Last Sunday, February 23, the South African magnate Elon Musk, American president’s right Donald Trump, made the decision to impose federal employees a ultimatum 48 hours for them to justify their job and explain their work done by the week of February 17 to 22.
This period ended during the early hours of this Tuesday, February 25 and the demands of Elon Musk disturbed several US government agencies because thousands of public workers had the obligation to detail their tasks to an external body, the Government Efficiency Department (Dogein English).
Musk, as Doge in charge, aims trim public spendingso their efforts to detect the weakest links have collided with the opposition of the heads of several government agencies, especially with the State Department and the Federal Research Office (FBIfor its acronym in English).
Despite the discord between government entities, it was the same president of the United States who publicly supported the idea of South African: “There are people who are not going to work or are simply unknown what their work consists of. If they do not begin to share Your weekly reports will remain dismissed“Trump said.
Elon Musk threats
During the night of last Monday, February 24, Elon Musk himself threaten through social networks with “put to the street“To all federal employees who do not respond to the mail where they are asked for information about their work, taking into account that the lack of response will be considered as a Immediate resignation.
Unfortunately for federal employees, many of them were in a dilemmabecause they also received messages from their supervisors or their respective unions where they were recommended “ignore The controversial email “sent by Elon Musk, since some legislators considered it illegal.
The National Security Department (DHSfor its acronym in English, the Pentagonthe State Department and the FBI were the federal agencies that asked their workers not to respond to the South African message, because “only the bosses of these departments can assess the performance of their employees.”
After the rejection of government entities, Musk revealed that the controversial mail had been sent by the Government Personnel Office and only said: “¿¿¿What did you do last week?“, so employees had to share five achievements achieved in their work and no document or classified information was requested.
For government employees, this ELON initiative demonstrates the power that the South African tycoon has acquired in the Trump administration, so dozens of public officials have rejected the ideas of the DOGE manager because there is one “lack of transparency “ Regarding the control that Musk really has.
So far, the general director of Tesla has dismantled the Agency for International Development (USAIDin English), he has frozen humanitarian aid from the United States and also offered a new compensation to some public employees to be able to “encourage their resignation“, With the aim of eliminating those positions.
– Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 25, 2025