In a move that has sent shockwaves through the federal workforce, Elon Musk, the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has issued an ultimatum to U.S. government employees: justify your jobs or face termination. This directive, which requires employees to submit a summary of their work by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, has created chaos and confusion across various federal agencies.
Musk’s demand that federal employees list their accomplishments from the past week has resulted in mixed reactions. Some agencies, such as the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Federal Communications Commission, have instructed their employees to comply with this directive. However, other agencies, including the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, Education, and Commerce, have ordered their workers not to respond.
The ultimatum has left many federal employees feeling uncertain and stressed.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do at this point,” Charles Farinella, a former IRS agent in New York, said. “I might have to sell my house because I don’t have a severance or anything. I feel pretty devastated.”
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the largest union representing federal workers, has criticized Musk’s directive as “cruel and disrespectful.”
Everett Kelley, the union’s president, stated, “Once again, Elon Musk and the Trump administration have shown their utter disdain for federal employees and the critical services they provide to the American people.”
Lawmakers from both parties have voiced concerns about the legality of Musk’s mandate.
“If I could say one thing to Elon Musk, it would be to please show a dose of compassion,” said Senator John Curtis, a Republican from Utah. “These are real people. These are real lives. These are mortgages. It’s a false narrative to say we have to cut and that you have to be cruel to do it.”
Musk has defended his actions, claiming that the directive is part of an effort to eliminate waste and fraud within the federal government. He asserted that many federal employees are not performing their duties and that some may even be fraudulently collecting paychecks.
“We are increasingly optimistic that as the immense waste and fraud are eliminated from Social Security and Medicare, there is potential to increase actual dollars received by citizens and improve healthcare!” Musk wrote on X.
