Elon Musk said on social media that federal employees will be given a second chance to reply to an email asking them to detail their past work week or face termination. Photo by Will Oliver/UPI | License Photo
Elon Musk said on social media that federal employees will be given another chance to recap their work last week or be fired, contradicting guidance from the Office of Personnel Management.
Musk made the comment in response to a post on X, which he owns, calling for employees who did not respond to the email to be fired. Advertisement
“Subject to the discretion of the president, they will be given another chance,” Musk wrote. “Failure to respond a second time will result in termination.”
OPM, however, on Monday said that it informed agencies that employee responding to the email is voluntary and clarified to agencies that “a non-response to the email does not equate to a resignation” following a meeting of the Chief Human Capital Officers Council.
The dueling statements left many federal agencies and employees confused as to follow Musk’s directives of explaining their five accomplishments or what it even means if they did comply on Monday.
The confusion appeared during the run from department to department. Health and Human Services staff were first told to reply but by Sunday told the “pause” until given further instructions and then a third email on Monday saying that not responding would not impact their jobs. Advertisement
The issue started on Saturday when Musk, serving as a special government employee working with the Department of Government Efficiency, warned that all federal employees to account for their prior week’s work or lose their jobs.
