Government employees faced growing confusion on Monday as they struggled with mixed messages about an Elon Musk-backed directive. Workers were initially told to email a list of their completed tasks from the past week or risk losing their jobs.
However, two days after the demand was made, the office in charge clarified that responses were voluntary. This left federal agencies scrambling to determine their next steps.
Trump and Musk Double Down on the Directive
As federal agencies tried to interpret the situation, President Donald Trump reinforced the directive, warning that employees who failed to comply would be fired or “semi-fired.” Later that evening, Musk echoed the same warning, giving workers one last opportunity to submit their responses.
On Saturday, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) directed employees to submit five examples of last week’s work. Workers were told not to include classified information. The deadline was set for Monday evening.
Musk, who leads the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), stated that failure to comply would be considered a resignation. His warning sparked outrage. Labor unions and civil rights organizations filed lawsuits in California, seeking to block the mandate.
Agencies Issue Conflicting Instructions
Key U.S. federal agencies, including the Departments of Defense, Justice, Health and Human Services (HHS), and the FBI, told employees to ignore the directive. Yet, these same agencies, all led by Trump-appointed officials, issued contradictory messages over the weekend, deepening the confusion.
As a result, thousands of workers were left uncertain about their job security. Many employees feared retaliation for not following orders while others were unsure of which set of instructions to trust.
“They’re making us crazy,” said an anonymous HHS worker. “One moment they say we must submit the report, the next moment they say we don’t. How are we supposed to know what to do?”
On Monday afternoon, OPM held an urgent meeting with federal human resources officials. The agency informed them that each department had the discretion to decide how to handle the directive. This decision led to further inconsistencies in how agencies enforced the rule.
Trump and Musk Maintain Their Position
Despite the backlash, President Trump praised the directive. He called it a “genius move” to determine whether government employees were truly working.
“If they don’t respond, maybe they don’t even exist,” Trump said. “If they don’t answer, they’re either semi-fired or fired. Many aren’t answering because they don’t even exist.”
Musk reaffirmed his commitment to enforcing the rule. “At the President’s discretion, non-responders will get one more chance,” he posted on X. “Failure to respond again will result in termination.”
Musk also mocked employees who ignored the directive. “The request was incredibly simple—just type a few words and hit send! Yet, many failed even this basic test. Some managers encouraged defiance. Have you ever seen such incompetence and disregard for taxpayers’ money?”
Despite pushback from agencies controlled by Trump appointees, the White House defended the directive. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated, “Everyone is working together under President Trump’s leadership.”
She did not clarify why government agencies continued to issue contradictory guidance.
Ongoing Legal Challenges and Worker Concerns
Labor unions and activist organizations continue to fight the directive in court. They argue that forcing employees to prove their productivity in such a manner is unlawful and undermines worker rights.
One lawsuit, filed in a California federal court, alleges that the mandate violates employment laws. The plaintiffs argue that the order disproportionately affects lower-level employees who may not have direct access to high-level work assignments.
Despite these legal challenges, Musk and Trump show no signs of backing down. The White House insists the mandate is meant to increase government efficiency and transparency.
For now, government employees remain in limbo, waiting for a final decision on their job status. Until a resolution is reached, the uncertainty continues to spread throughout the federal workforce.
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