Musk’s aggressive job cuts: Federal employees orders to prove productivity
Elon Musk, appointed by President Trump to reduce government spending, has announced that all federal employees must submit a detailed workweek report or face termination. His directive follows Trump’s call for more aggressive cost-cutting measures.
Billionaire entrepreneur and advisor to US President Donald Trump, Elon Musk, announced on Saturday that all federal employees must submit a detailed account of their workweek—or risk termination. Musk, who has been assigned to cut government spending and reduce inefficiencies, made the declaration on X, stating: "Consistent with the President's instructions, all federal employees will shortly receive an email requesting to understand what they got done last week. Failure to respond will be taken as a resignation." However, Musk did not specify the level of detail required or the deadline for compliance. This move comes amid the latest round of job cuts, with the US Defense Department ordered to reduce its civilian workforce by at least five percent starting next week.
Trump administration’s workforce crackdown intensifies
The Trump administration has already begun dismissing federal employees in their probationary periods, furthering its aggressive push to restructure the federal workforce. Earlier, Trump assigned Musk to head the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a newly created entity tasked with cutting public spending and eliminating waste and corruption. DOGE operates with broad authority under Musk’s leadership, though its drastic cost-cutting measures have sparked significant opposition and legal challenges.
Elon Musk leads federal layoff efforts
As the world's richest person and a major Trump donor, Musk has been at the forefront of efforts to streamline federal operations by downsizing the workforce. His recent order marks another step in his cost-cutting crusade.
Trump urges Musk to be more aggressive
Musk's new work accountability directive follows President Trump’s public endorsement of his efforts. On Truth Social, Trump wrote: "Elon is doing a great job, but I would like to see him get more aggressive. Remember, we have a country to save, but ultimately, to make greater than ever before. MAGA!" Despite union attempts to halt mass firings, a judge on Thursday denied an injunction to temporarily block the terminations, signaling that Musk's initiatives will proceed without immediate legal barriers.
