Lawsuit Challenges Musk’s Ultimatum to Federal Workers: ‘Report or Be Fired’/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Federal employees filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk, accusing him of illegally demanding they list weekly accomplishments or face termination. The legal challenge aims to block mass layoffs tied to Musk and President Trump’s push to downsize the government. Confusion spreads across agencies, with some leaders instructing workers to ignore the directive.
Federal Worker Lawsuit Against Musk: Quick Looks
- Lawsuit filed: Federal workers sue Elon Musk over his demand to report weekly accomplishments or risk termination
- Mass layoffs challenged: Legal action aims to halt Trump-Musk government downsizing plans
- Confusion spreads: Federal agencies offer conflicting instructions; some urge employees not to comply
- Musk’s stance: Calls the mandate a “basic pulse check” to combat alleged government inefficiency and fraud
- Bipartisan criticism: Lawmakers, including Sen. John Curtis (R-UT), condemn Musk’s ultimatum as “cruel”
- Federal agency pushback: FBI, Pentagon, and State Department instruct employees to pause responses
- Thousands at risk: Hundreds of thousands of workers face layoffs or forced resignations amid mass cuts
Federal Workforce Turmoil: Quick Looks at Key Takeaways
- Deadline pressure: Musk orders federal employees to submit five work accomplishments by Monday at 11:59 p.m. EST
- Agency divide: FBI, Pentagon, and State Department instruct staff to pause or ignore Musk’s request
- Legal pushback: Lawmakers, unions, and legal experts question the legality of Musk’s ultimatum
- Mass layoffs: Hundreds of thousands of federal jobs already cut or targeted under Trump’s efficiency drive
- Union response: Labor groups threaten lawsuits, citing employee rights and procedural violations
- Security concerns: Some agencies cite attorney-client privilege and data protection issues
- Trump support: President urges Musk to be “more aggressive,” mocking employee backlash
- Fraud claims: Musk alleges payroll fraud without providing evidence, citing “ghost employees”
Lawsuit Challenges Musk’s Ultimatum to Federal Workers: ‘Report or Be Fired’
Deep Look
WASHINGTON (AP) — Elon Musk, serving as President Donald Trump’s chief cost-cutting adviser, faces a new legal battle after federal workers filed a lawsuit Monday challenging his demand that government employees list their weekly accomplishments or face termination.
Filed in federal court in California, the lawsuit accuses Musk of violating federal employment laws and calls the mass layoff threat “one of the most massive employment frauds in the history of this country.” It aims to halt the Trump-Musk administration’s federal workforce downsizing efforts, which have already affected hundreds of thousands of workers.
How the Controversy Began
The turmoil started over the weekend when Trump praised Musk’s government overhaul efforts but urged him to be “more aggressive.” Musk responded by stating that all federal employees would receive an email requiring them to list five accomplishments from the previous week or risk job loss.
By Saturday evening, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) sent the directive with a deadline of 11:59 p.m. Monday, though it did not explicitly mention termination.
Legal and Political Backlash
The lawsuit, filed by the State Democracy Defenders Fund representing unions, veterans, and conservation groups, argues that no OPM policy has ever required such a blanket report. The suit seeks an immediate injunction against any layoffs related to the directive.
Criticism has come from both parties:
- Sen. John Curtis (R-UT) called the demand “cruel” and urged Musk to consider “real people with mortgages and families.”
- Democrats and labor unions argue the mandate violates federal worker protections and collective bargaining agreements.
Federal workers nationwide face a whirlwind of confusion as a Monday night deadline looms to comply with Elon Musk’s directive to list last week’s work accomplishments or risk losing their jobs. The sweeping mandate, issued under President Donald Trump’s cost-cutting initiative, has thrown federal agencies into disarray, with conflicting instructions emerging from leadership.
Musk, heading the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), declared the measure a “basic pulse check” to identify underperforming or nonexistent employees. “Failure to respond will be treated as a resignation,” he wrote on X.
