Elon Musk Orders Federal Workers to Justify Jobs or Resign \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Elon Musk, President Donald Trump’s cost-cutting chief, has issued a nationwide directive requiring federal employees to justify their jobs within 48 hours or face resignation. The extraordinary ultimatum, sent via email, demands a five-bullet summary of weekly accomplishments by Monday at 11:59 p.m. Thousands of government employees have already been forced out as Trump’s administration aggressively slashes federal jobs and freezes grant funds. Federal unions have condemned the move as disrespectful and unlawful, while Musk defended it as part of his “chainsaw for bureaucracy” initiative.
Musk’s Federal Workforce Purge Quick Looks
- 48-Hour Ultimatum: Federal workers must justify their jobs by Monday at 11:59 p.m. or be considered resigned.
- Musk’s Directive: Employees received an email demanding five bullet points of job accomplishments from last week.
- Mass Layoffs Continue: Hundreds of thousands of workers have already been fired, laid off, or offered buyouts.
- Major Agencies Affected: Cuts hit the VA, Defense, HHS, IRS, and National Park Service, among others.
- Union Outrage: AFGE calls the move “cruel and disrespectful” and vows to challenge unlawful firings.
- Musk’s Justification: At a conservative event, Musk waved a giant chainsaw, calling it “the chainsaw for bureaucracy.”
- Unclear Rules: Employees on leave or vacation face uncertainty, as agencies will decide their fate individually.
- More Job Cuts Expected: Trump’s administration shows no signs of slowing down mass government downsizing.
Deep Look
The federal workforce is facing an unprecedented crisis as employees across the country have been given a 48-hour ultimatum to justify their jobs—or be considered as having resigned. The directive, issued by Elon Musk, President Donald Trump’s cost-cutting chief, is part of a sweeping effort to downsize the federal government, an initiative Musk has called his “chainsaw for bureaucracy”.
The shock announcement came via Musk’s social media platform, X, on Saturday, where he outlined the extraordinary demand:
“Consistent with President @realDonaldTrump’s instructions, all federal employees will shortly receive an email requesting to understand what they got done last week. Failure to respond will be taken as a resignation.”
Within hours, hundreds of thousands of federal workers received an official email with a simple but high-stakes directive:
“Please reply to this email with approx. 5 bullets of what you accomplished last week and cc your manager.”
The deadline is set for Monday at 11:59 p.m., giving government employees just two days to defend their positions—or risk losing them.
Federal Job Cuts Accelerate as Layoffs and Firings Mount
The directive is just the latest step in a mass purge of the federal workforce, which began immediately after Trump took office for his second term. Over the past month, Musk and Trump’s newly created Department of Government Efficiency have been dismantling what they call “wasteful bureaucracy”, eliminating jobs at a staggering rate.
Though the administration has not provided official numbers, an Associated Press tally estimates that hundreds of thousands of federal employees have already been affected—either through direct firings, forced resignations, or buyouts. These cuts have hit major government agencies, including:
- The Department of Veterans Affairs
- The Department of Defense
- Health and Human Services
- The Internal Revenue Service
- The National Park Service
While many of the layoffs have occurred outside Washington, D.C., the impact is being felt nationwide as government operations are disrupted.
The administration is also freezing trillions of dollars in federal grants, further weakening agencies that depend on government funding to function.
Federal Employee Unions Sound the Alarm
The 48-hour ultimatum has sparked immediate backlash from federal employee unions, who call the move “cruel and disrespectful”.
Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), issued a strongly worded statement condemning the demand.
“It is cruel and disrespectful to hundreds of thousands of veterans who are wearing their second uniform in the civil service to be forced to justify their job duties to this out-of-touch, privileged, unelected billionaire who has never performed one single hour of honest public service in his life.”
Kelley also vowed that AFGE would challenge any unlawful firings, stating that the union would take legal action against the administration if necessary.
Musk’s Justification: “Waste is Everywhere”
Musk, now one of the most powerful figures in Trump’s administration, has made it clear that he sees mass federal job cuts as essential to eliminating what he describes as government inefficiency.
At a conservative gathering on Friday, Musk waved a giant chainsaw in the air, calling it his “chainsaw for bureaucracy.” He claimed that the federal government was full of pointless jobs, stating:
“Waste is pretty much everywhere. It’s time to clean house.”
His remarks were met with enthusiastic applause, reinforcing his anti-bureaucracy stance among Trump’s base.
What Happens to Federal Employees on Leave or Vacation?
The vague nature of the job justification directive has also raised questions about how it will be enforced, particularly for employees who are on vacation, medical leave, or other approved absences.
McLaurine Pinover, a spokesperson at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), confirmed that Musk’s directive was legitimate but gave no clear answer on how it would apply to employees who are unavailable to respond before the deadline.
“Individual agencies will determine any next steps,” Pinover said, offering little clarity on whether those who fail to respond due to leave will be automatically terminated.
This uncertainty has added to the anxiety among government workers, who now fear that even approved absences could cost them their jobs.
How This Fits into Trump’s Government Overhaul
Trump’s aggressive cuts to the federal workforce are part of his larger effort to shrink the size of government, a campaign promise he has now begun delivering on at record speed.
Since taking office in January, the president has:
- Fired or forced out tens of thousands of federal employees
- Ordered a government-wide hiring freeze
- Directed agency heads to prepare for mass layoffs
- Frozen billions in federal grant funds
While Trump’s supporters argue that these measures reduce government waste and inefficiency, critics warn that they cripple essential services, impacting veterans, healthcare, tax collection, and national parks.
With more cuts expected, federal agencies are now operating in a climate of fear and uncertainty, as employees wonder whether their jobs will exist next month—or even next week.
The Road Ahead: What Comes Next?
- Monday, 11:59 p.m. Deadline: Federal workers must submit five bullet points of job accomplishments or face forced resignation.
- Legal Challenges Loom: AFGE and other unions are preparing lawsuits to challenge mass firings.
- More Layoffs Expected: With no signs of slowing down, the Trump administration will likely continue mass job cuts.
As the federal government undergoes one of the most drastic workforce reductions in modern history, the future remains uncertain for thousands of public servants who now find themselves at the mercy of an efficiency drive unlike anything seen before.
Elon Musk Orders Elon Musk Orders Elon Musk Orders
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