A seismic shake-up is underway in Washington. Elon Musk, head of the White House’s new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and close Trump ally, delivers a no-nonsense ultimatum to federal employees: Justify your job or lose it.
Musk’s directive initially required all federal workers to submit a summary of their work achievements by Monday, but it was met with resistance, confusion, and outright defiance from several agencies. Yet, in a late-night post on X, Musk granted “another chance” for workers to comply, warning that failure to respond would lead to termination.
“The President has the final say, but there will be no more free rides,” Musk posted. “This is about accountability. Why should taxpayers fund your paycheck if you can’t even reply to an email?”
Several agencies, including the Justice Department, the FBI, and the Pentagon, advised employees to disregard the initial demand. Meanwhile, others, like the Departments of Commerce and Education, told staff to comply. With federal agencies split and two million employees on edge, the question now is: who will pass Musk’s test?
President Trump praised Musk’s initiative, calling it “ingenious.” He doubled down, arguing that non-responders were likely “not working.” Unions and some lawmakers have pushed back, warning of legal battles and economic fallout. But Musk remains unfazed, promising a “rude awakening” for bureaucrats who believe they can ignore the new era of accountability.
The clock is ticking. Respond -or resign.
