The conflict between the Department of Government Efficiency and federal employees has taken a turn for the worse as Elon Musk has issued a new ultimatum: report what progress you’ve made or resign.
“Consistent with President Donald Trump’s instructions, all federal employees will shortly receive an email requesting to understand what they got done last week,” Musk wrote on X. “Failure to respond will be taken as a resignation.”
There has been significant opposition against Musk and DOGE’s efforts to cut government jobs and spending, with numerous civil servants resigning in protest, filing lawsuits and discussing ways to fight back in secret group chats on Signal and Instagram, the New York Times has reported. Earlier this week, X began blocking links to Signal, though it’s unclear if the two events are linked.
Musk’s latest statement marks yet another escalation in the ongoing skirmish.
“Elon is doing a great job, but I would like to see him get more aggressive,” Trump wrote in all caps earlier today on Truth Social, commenting on Musk’s work with DOGE. “Remember, we have a country to save, but ultimately to make greater than ever before.”
Elon Musk Has Asked The Same Question Before
This isn’t the first time Musk has posed the same question.
“What did you get done this week?” Musk texted former Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal in early April 2022, weeks before the Tesla chief acquired the company, now known as X, on April 25, 2022 in a $44 billion deal. The exchange, which was disclosed in a court filing, later went viral on social media.
“Parag got nothing done,” Musk posted on X shortly after issuing the ultimatum to federal employees. “Parag was fired.”
