Elon Musk Says Federal Employees Must Explain Their Work Or Be Fired

Topline

Billionaire and government efficiency leader Elon Musk announced in a post on X Saturday afternoon all federal employees will receive an email asking them to explain the work they’ve done over the past week, and employees who fail to respond will be forced to resign.

Key Facts

Musk, in his quest to slash government funding and gut the federal workforce, offered few details, but said the emails are consistent with President Donald Trump’s “instructions.”

Musk did not elaborate on a timeline for how long employees have to respond, when firings would happen or who would be impacted.

His post comes hours after Trump praised him in a Truth Social post for “doing a great job,” but added he would “like to see him get more aggressive.”

Key Background

Musk, as head of the Department of Government Efficiency, and Trump have pledged to slash what they deem “wasteful” government spending, including mass layoffs across the federal government. Thousands of federal employees have been fired, including at the Internal Revenue Service, Department of Energy, Department of Veterans Affairs, National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, among other agencies. Trump has also moved to dismantle some agencies altogether, including the United States Agency for International Development, and he has ordered the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to stop work. The layoffs have sparked legal challenges, though a federal judge ruled against a labor union effort Thursday to block mass firings, stating the court lacks jurisdiction over their claims.

Forbes Valuation

Musk is the wealthiest man in the world, worth about $384 billion, according to Forbes estimates. Much of his wealth comes from his stakes in Tesla and SpaceX, companies he co-founded. Musk is about $150 billion richer than the world’s second-richest person, Mark Zuckerberg.

Further Reading

Here’s Where Trump’s Government Layoffs Are—FEMA, IRS, TSA And More (Forbes)