What was the nature of Elon Musk's ultimatum to federal employees?

Elon Musk required federal employees to document their weekly accomplishments or risk being considered resigned. This directive was part of an effort to evaluate government productivity and reduce the federal workforce.

How have federal agencies responded to Musk's ultimatum?

Several federal agencies, including the FBI, State Department, Homeland Security, and Pentagon, have instructed employees not to comply with Musk's request. However, some agencies like the Department of Health and Human Services initially advised compliance before later advising employees to pause.

How has President Trump responded to the controversy surrounding Musk's ultimatum?

President Trump has expressed support for Elon Musk's actions, describing them as 'genius.' He encouraged Musk to be more aggressive in efforts to reduce the federal government.

23 sources·Politics

Trump Backs Musk's Controversial Ultimatum to Federal Employees Amid Legal Challenges

Q: What legal actions have been taken in response to Musk's ultimatum?

Unions and other groups have filed an amended lawsuit against the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, arguing that Musk's directive violates federal employment laws.

President Trump supports Musk's ultimatum for federal employees to detail accomplishments, despite substantial pushback from agencies and unions amid threats of legal action.

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Musk's request for productivity updates signals a significant shift in the relationship between federal employees and management, raising concerns about trust and workplace morale.
Musk enrages deep-staters by telling them to show up at work, asking what they've actually done
The Blaze·23d
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Right
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Musk went on to fire the social media company’s top executives, including Agrawal, CFO Ned Segal and general counsel Vijaya Gadde.
Flashback: Musk used his 'what did you get done this week' directive before gutting Twitter
FOX News·23d
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Leans Right
This outlet slightly leans right.
Musk used the gigantic mess he himself had created with the email to paint federal workers as lazy and in need of a threatened mass-firing—a public relations goal that seemed to be baked in from the start.
Elon Musk’s Email Was an Excuse to Troll Federal Workers
Mother Jones·23d
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Left
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Musk is playing the federal government in God mode.
The True Purpose of Elon Musk’s Weekend Email Ultimatum to Federal Workers
Slate·23d
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Left
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Elon Musk is basically an evil version of Michael Scott from 'The Office'.
Musk email requires federal employees to list 5 things they did last week. Allow me. | Opinion
USA TODAY·23d
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Center
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Reid’s namesake show, “The ReidOut,” has been a fixture of MSNBC’s evening programming since 2020.
Joy Reid is leaving MSNBC as her evening show is canceled
Associated Press·23d
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Center
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The demands and threats made by Musk and the OPM are illegal, just as the mass firing of probationary employees was illegal, lawyers for the AFL-CIO, and for groups supporting national parks and veterans, said in Monday's updated lawsuit.
Musk's 'What did you do last week?' inquiry gets an early answer: a lawsuit
Business Insider·23d
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Center
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Mr Musk reckons some government employees are doing so little work that "they are not checking their email at all".
Elon Musk’s outfit is running into opposition from Donald Trump’s appointees
The Economist·23d
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Center
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Musk appears to be following the same playbook he used when he bought Twitter, which he renamed X.
Federal workers and agencies push back against Elon Musk's email ultimatum
NBC News·23d
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Center
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The vast discrepancy in the numbers raises the question: Was it an error, or a deliberate action?
A new document undercuts Trump admin's denials about $400 million Tesla deal
NPR·23d
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Center
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But those Americans are cheering, albeit unwittingly, for massive inefficiency—just the latest example of the chaos DOGE has created across the federal government, undercutting its own aims.
The Obvious Inefficiency of Elon Musk’s New Order
The Atlantic·23d
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Leans Left
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In reality, DOGE has been firing and furloughing federal employees with reckless abandon — even going so far as to terminate workers tasked with keeping track of nuclear weapons, who the Trump administration has since attempted to rehire.
Musk Waves Chainsaw, Bannon Appears to Do Nazi Salute During CPAC
Truthout·23d
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Left
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Musk has a reputation for sending similar email blasts to workers at his companies.
Elon Musk warns that gov’t employees still working from home will be put on leave this week
New York Post·23d
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The updated lawsuit, which was filed in federal court in California and was provided to The Associated Press, is trying to block mass layoffs pursued by Musk and President Donald Trump, including any connected to the email distributed by the Office of Personnel Management on Saturday.
Federal workers sue over Elon Musk's threat to fire them if they don't explain their accomplishments
PBS NewsHour·23d
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Leans Left
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While Musk and Trump have said they are considering the plan, it is unlikely that American taxpayers would receive $5,000.
Sorting Out Claims That Americans Could Receive a $5,000 ‘DOGE Dividend’
The Dispatch·23d
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Center
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The fact that Trump and Musk are promoting a global fascist revolution is terrifying.
Elon Musk Pushes for Global Neo-Nazi Regime Change. The World Is Fighting Back.
The Nation·23d
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Far Left
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With loyalist Kash Patel confirmed as FBI director, the bureau can function effectively as Trump's private security force.
Trump's loyalty-first FBI
Axios·23d
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Center
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Feb 24th, 2025, 12:53 PM ET

Summary

A summary of the key points of this story verified across multiple sources.

President Trump has sided with Elon Musk's ultimatum requiring federal workers to report weekly accomplishments or risk termination. The directive has encountered intense backlash, prompting several agencies, notably the Justice Department and FBI, to inform employees to ignore the order. Unions have filed an amended lawsuit against the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, arguing the requirement violates federal employment laws. Musk insists the move is a necessary evaluation of government productivity during an ongoing restructuring effort aimed at reducing the federal workforce, while some departments maintain that compliance is optional.

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