Several US government agencies have advised their employees to ignore for now a demand from Elon Musk’s government efficiency office to justify their jobs or face dismissal.
The Pentagon and the Department of Justice have told workers to pause their replies to the Trump administration’s email, citing potential legal pitfalls and the importance of agency autonomy.
The Department of Health and Human Services pivoted late Sunday after initially directing employees to answer the message, stating it was legitimate. The agency later updated its guidance, instructing employees to “pause” activities related to the query, promising additional information soon.
Meanwhile, managers from various NASA groups instructed employees to hold off on responding to Musk’s email. Many federal workers were left confused and anxious after receiving orders to describe their accomplishments from the previous week.
Emails were sent to federal employees asking them to provide five bullet points detailing their weekly tasks by the upcoming Monday. Musk emphasized on X just before the emails were sent, “Failure to respond will be taken as a resignation.” Such rhetoric did not address numerous legal and practical issues inherent in the demand.
According to Bloomberg Law, at least five DOJ office leaders quickly responded to Musk’s email, instructing their staff not to answer until they received additional clarification. DOJ lawyers expressed concern over the potential for ethics violations if the employees engaged with the email.
Although Musk serves as a special government employee and adviser to Trump, he does not possess direct authority over the firing of federal employees. The Department of Defense expressed similar reservations, stating, “The Department of Defense is responsible for reviewing the performance of its personnel and will conduct any review following its own procedures,” as quoted by Darin Selnick, performing duties for the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness.
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), which states it advocates for 800,000 workers, sent a letter to the US Office of Personnel Management. The letter contended Musk’s demands lack legal backing, accusing him of intimidating “hard-working federal employees.” AFGE National President Everett Kelley stated, “Employees have no obligation to respond to this plainly unlawful email absent other lawful direction.” The union called for the email to be rescinded, requested the OPM apologize to federal employees, and sought their response by midnight.
The job justification email followed praise from Trump for the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), established to reform the federal workforce and reduce its size. Trump remarked on social media, “Elon is doing a great job, but I would like to see him get more aggressive.”
The hurried nature of Musk's directive, reminiscent of tactics used at his companies Tesla and X, has drawn ire from many, including lawmakers from different political affiliations who question the feasibility and tone of the initiative. Senator John Curtis, Republican from Utah, voiced his discontent on CBS’s Face the Nation, saying, “If I could say one thing to Elon Musk, it’s like, please put a dose of compassion in this. These are real people. These are real lives.”
Coming during what employees described as already distressing times, NASA's response highlighted these concerns. Managers sent emails cautioning employees to “pause” any responses and to remain vigilant to avoid disclosing proprietary information. One such communication stated, “Try to continue to enjoy your weekend,” showcasing the level of anxiety attributed to the email directive.
This variety of reactions from different government departments—particularly those led by Trump appointees—has only fueled the confusion and unrest among over two million federal employees. The handling of this controversial demand continues to develop, as agencies struggle to balance legal concerns with the imperative of government accountability.
With many workers feeling the pressure from the top-down demand for accountability, their futures hang in the balance. The juxtaposition of stress management and bureaucratic efficiency seems fraught as federal workers deal with the potential repercussions of non-compliance with Musk's ultimatum.