‘If you don’t answer … you’re fired’: Trump stands behind Musk’s DOGE productivity email

President Donald Trump issued a stern warning to federal employees who fail to comply with new guidelines that require them to report their personal productivity. This directive, which was spearheaded by SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, aims to track the efficiency of government workers in an effort to reduce waste and fraud within the federal government.

In a recent email, Musk urged federal employees to provide a detailed summary of their weekly tasks, with a deadline for submission by Monday. Those who fail to respond to the email risk facing termination, as Musk equated a lack of response to a voluntary resignation. President Trump lauded Musk’s initiative, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that government employees are actually fulfilling their duties.

However, not everyone is supportive of this new productivity tracking system. The American Federation of Government Employees, a labor union representing federal workers, criticized the policy as disrespectful and cruel. The union’s National President, Everett Kelley, condemned the administration’s decision to hold federal employees accountable to an “out-of-touch, privileged, unelected billionaire” like Musk.

Despite Musk’s efforts to streamline government operations, some agencies have pushed back against his directives. The Department of Defense and the FBI have instructed their employees to disregard Musk’s instructions and instead follow their own internal procedures for performance reviews. This resistance highlights the challenges of implementing centralized productivity monitoring in a complex bureaucratic system.

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), tasked with identifying and eliminating government overspending, is facing legal challenges from government workers who are seeking to challenge Musk’s authority to audit federal agencies. These lawsuits underscore the contentious nature of efforts to reform government operations and increase transparency.

Overall, the push for increased accountability and efficiency in the federal government is met with both support and skepticism. While some see Musk’s initiative as a necessary step towards reducing waste and improving productivity, others view it as an overreach that undermines the autonomy of federal agencies. As the debate continues, the future of productivity tracking in the federal government remains uncertain.

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