Elon Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under President Donald Trump, has intensified his crackdown on federal inefficiency. His latest move? A simple yet controversial email directive demanding that all federal employees submit five bullet points summarizing their accomplishments from the previous week—or risk termination.
The message, sent by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), carried a clear ultimatum: respond by Monday at 11:59 p.m. ET, or face the possibility of being fired.
While Musk insists the request is “trivial,” multiple federal agencies have advised their staff to ignore the directive entirely, setting up a major clash between government agencies, the White House, and Musk’s DOGE initiative.
Musk’s Ultimatum: Respond or Resign
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Musk expressed frustration over the lack of response from federal employees:
“The email request was utterly trivial, as the standard for passing the test was to type some words and press send! Yet so many failed even that inane test, urged on in some cases by their managers.”
Musk’s message made it clear:
- Employees who ignore the email could be considered to have resigned.
- Those who fail to respond a second time will face termination.
He later clarified:
“Subject to the discretion of the President, they will be given another chance. Failure to respond a second time will result in termination.”
Why Are Agencies Telling Workers to Ignore the Email?
Despite the clear message from Musk, major federal agencies have advised their employees not to comply:
- The Department of Defense (DoD) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) instructed staff to disregard the OPM email, citing internal review procedures.
- Legal experts suggest that forcing employees to comply with a non-standard directive without congressional oversight could violate federal labor laws.
An internal email from the State Department reinforced the legal uncertainties:
“No employee is obligated to report their activities outside of their Department chain of command.”
Musk’s History of Productivity Demands
Musk’s demand for accountability from federal workers mirrors his earlier corporate strategies:
- In 2022, shortly after acquiring Twitter, Musk texted then-CEO Parag Agrawal: “What did you get done this week?”
- Agrawal’s failure to meet Musk’s expectations led to his firing.
Musk resurrected the exchange on X this weekend, responding to a meme comparing his past and current actions:
“Parag got nothing done. Parag was fired.”
The implication was clear—if federal workers don’t meet his basic expectations, they could face the same fate as Twitter’s former CEO.
The Legal and Political Fallout
Musk’s directive is already sparking legal threats and political resistance:
- Federal employee unions are preparing lawsuits, claiming Musk’s actions violate due process and federal labor protections.
- Several lawmakers from both parties have raised concerns that the initiative bypasses congressional authority, as Congress—not the executive branch—sets government spending priorities.
Sen. John Curtis (R-Utah) said: “We don’t need to be so cold and hard; let’s put a little compassion and, quite frankly, dignity in this as well.”
Security Concerns and DOGE’s Broader Agenda
Musk’s aggressive tactics aren’t the only concern surrounding DOGE:
- Reports suggest a 19-year-old staffer within DOGE, nicknamed “Big Balls,” was granted access to classified government data, raising national security concerns.
- DOGE’s broader mission includes auditing federal agencies for wasteful spending, corruption, and mismanagement—an initiative Trump has backed wholeheartedly.
Trump, who has publicly praised Musk’s efforts, said on Truth Social:
“ELON IS DOING A GREAT JOB, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HIM GET MORE AGGRESSIVE.”
The Bigger Picture: Trump’s Return-to-Office Order and Budget Cuts
Musk’s productivity crackdown comes as part of a broader Trump administration strategy aimed at cutting costs and restoring federal efficiency:
- Trump has ordered all federal employees to return to the office after five years of remote work due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The administration plans to clean house by removing underperforming employees and slashing unnecessary spending.
While Musk’s tactics may be controversial, a recent Harvard CAPS/Harris Poll found that 72% of U.S. registered voters support the idea of a federal agency focused on government efficiency.
