President Donald Trump on Saturday directed Elon Musk, a prominent figure in his administration, to undertake a massive outreach effort targeting every federal employee in the United States. The directive, issued as part of Trump’s broader push to streamline government operations, tasks Musk with contacting each worker via email to ask a straightforward question: “What useful thing have you done?” The initiative aligns with Trump’s ongoing efforts to assess and potentially overhaul the federal workforce with an emphasis on efficiency and accountability.
Consistent with President @realDonaldTrump’s instructions, all federal employees will shortly receive an email requesting to understand what they got done last week. Failure to respond will be taken as a resignation,” Musk said on X Saturday.
The instruction comes at a time when Musk is already deeply involved in Trump’s administration, notably through his leadership of the Department of Government Efficiency, commonly referred to as DOGE. This entity, established via an executive order on January 20, 2025, operates within the Executive Office of the President and aims to reduce federal spending and restructure agencies over an 18-month period, with a scheduled end date of July 4, 2026.
Trump has praised Musk’s involvement, calling him a patriot and stating, “Elon is doing a great job, he’s finding tremendous fraud and corruption and waste,” during a press briefing on February 10. The president has also clarified that Musk’s actions require White House approval, saying, “Elon can’t do and won’t do anything without our approval, and we’ll give him the approval where appropriate. Where not appropriate, we won’t,” in a statement made on February 3.
Musk’s role as a “special government employee” allows him to serve temporarily, limited to 130 days per year, without the full disclosure obligations of permanent staff. This status has sparked debate, with some questioning the transparency and legality of his influence. Despite this, Trump has stood by Musk, noting on February 17, “Elon is to me a patriot. So, you could call him an employee, you could call him a consultant, you could call him whatever you want.”
This move follows a series of aggressive actions by DOGE, including layoffs and agency audits, which have already drawn lawsuits from unions and Democratic lawmakers. As of February 20, the IRS began laying off over 6,000 employees nationwide, a move linked to DOGE’s efforts. The survey of federal workers builds on these initiatives, aiming to gather firsthand accounts of their contributions as part of a broader evaluation process that could influence future staffing and budget decisions.
Also On Sunday, President Trump urged Musk to intensify his initiatives. “Elon is doing a great job, but I would like to see him get more aggressive. Remember, we have a country to save, but ultimately, to make greater than ever before,” President Trump stated on Truth Social. Musk accepted the challenge.
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