Elon Musk orders US federal employees to justify their work or face termination, pushing for government spending cuts in line with Trump’s directive for more aggressive action.
 |
| Elon Musk mandates federal employees to prove their work or resign as part of an aggressive push for government efficiency, amid increasing pressure from Trump’s administration. PNG Image |
Washington, D.C., USA — February 23, 2025:
Elon Musk has ordered all US federal employees to justify their work or face termination, following a push from former President Donald Trump for more aggressive government spending cuts. Musk, who serves as a prominent advisor to Trump and is the world’s richest person, has taken a leading role in efforts to reduce the size and spending of the federal workforce.
Musk’s directive came in an email to federal employees, stating: “All federal employees will soon receive an email asking them to outline their accomplishments from the past week. Failure to respond will be considered a resignation.” According to the email, workers were required to submit five bullet points detailing what they had achieved in the prior week, with responses due by 11:59 p.m. Monday. The subject line of the email read, “What did you do last week?” Although the OPM did not comment immediately, the nature of the message has stirred considerable controversy.
Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), strongly criticized the order, describing it as an attack on federal employees and the essential services they provide. Kelley’s statement condemned the move as “cruel and disrespectful,” particularly towards veterans who serve in civil service roles. Many employees have voiced frustration, with some expressing concerns about the disruption to their work and responsibilities, such as a physician at the Department of Veterans Affairs who said, “I have so much work to do, I can’t neglect patient care for this.”
Musk attempted to ease concerns, later tweeting that the requirements for the email response were “very low” and that even minimal responses would be acceptable. This clarification came after union leaders and employees criticized the demand as unrealistic and punitive.
This latest push for government efficiency aligns with Trump’s previous calls for more aggressive spending cuts. In addition to Musk’s directive, the Department of Defense announced plans to reduce its civilian workforce by 5% starting next week. These measures come as part of Trump’s broader strategy to cut costs and eliminate what he calls government waste.
Trump praised Musk’s leadership in a speech to conservative activists, calling him a “patriot” and applauding his efforts to root out inefficiencies. Musk, who is also overseeing the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has faced opposition, including mixed court rulings, as his initiatives continue. Despite this, both Musk and Trump remain committed to their goal of reducing federal government size and spending, positioning themselves as reformers in the battle against bureaucracy.
The directive’s impact on the future of the federal workforce, as well as the relationship between government efficiency and worker rights, remains to be seen as public and legal challenges continue to grow.