Elon Musk renewed his ultimatum to U.S. federal employees, demanding they justify their jobs or face termination, contradicting earlier guidance that the request was voluntary. The conflicting instructions have left agencies divided, with some, like the Treasury Department, requiring compliance while others, like the Pentagon, have not. Musk, overseeing government downsizing under Trump's administration, announced that non-responders would get one more chance before termination. Meanwhile, labor unions have sued over mass firings, and a judge has blocked Musk’s team from accessing sensitive federal employee data.
See "Musk’s latest ultimatum to US federal workers deepens confusion", Valerie Volcovici, Tim Reid, and Alexandra Alper, Reuters, February 25, 2025