Federal workers across the U.S. faced confusion on Monday. Agencies gave mixed messages about Elon Musk’s new rule. His order told workers to email a list of last week’s tasks. Those who failed to respond could lose their jobs. But within 48 hours, officials said the emails were optional. This left workers unsure about what to do.
As the situation grew tense, President Donald Trump spoke about it. He said employees who did not reply could be fired. He called it being “sort of semi-fired.” Later that night, Musk repeated the rule. He warned that workers had one last chance to send their emails.
Agencies Struggle to Respond
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) first told workers to list five tasks from the past week. Employees were told not to include classified work. The deadline for submission was set for Monday.
Musk runs the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge). He said failing to email the list meant quitting voluntarily. His statement caused anger among workers and unions. A lawsuit was filed in California. Unions called the rule unfair and unclear.
Some agencies told their employees to ignore the order. These included the Departments of Defense, Justice, and Health and Human Services (HHS). The mixed messages added to the confusion. Many workers did not know what would happen if they ignored the rule.
One HHS worker spoke anonymously. “Different agencies are saying different things,” the worker said. “It feels like a trap.”
Trump and Musk Stand Firm
On Monday afternoon, OPM held a call with HR leaders from several agencies. They decided each agency could choose its own response. But later that day, Trump backed Musk’s order. He called it a “genius” way to improve efficiency.
“We just want to know if people are working,” Trump told reporters. “If they don’t reply, maybe they aren’t doing their jobs.” He suggested that those who ignored the request might be fired or placed in an uncertain work status.
Musk said he was following Trump’s wishes. “The President has the final say,” Musk posted on X. “Anyone who ignores this again will be fired.”
Despite the growing backlash, Musk did not back down. He insulted those who failed to respond. “They just had to type a few words and press send,” he wrote. “Many failed this simple test. Bad management leads to bad workers.”
More Pushback and Legal Trouble
Some agencies led by Trump’s appointees pushed back. But the White House insisted that all agencies supported Trump’s plan. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said, “Everyone is united under President Trump’s vision for efficiency.”
Still, agencies continued to issue mixed messages. Many employees did not know if the rule was optional or required.
Legal experts warned of serious problems. “Making federal employees justify their work each week raises legal issues,” said lawyer Robert Gaines. “The lack of clear rules makes it worse.”
A lawsuit has already started in California. Some agencies are resisting the order. It is unclear if Musk’s rule will last. If courts reject it, Musk’s power in government could weaken. But if it stands, agencies may face big changes.
For now, federal workers are stuck in the middle. Musk and Trump insist on the rule. Some agencies refuse to follow it. Many workers still do not know what to do. As the legal fight continues, the final decision could set a major precedent for the future.
For more updates, visit Euro News 24.