WASHINGTON, Feb 25 – A statement from Elon Musk indicating that federal employees will have one more opportunity to justify their positions before termination has added to growing uncertainty within the U.S. government.
Musk, who has been leading a significant restructuring of the federal workforce under President Donald Trump’s administration, announced via X, the social media platform he owns, that employees who failed to respond to his initial request would now get another chance.
Musk announced late Monday that, depending on the president’s decision, employees would be given another chance to respond. However, he warned that failing to reply again would lead to termination.
His message followed a weekend email requiring federal employees to summarize their weekly accomplishments, warning that non-compliance would be treated as resignation. However, Trump administration officials later informed workers they were not obligated to respond, creating widespread confusion.
Mixed Reactions Across Federal Agencies
The directive saw inconsistent responses across various government departments. Some agencies, like the U.S. Treasury Department, instructed their employees to comply with the email request, while others, including the Pentagon, chose not to enforce it. As the Monday midnight deadline approached, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) informed federal agencies that workers were not required to reply.
Despite this, some government officials encouraged employees to respond voluntarily. The Small Business Administration’s head, Kelly Loeffler, defended the email request, stating in a television interview, “We simply want to confirm who is actively working. The expectations are minimal.”
At the General Services Administration, a senior official advised employees that while responses were optional, they were still encouraged. Similarly, the acting director of OPM urged staff to submit brief bullet-point responses, although participation was voluntary.
Meanwhile, the Department of Health and Human Services advised employees that if they chose to reply, they should keep their statements general and avoid disclosing details about contracts or specific projects. An internal agency email cautioned employees to assume that anything they wrote could be accessed by hostile foreign entities and to craft responses accordingly.
Musk’s Downsizing Plan and Its Impact
Since taking charge of the restructuring effort, Musk has overseen significant reductions in the federal workforce. The administration has already dismissed over 20,000 employees and extended buyout offers to an additional 75,000 workers. The majority of job cuts have targeted probationary employees—those with less than a year in their positions, who have fewer legal protections.
However, sources indicate that OPM has begun dismissing career civil servants within its own agency as well, using an accelerated process intended to serve as a model for upcoming layoffs in other departments. One source suggested that OPM’s rapid actions were meant to demonstrate what could be accomplished across the government.
The sweeping job reductions have had ripple effects beyond government offices, impacting private businesses that rely on federal contracts. Some companies have been forced to lay off employees or postpone vendor payments due to financial uncertainty created by the shake-up.
Tensions Within the Administration
The controversy surrounding Musk’s directives has exposed divisions within the Trump administration. While some officials back his aggressive approach, others are concerned about its legality and long-term consequences.
President Trump, when questioned about Musk’s job ultimatum, stated that workers who ignored the email would be considered “sort of semi-fired,” further complicating the situation. The White House has not officially commented on Musk’s latest announcement.
The administration’s restructuring efforts have also affected major government functions. Billions of dollars in foreign aid remain frozen, and key programs operated by the U.S. Agency for International Development have been severely disrupted, leaving essential supplies like food and medicine in storage.
At the same time, agencies have scrambled to rehire essential personnel to oversee critical operations, including nuclear security and public health efforts related to bird flu containment.
Legal Challenges and Restrictions
A coalition of labor unions has filed a lawsuit aiming to halt the mass terminations, arguing that Musk’s email ultimatum violates labor laws. On Monday, they amended their legal challenge to request a ruling that would deem Musk’s email threats illegal.
In a separate legal decision, a federal judge issued an order preventing Musk’s restructuring team, known as the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), from accessing sensitive personnel data held by the Education Department and OPM.
Unlike traditional Cabinet appointments that require Senate confirmation, Musk’s role in the administration did not require legislative approval, adding another layer of controversy to his sweeping authority over the federal workforce.
As Musk pushes forward with his radical overhaul, uncertainty continues to loom over federal employees, many of whom are left wondering whether their jobs will survive the next round of cuts.