Musk’s Ultimatum sparks confusion, uncertainty among U.S. Federal workers

English , International - بین الاقوامی , Snippets , / Tuesday, February 25th, 2025

Download this post as PDF

RKI Network

WASHINGTON, Feb 25 (Reuters) – Fresh uncertainty looms over U.S. federal employees as Elon Musk issued a renewed ultimatum, demanding they justify their positions or risk termination. This directive contradicts earlier guidance from some Trump administration officials, who previously framed compliance as voluntary.
The conflicting messages have sown confusion across federal agencies. While the U.S. Treasury Department has instructed workers to comply, the Pentagon has remained silent, highlighting divisions within the administration regarding Musk’s influence over federal operations. Musk’s late Monday post on X warned, “Failure to respond a second time will result in termination,” subject to presidential discretion.
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issued a memo on Tuesday mandating the dismissal of underperforming senior managers and requiring evaluations to align with the president’s goals. Meanwhile, agencies like the General Services Administration (GSA) and the Interior Department provided conflicting instructions, leaving employees uncertain about how to proceed.
Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has already overseen layoffs of over 20,000 federal workers, primarily targeting probationary employees with limited job protections. A second wave of firings targeting career civil servants is reportedly being prepared, with OPM acting swiftly to set a precedent for future terminations.
A coalition of labor unions has challenged Musk’s actions in court, seeking a ruling against the legality of his ultimatum. Meanwhile, a federal judge has blocked DOGE from accessing sensitive data from the Education Department and OPM. As confusion deepens, federal workers remain on edge, awaiting clearer direction amidst the growing uncertainty.