WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a bold move to reshape the federal government, Elon Musk, head of President Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), announced that all federal employees will soon receive emails requiring them to justify their job roles. According to Musk’s statement on his social media platform X (formerly Twitter), failure to respond will be treated as a resignation.
This directive has raised major concerns across federal agencies, with legal experts and government watchdogs questioning the ethics and legality of such actions. In response, supervisors at the Department of Justice (DOJ) have already instructed employees to hold off on replying until more clarity is provided.
What Is Musk’s Directive About?
Under Musk’s directive, every federal employee must:
- Submit a list of five accomplishments from the previous week
- Respond within two days of receiving the email
- Risk job termination if they fail to comply
This move comes shortly after Trump praised Musk’s efforts but urged him to be “more aggressive” in streamlining the federal workforce. The goal of DOGE, according to Musk, is to:
- Cut government spending
- Reduce the size of the federal workforce
- Limit hiring to only essential positions
Musk claims that DOGE’s cost-cutting measures have already saved the government $55 billion—though official records only account for about $16.6 billion in confirmed savings.
DOJ Pushback: Concerns Over Ethics and Legality
The abrupt demand for federal workers to justify their roles has triggered widespread confusion, especially within the Department of Justice. According to anonymous sources:
- DOJ attorneys worry about potential ethical violations if they disclose nonpublic investigation details or share grand jury evidence.
- DOJ supervisors quickly advised their staff not to respond to the emails until clearer guidelines are established.
At least two U.S. attorney offices also reached out to higher authorities within the DOJ for official guidance on how—or if—they should comply.
Despite widespread hesitation, Ed Martin, a staunch Trump ally leading the U.S. attorney’s office in Washington, gave his staff the green light to respond cautiously, advising them to:
- Be general in their responses
- Avoid sharing confidential information
DOGE’s Expanding Powers: Overreach or Reform?
Created by Trump through an executive order on January 20, DOGE initially aimed to modernize federal technology systems by reorganizing the existing U.S. Digital Service. However, its role has since expanded to:
- Overseeing federal spending
- Cutting government personnel
- Streamlining government services
DOGE has already taken controversial steps, including:
- Firing numerous federal employees across various agencies
- Gaining access to internal systems of government departments
- Reversing some job cuts, including positions related to 9/11 health programs and nuclear energy specialists in the Department of Energy
Legal Battles and Controversy
DOGE’s aggressive restructuring has sparked multiple lawsuits. Democratic state attorneys general argue that:
- Musk is exercising powers that should be reserved for Senate-confirmed officials
- The Trump administration’s actions could violate constitutional limits
So far, a federal judge has denied a request to temporarily block DOGE’s operations, allowing the department to continue its work while the legal battle unfolds.
What’s Next for Federal Employees?
As uncertainty grows, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has warned government employees not to:
- Share classified information
- Include links or attachments in their responses
The next steps will likely depend on ongoing legal reviews and whether the courts determine that Musk’s actions fall within legal boundaries. In the meantime, Attorney General Rob Bonta and a coalition of state attorneys general are continuing their legal challenge to limit DOGE’s authority and protect the privacy of federal employees.
