Musk warned that “failure to respond” for a second time will result in termination and blasted individuals who did not comply with a “trivial” request in a number of postings and conversations with users on X overnight.
Elon Musk launched an onslaught against X on Monday after certain US government agencies reacted negatively to an email his department, DOGE, sent requesting that officials provide a thorough accounting of their workweek.
Musk warned that “failure to respond” for a second time will result in termination and blasted individuals who did not comply with a “trivial” request in a number of postings and conversations with users on X overnight.
“The email request was completely pointless because all you had to do to pass the test was enter a few words and hit send! However, despite encouragement from their superiors, many failed even that pointless test. Have you ever seen such incompetence and disregard for the use of your taxes? Enhances the appearance of old Twitter. In a message that he momentarily posted to his timeline, Musk stated, “I didn’t think that was possible.”
Musk’s posts followed rumors that some authorities and departments requested that employees react via a chain of command, ostensibly in opposition to efforts by Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to institute direct accountability.
Several important US agencies, like the State Department, Homeland Security, and the Pentagon, which were run by the president’s supporters, quickly opposed the move and told their staff not to reply over the weekend. Musk’s mandate might be unlawful, according to lawmakers from both major political parties.
According to earlier reports, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Defense (DoD) both stated that they would respond via a chain of command.
In response to a post by right-wing political analyst Matt Walsh, Musk threatened to dismiss anyone who disobeys DOGE’s directives a second time.
“Any federal employee who failed to respond to the email should be fired. Anyone who publicly complained about the email should be fired. Anyone who privately complained about the email should be fired. “Anyone who did not respond to it promptly and cheerfully should be fired,” Walsh had stated.
“They will be given another chance, subject to the President’s discretion,” Musk retorted. Termination will occur if no response is received a second time.
A cheeky meme featuring the famous picture of the Greek hero Achilles with a small arrow striking his heel was also posted by Musk. “What did you get done last week?” is the title of the arrow in the meme, and Achilles stands for the “Largest, Most Entrenched Bureaucracy on Earth”—a reference to government agencies.
“What did you do last week?” was the subject line of Musk’s email requesting an accounting of federal employees’ workweek.
Elon Musk’s demand that federal employees provide an explanation of their recent successes by Monday at the latest or face termination has also received support from President Donald Trump.
Officials from the government agencies have been informed that following Musk’s directive was entirely voluntary. The scenario caused confusion and ire, which led to more lawsuits and further unrest among federal employees.
