Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) faces backlash as federal agencies resist a controversial mandate for weekly progress reports.
At a Glance
- Musk demands federal workers report weekly accomplishments or risk job loss
- Key agencies, including FBI and Pentagon, instruct employees not to comply
- The mandate causes chaos and confusion within the federal workforce
- Labor unions plan to challenge any unlawful firings resulting from the directive
- President Trump praises Musk’s efforts to remove “corrupt” federal employees
DOGE’s Controversial Mandate
Elon Musk, leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has implemented a directive requiring federal workers to report their weekly progress or face potential job loss. This mandate, aimed at enhancing government accountability and cutting costs, has sparked a fierce debate within the federal workforce and beyond.
And there are entire agencies that are just ignoring Musk…and even telling their own employees to ignore him too.
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) sent an email to federal employees requesting documentation of their work from the past week. Musk stated that failure to respond would be considered a resignation, setting a deadline for Monday at 11:59 p.m. This move aligns with President Donald Trump’s instructions to reduce federal spending and eliminate fraud and waste.
Several key federal agencies, including the FBI, State Department, and Pentagon, have instructed their employees not to comply with Musk’s demand. This resistance has created a chaotic situation within the federal workforce, with some officials encouraging compliance while others resist the directive.
“The FBI, through the Office of the Director, is in charge of all of our review processes, and will conduct reviews in accordance with FBI procedures. When and if further information is required, we will coordinate the responses. For now, please pause any responses,” FBI Director Kash Patel said.
The Department of Health and Human Services initially instructed compliance but later paused activities related to the request. This confusion highlights the complex nature of implementing such a broad mandate across diverse federal agencies.
Legal and Ethical Concerns
The legality of Musk’s directive has been called into question by some, too, with critics arguing that OPM may not have the authority to manage employees of other federal agencies. Labor unions, including the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), have vowed to challenge any unlawful firings resulting from this email directive.
“The actions he’s taking are illegal,” Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md. said.
Legal experts suggest that while firing employees for not responding to the email may not be legal, other disciplinary actions such as reprimands or suspensions could potentially occur. This has left many federal workers in a state of uncertainty about their job security and the potential consequences of their actions.
The initiative has drawn criticism from both Democrats and some Republicans, with concerns raised about its legality and compassion towards federal employees. Senator John Curtis, R-Utah, appealed for a more empathetic approach, highlighting the real-life implications of such sweeping measures.
“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. These are mortgages. It’s a false narrative to say we have to cut and you have to be cruel to do it as well,” Sen. John Curtis, R-Utah said.
On the other hand, President Trump has praised Musk’s efforts, framing the initiative as a necessary step to remove corrupt elements from the federal workforce.
Trump did, after all, tell Musk just last week that he needs to go further…and it looks like this was his response to that message from the President.
