Elon Musk, in collaboration with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has issued a stern warning to federal employees who have yet to return to in-person work. This move comes after President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Inauguration Day, mandating all federal departments and agencies to terminate remote work arrangements. The directive requires employees to resume full-time office attendance, with exceptions made at the discretion of department heads. Musk’s recent posts on X and emails sent over the weekend have sparked confusion and concern among federal workers, leading several agencies to advise their personnel not to respond to the DOGE’s requests for weekly accomplishment reports.

Musk’s involvement in this matter began when he responded to a clip of Rep. Ralph Norman on Fox News, stating that federal workers who had not returned to the office by this week would be placed on administrative leave. His message emphasized that those who ignored the executive order had already been given more than a month’s notice. To further enforce compliance, Musk and DOGE instructed federal employees to provide a five-point summary of their accomplishments from the previous week. Failure to comply with this request was deemed equivalent to resignation. However, the email caused significant confusion within the federal workforce, prompting several agencies to issue counter-guidance.

The Department of Defense (DoD) addressed the situation through Darin S. Selnick, who advised DoD personnel to follow internal review procedures rather than responding to the DOGE email. Similarly, FBI Director Kash Patel instructed agency employees to pause any responses to the DOGE communication, emphasizing that reviews would be conducted according to FBI protocols. State Department workers were also informed that they were not required to report activities outside their chain of command. These actions highlight the complexity and tension surrounding the implementation of the executive order.

The American Federation of Government Employees labor union has vowed to challenge any unlawful terminations resulting from this directive. The union’s stance underscores the ongoing debate over the balance between enforcing workplace policies and protecting employee rights. As federal agencies navigate these directives, the broader implications for government operations and worker morale remain to be seen. Musk’s push for compliance reflects a broader effort to streamline government efficiency, but it also raises questions about the practicality and fairness of such measures.