Elon Musk’s latest move as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has ignited a wave of controversy, drawing reactions from lawmakers, political strategists, and federal employees alike.
Over the weekend, Musk announced that all federal workers must submit a list of their weekly accomplishments—formatted as bullet points—or risk being considered resigned from their positions.
The backlash was swift, with agencies like the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Social Security Administration (SSA) advising employees that responding to Musk’s email was voluntary and cautioning that the email could even be vulnerable to foreign cyber threats.
Despite the controversy, Musk doubled down on his directive, stating that those who fail to respond a second time would face termination.
Alina Habba Defends Musk’s Directive on Fox News
On Monday night, Fox News host Jesse Watters directly challenged Alina Habba, legal counselor to President Donald Trump, by asking her to share one of her own “bullet points” from the previous week—an obvious nod to Musk’s new federal employee policy.
“Well, I think my biggest bullet point is top secret, so I can’t say it,” Habba responded. “But I can tell you that I did things from speaking to people in the Middle East to child trafficking to making sure our country is better.”
Habba argued that anyone unable to answer Musk’s simple question should reconsider their role in the federal workforce:
“If someone can’t answer that, that’s a serious problem.”
She also echoed Musk’s stance on accountability, saying:
“If you’re pretending to work from home and American taxpayers are paying for it, you better be damn sure President Trump’s going to figure it out. DOGE is going to cut the waste and the fat, and you’ll no longer have a job here.”
Political Reactions: Praise, Criticism, and Legal Concerns
The fallout from Musk’s directive has led to widespread reactions across the political spectrum.
Support for Musk’s Move:
- Alina Habba and other Trump allies defend the policy as necessary for improving government efficiency and holding federal workers accountable.
- Rep. Kevin Hern (R-Okla.) dismissed complaints from his constituents about Musk, stating that most people support cutting government waste, even if they dislike Musk personally.
Criticism and Legal Concerns:
- Jessica Tarlov, a Fox News co-host, questioned the legitimacy of the email:“If Elon Musk’s email was such a good idea, why did Trump’s cabinet members tell employees not to respond?”
- David Axelrod, former senior adviser to President Barack Obama, criticized Musk’s heavy-handed approach:“More than a few federal workers probably feel like telling Musk to go F himself after this latest edict.”
Potential Legal Challenges:
- Legal experts and federal employee unions are considering lawsuits, arguing that Musk’s email directive could violate federal employment laws and labor agreements.
- Questions have been raised about whether Musk, as a non-Senate-confirmed official, has the authority to implement such a policy under the Appointments Clause of the U.S. Constitution.
Musk’s Response to the Backlash
Musk remains defiant despite the mounting criticism. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he dismissed concerns about the simplicity of his request:
“The email request was utterly trivial—just type some words and press send. Yet so many failed even that inane test, urged on in some cases by their managers. Have you ever witnessed such INCOMPETENCE and CONTEMPT for how YOUR TAXES are being spent?”
What’s Next for DOGE and Federal Employees?
It remains unclear when Musk will issue his second round of emails to employees who didn’t respond to the initial request. Legal challenges from employee unions and federal watchdogs could delay or block any disciplinary actions related to non-responses.
In the meantime, federal employees across multiple agencies are left in limbo—unsure whether failing to reply could cost them their jobs or if existing legal protections will shield them from Musk’s bold (and potentially unconstitutional) directive.
