Musk’s Directive and Trump’s Advocacy
Elon Musk, now at the helm of President Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), issued a controversial ultimatum to all federal employees via email. The message required staff to submit five accomplishments from the previous week or risk termination. President Trump commended Musk but encouraged him to adopt a “more aggressive” approach, stating, “ELON IS DOING A GREAT JOB, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HIM GET MORE AGGRESSIVE.”
Musk’s Defense
In response to the backlash, Musk justified his actions by stating that the goal was “to identify who had a pulse and two functioning neurons.” He also cautioned that those who did not meet the deadline would be “advancing their careers elsewhere.”
Resistance and Bureaucratic Pushback
The directive met with resistance, as several federal agencies instructed their employees to disregard Musk’s demands. FBI Director Kash Patel informed staff, “The FBI, through the Office of the Director, oversees all of our review processes.”
Trump’s Endorsement and Future Consequences
Despite the criticism, Trump reinforced his support by sharing a SpongeBob meme that mocked disgruntled federal workers. With Musk leading DOGE and Trump’s backing, the dispute over federal employment practices is far from resolved.