Divided Agencies and Conflicting Guidance
Federal employees received emails Saturday demanding five bullet points detailing their weekly achievements. The deadline: 11:59 p.m. EST Monday. However, by Sunday evening, guidance varied wildly:
- FBI: Director Kash Patel urged staff to ignore the request, stating internal review processes would handle accountability.
- State Department: Leadership said it would respond collectively on behalf of employees.
- Pentagon: Ordered a “pause” on responses until further notice.
- Health and Human Services (HHS): Instructed compliance before reversing course hours later, citing security concerns.
- Homeland Security: Told staff no individual response was required.
Tensions rose as agencies scrambled to interpret the mandate. “We’re all in limbo,” said a Defense Department analyst. “One email says respond, the next says wait.”
Mass Layoffs and Legal Concerns
Musk’s crackdown follows sweeping federal layoffs under Trump’s second term, with hundreds of thousands already affected. Employees describe a climate of fear, with many considering early retirement or legal recourse.
Labor unions, led by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), condemned the directive. “This is government by intimidation,” AFGE President Everett Kelley said. “We’re prepared to challenge these illegal terminations in court.”
Legal experts warn the ultimatum may violate federal employment laws. “Mass firings based on arbitrary reporting demands could trigger significant lawsuits,” said employment attorney Rachel Levine.
Trump’s Endorsement and Political Fallout
President Trump has encouraged Musk’s aggressive tactics, posting memes mocking “whiny bureaucrats” resisting reform. “We’re cleaning up the swamp—fast,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Yet, bipartisan criticism has emerged. “Cutting waste is good, but cruelty isn’t necessary,” said Sen. John Curtis (R-UT), whose state employs over 30,000 federal workers. “Real people, real families are affected.”
Democratic leaders voiced sharper concerns. “This is nothing short of a purge,” warned Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY). “Government accountability isn’t achieved through fear and chaos.”
Musk’s Fraud Allegations Raise Eyebrows
Musk claims the reporting measure targets fraudulent payroll practices, alleging “ghost employees” and misuse of federal funds. “Some people haven’t checked their work emails in months,” he stated, adding that certain paychecks might be linked to deceased individuals.
No official evidence has been presented to substantiate these claims. Social Security officials called recent accusations of widespread benefit fraud for centenarians “completely unfounded.”
Employees Caught in the Middle
For many federal workers, the turmoil has created intense stress. “I put in 60 hours last week. Now I have to justify my existence to a billionaire?” said a Homeland Security staffer.
Others voiced uncertainty over how to respond. “Do I list confidential casework? What if that violates protocols?” asked a Department of Justice paralegal.
At HHS, acting general counsel Sean Keveney highlighted concerns about data privacy and privileged information. “We need assurances that sensitive material won’t be mishandled,” he wrote in an agency-wide email.
Next Steps: What’s at Stake
As the deadline approaches, employees face three choices: comply, resist, or wait for further guidance. Legal challenges are expected to emerge within days if mass firings occur.
For agencies responsible for vital services—weather forecasting, veterans’ care, national security—the fallout from mass staff reductions could be severe.
“If experienced personnel walk out, it’s the American public who’ll feel the impact,” warned former OPM director Linda Springer.
Musk remains undeterred. “If you’re working hard, you have nothing to worry about,” he said Sunday. “But dead weight must go.”
For federal workers, the clock is ticking—and the future remains uncertain.
Musk’s Claims of Fraud and Inefficiency
Defending the measure, Musk called it a “basic pulse check” and accused the federal workforce of harboring “ghost employees” and inefficiencies. Without evidence, Musk claimed some federal workers “don’t check their email at all” and alleged fraud involving deceased individuals collecting paychecks.
These allegations echo recent false claims by Musk and Trump that millions of centenarians receive Social Security payments.
Mass Layoffs and Employee Morale
The lawsuit highlights a broader effort by the administration to slash the federal workforce through forced resignations, buyouts, and direct terminations. Many cuts target probationary employees at agencies like the Pentagon and USAID.
An estimated hundreds of thousands of workers could be affected, many located outside Washington, D.C.
What’s Next?
The court is expected to hear the case later this week. Meanwhile, federal workers face uncertainty as the Monday night deadline looms amid mixed messages from leadership.
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