The initial deadline for federal employees to justify their jobs or risk termination has passed. However, the response rate was low, largely because the Office of Personnel Management informed employees that responding was optional. The request was simple: workers were asked to submit a list of five tasks they completed in the past week.
Elon Musk criticized the low response rate, calling the request “trivial” since all it required was typing a few words and pressing send. He expressed frustration that many failed to comply, sometimes at the encouragement of their managers. Musk questioned whether taxpayers should tolerate such incompetence, suggesting that even the old Twitter management looked efficient by comparison.
As a result, Musk announced that federal workers would be given a second chance to respond at the president’s discretion. If they fail to comply again, they will be terminated. Both Musk and President Trump allege that federal payroll records may not accurately reflect who is actually working for the government.
Trump explained that the goal is to determine whether taxpayers are paying salaries for individuals who are either not working or do not exist. He praised the initiative, stating that it was a simple and effective way to verify employment. If someone fails to respond, it raises the possibility that they are either a ghost employee or not fulfilling their duties.
Reports suggest that Musk’s oversight team, known as the “Doge Team,” has already identified $65 billion in program cuts and duplicate payments. However, their goal is to achieve $1 trillion in savings, which will likely require additional workforce reductions. Many employees declined a recent buyout offer, making further cuts necessary.
The approach has sparked debate, with some viewing it as a power struggle. While Musk has used similar tactics successfully in his private companies, his role in federal workforce management remains unclear. When questioned in court, the Justice Department, representing the White House, could not confirm who was in charge of the “Doge Team.” Despite this, Musk appears intent on exposing inefficiencies in the federal bureaucracy.
Various federal agencies have not explicitly instructed employees to ignore Musk’s request. Instead, they seem to be coordinating their responses carefully, particularly when dealing with sensitive or classified information. Agencies like the CIA, FBI, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) are expected to provide uniform responses.
The initiative has also reignited concerns about government waste and fraud. President Trump has emphasized the importance of ensuring that every federal position is filled by an actual working employee. He wants to eliminate situations where paychecks are being sent to non-existent workers, deceased individuals, or associates of former employees.
There is also discussion about the return-to-office mandate, with varying timelines across agencies. Some federal offices are set to be fully staffed by mid-March, while others are already monitoring attendance. The broader issue, however, is the lack of accountability in tracking government employees’ work.
Critics argue that such inefficiencies would never be tolerated in private businesses, where every dollar matters. The federal government, however, operates with a “blank check” mindset, making it difficult to track waste. Supporters of Musk’s strategy believe it is a necessary step toward transparency and efficiency.
Ultimately, federal agencies are now under increased scrutiny, and they must justify their workforce and spending. The next phase of this effort will determine whether these measures lead to meaningful savings or further controversy.
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