Elon Musk Demands Weekly Reports from Federal Employees or Face Termination

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Federal employees are now obligated to document their work accomplishments from the previous week or risk termination, according to an announcement made by Elon Musk on Saturday. Musk, who heads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), stated in a social media post that an email will be sent to employees outlining the new requirements.

The communication comes after President Donald Trump praised Musk for his efforts to reduce the size of the federal workforce earlier that day. Trump urged Musk to intensify his approach, tweeting, “Remember, we have a country to save.” Following these directives, Musk asserted that “failure to respond will be taken as a resignation,” creating many questions about the legal authority he claims in enforcing this policy.

Legal experts are already raising concerns about the legitimacy of Musk’s demands. Michael Fallings, an attorney specializing in federal employment law, told POLITICO, “I don’t believe it would be legal, and I don’t think he understands right now how he will even do what he’s threatened to do.” He also expressed skepticism over whether Musk’s multiple online postings reflect a serious policy shift.

This requirement appears to be part of a wider initiative aimed at scrutinizing federal employee performance, which has grown more aggressive since Trump took office. Recent reports show that over 77,000 employees accepted voluntary resignation offers following a Deferred Resignation notice distributed by the Office of Personnel Management.

Musk’s oversight at DOGE has resulted in substantial cuts across various agencies, streamlining the federal workforce by focusing on those in probationary periods. This was further endorsed by Trump, who signed an executive order last Tuesday mandating agencies to prepare for more layoffs.

As the White House faces growing scrutiny over these steep workforce reductions, some federal employees are left unsure about how to respond to Musk’s memo. Conversations around the potential implications for those handling classified information are also ongoing.

Jacqueline Simon, political director at the American Federation of Government Employees, stated, “Federal employee performance is measured using written standards and regular, formal evaluations by supervisors. We will urge federal employees to follow any lawful instructions from their agencies.” Meanwhile, some Democratic lawmakers have advocated for employees to reject Musk’s requests, citing concerns over his authority in this domain.

Moreover, whispers of discontent have emerged from both sides of the political spectrum, with experts suggesting that Musk may be attempting to intimidate employees into resigning rather than undergoing a lengthy termination process.

With further reductions imminent, Musk’s expansion of managerial control over federal employment practices has alarmed many. One GSA manager, who spoke to POLITICO under anonymity, remarked, “They are clearly panicked. They can’t fire people as easily as in a private company, and after the probationary purge, they need new ways to sort out how.” The implications of this structure are already being felt across governmental operations.

As the situation develops, all eyes will remain on how both Musk and the Trump administration continue to reshape the federal landscape.