In a bold and controversial move, Elon Musk, appointed as head of President Donald Trump’s newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has issued a strict directive to all federal employees.
Under Musk’s order, government workers must submit a list of five accomplishments from the past week, or risk immediate termination.
This unprecedented demand has sparked outrage and resistance across multiple federal agencies, with intelligence officials and law enforcement agencies outright refusing to comply.
But with Trump’s second term prioritizing government downsizing, could this signal the largest reduction in the U.S. federal workforce in history?
The New “Efficiency Overhaul” for Government Workers
Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was created to cut down bureaucratic waste and streamline government operations.
His latest productivity order includes the following key points:
- All federal employees must submit five weekly work accomplishments.
- Failure to report could result in immediate job termination.
- Employees who consistently underperform will be dismissed.
Musk claims this policy is necessary to eliminate inefficiency and excessive government spending, a goal he has long championed.
“Taxpayers deserve accountability. If you don’t actually do anything, why should you have a government job?” – Elon Musk, in an internal memo.
However, this move has angered federal workers, who argue that government operations do not function like a private business and that Musk’s order is unrealistic and disruptive.
Federal Agencies Push Back Against Musk’s Directive
Almost immediately after Musk’s announcement, several federal agencies pushed back, refusing to comply with the directive.
1. U.S. Intelligence and Security Agencies Reject the Order
- FBI, CIA, NSA, and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have all reportedly ignored Musk’s email, stating that their work is classified and cannot be publicly listed in a weekly report.
- Tulsi Gabbard, the newly appointed Director of National Intelligence, sent an internal message to intelligence officers, ordering them to ignore Musk’s directive, arguing that national security operations cannot be simplified into bullet points.
- Security analysts warn that Musk’s unfiltered, corporate-style approach to efficiency could weaken intelligence operations, as it misunderstands how federal agencies function.
2. NASA Scientists and Researchers Protest Efficiency Demands
- NASA scientists have criticized the policy, stating that scientific progress cannot be measured in weekly quotas.
- One NASA researcher reportedly quit, stating, “Musk doesn’t understand that space missions take years, not weeks.”
3. Federal Employees Express Outrage and Confusion
- Many federal employees claim this is simply a ploy to cut jobs rather than improve efficiency.
- Union leaders have called the directive “an attack on the civil service” and have threatened to take legal action.
Musk Defends His Plan: “Government Needs a Reality Check”
Despite the backlash, Musk has doubled down on his demands, stating that:
- Too many government jobs are “pointless” and need to be eliminated.
- The private sector operates efficiently, and government should too.
- Employees who are actually productive have nothing to worry about.
His vision for a leaner, more accountable federal workforce aligns with Trump’s broader second-term agenda of government restructuring.
Could This Lead to the Biggest Federal Job Cuts in U.S. History?
Many believe that Musk’s real goal is massive federal downsizing. If agencies fail to comply, it could lead to the largest layoffs in U.S. government history.
If enforced, experts predict that:
- Hundreds of thousands of federal jobs could be eliminated.
- Entire government agencies may be dissolved or privatized.
- Union battles and legal challenges could delay but not stop the cuts.
Will Musk Reshape the U.S. Government?
Elon Musk’s productivity crackdown has set off a firestorm in Washington. While some see it as a necessary efficiency reform, others view it as a reckless power move that threatens public services.
As tensions escalate between Musk, government agencies, and federal employees, the next few months will determine whether his radical approach succeeds—or fails spectacularly.