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Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has given U.S. federal workers a second chance to justify their roles or risk losing their jobs, following an initial deadline that passed on Tuesday without widespread compliance.

Musk, who is also President Donald Trump’s biggest donor, had initially set a Monday deadline for federal employees to submit an email detailing their work achievements. However, multiple government agencies advised their staff to ignore the request, causing confusion among federal workers.

Musk’s Warning: Respond or Face Termination

Musk's directive is part of his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative, aimed at reducing federal spending and workforce size. On Monday evening, he reiterated his stance on X (formerly Twitter), saying:

“Subject to the discretion of the President, they will be given another chance. Failure to respond a second time will result in termination.”

Despite his warning, Musk did not specify a new deadline for responses.

Federal Agencies Push Back

The controversial request has sparked resistance across various federal departments. Several agencies, including the FBI, State Department, and Office of the Director of National Intelligence, advised their employees to pause any response to the email.

Security concerns have also been raised. The Department of Health and Human Services warned employees that any written responses should be assumed to be visible to foreign actors, urging caution in their replies.

Meanwhile, some agencies, such as the Treasury Department, instructed staff to comply with Musk’s directive, stating that the initiative is meant to increase accountability within the federal workforce, similar to expectations in the private sector.

Trump Supports Musk’s Demand
As uncertainty spread, President Trump defended Musk’s directive, calling it an “ingenious” way to expose inefficiencies in the government.

“If people don’t respond, it’s very possible that there is no such person or they’re not working,” Trump told reporters.

He added that non-responders would be “sort of semi-fired” or fully dismissed, though he did not provide further details on what this meant.

Legal and Political Backlash
Musk’s move has triggered union opposition and legal challenges. The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the largest federal employee union, vowed to fight any unlawful terminations in court.

Lawmakers, including members of Trump’s own Republican party, have also expressed concerns. Senator John Curtis of Utah, whose state has over 33,000 federal employees, urged Musk to reconsider his approach.

“If I could say one thing to Elon Musk, it’s like, ‘Please put a dose of compassion in this,’” Curtis said.
“These are real people. These are real lives. These are mortgages.”

In the midst of growing resistance, several lawsuits have been filed against Musk’s demands, with mixed legal outcomes. One federal judge on Monday barred the Education Department and the Office of Personnel Management from sharing sensitive information with Musk’s DOGE initiative.

With mounting legal battles and political pressure, it remains uncertain how far Musk’s efforts to reshape the federal workforce will go.