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Multiple US government agencies have advised employees to hold off on responding to Elon Musk’s directive requiring federal workers to justify their jobs or face dismissal. The order, issued by Musk in his capacity as head of the government efficiency office, has sparked widespread confusion and concern.
The Pentagon and Department of Justice (DOJ) have instructed employees to hold off on responding, citing potential legal implications and agency autonomy. Initially, the Department of Health and Human Services told workers to comply but later reversed its stance, advising them to pause until further guidance is provided. Meanwhile, NASA managers are also working on a response strategy.
The directive, sent to over two million federal employees, required them to submit five bullet points outlining their accomplishments for the past week by Monday. Musk reinforced the urgency by posting on X, “Failure to respond will be taken as a resignation.” However, his authority to enforce such a policy remains in question, as he has no direct power to terminate federal workers.
Legal experts and agency officials have raised concerns over the directive’s lack of legal backing. DOJ leaders quickly advised staff against responding, warning that compliance could pose ethical risks. The Department of Defense echoed this sentiment, stating that it will conduct personnel reviews based on its own established procedures.
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency have also urged employees to wait for further instructions. The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), representing 800,000 workers, sent a letter to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), calling Musk’s request “plainly unlawful” and accusing him of intimidating federal workers. AFGE demanded the email be rescinded and an apology issued.
Musk’s directive came shortly after former President Donald Trump praised his efforts to streamline the federal workforce, stating, “Elon is doing a great job, but I would like to see him get more aggressive.”
The move has drawn criticism from lawmakers across party lines. Senator John Curtis, a Republican from Utah, urged Musk to show more compassion, stating, “These are real people, with real mortgages and real lives. We can make government cuts without being cruel.”
With legal and political backlash mounting, federal agencies and unions are pressing for clarity on Musk’s role and the enforceability of his directive.
Gill Bikram Singh