The email, issued by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), asked recipients to provide approximately five bullet points outlining what they had accomplished in the past week. The subject line read, “What did you do last week?” with a response deadline of 11:59 pm Monday. The message did not explicitly state that failure to reply would result in termination, but Musk indicated that those who submitted meaningful responses would be considered for promotion.

Union Pushback and Employee Reactions

The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the largest federal employee union, has vowed to challenge any unlawful terminations. National President Everett Kelley condemned Musk’s actions, calling it a clear sign of disrespect toward federal employees and the critical services they provide. He specifically criticized Musk for his lack of public service experience.

“To force federal employees—many of whom are veterans—to justify their job duties to someone who has never served the public is cruel and disrespectful,” Kelley said in a statement.

Meanwhile, some federal employees have reported being advised by their agencies not to respond to the email until further instructions were provided. A physician at the Department of Veterans Affairs told AFP that they would focus on patient care rather than engaging in what they described as unnecessary drama.

Musk’s Response to Criticism

In response to the backlash, Musk attempted to downplay the requirements, stating on X that the standards for the submissions were “very low.” He reassured employees that a simple email with coherent bullet points would suffice.

Musk’s Role in Government Efficiency

Earlier on Saturday, Donald Trump took to Truth Social to praise Musk for his work, urging him to be even more aggressive in his efforts to slash government spending. Trump has appointed Musk to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a new advisory body tasked with reducing public sector waste, fraud, and corruption.

The Trump administration has already begun making cuts, including a reduction of at least 5% of the civilian workforce at the U.S. Department of Defense, set to begin next week. Other employees on probationary status have also been targeted for termination. While these cost-cutting efforts have been met with resistance from unions, Musk’s position within DOGE remains influential.

Legal and Public Reactions

The DOGE’s actions have faced mixed legal challenges. A judge recently rejected a union’s request for a temporary halt to the mass firings, allowing the cost-cutting measures to continue. Despite facing pushback, Musk has pledged to work with Trump “as long as he can be helpful,” brushing off concerns about potential conflicts of interest arising from his significant government contracts.

Trump, during a meeting with conservative activists, praised Musk’s efforts, listing what he called “flagrant scams” uncovered by the new department. “We love Elon, don’t we? He’s a character,” Trump said, referring to Musk’s new role as a “patriot” rather than holding any official title.

Musk has also promised transparency in DOGE’s work, with plans to publicize its actions on its official website. This initiative is expected to hold both Musk and the department accountable for their decisions.

Context and Implications

Musk’s latest directive and Trump’s push for more aggressive cost-cutting come at a time when the U.S. federal government faces mounting pressure to reduce spending. The tension between government unions, federal workers, and Musk’s private-sector approach highlights the broader debate over the role of the public workforce and government efficiency.

As Musk continues his leadership of the Department of Government Efficiency, the outcome of these policies will be closely scrutinized for their impact on federal services and employee rights.