The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) co-founder Elon Musk issued a stern warning to employees who have been resisting President Donald Trump’s return-to-office mandate. Musk took to his social media platform X to announce that those who continue to ignore the mandate will be placed on administrative leave starting this week, emphasizing that they had been given over a month’s warning.
President Trump had specifically requested Musk to ramp up cost-cutting measures within the federal government, urging him to be more aggressive in reducing wasteful expenditure and inefficiency. Trump’s comments were made on Truth Social, where he commended Musk’s work leading DOGE but insisted that more needed to be done to save the country and make it greater than ever before.
In response, Musk pledged to fulfill the President’s wishes, signaling a shift towards a more stringent approach in addressing government inefficiencies. This commitment was reinforced by Trump’s executive order on January 20, requiring all federal employees to return to in-person work as soon as practicable. Department heads were instructed to dismantle remote work arrangements and mandate full-time office attendance.
The push towards in-person work faced resistance from some federal agencies, with FBI Director Kash Patel and the State Department advising employees to ignore Musk’s requests for detailed weekly accomplishments. However, Musk remained steadfast in his resolve, warning that failure to comply would be treated as a resignation.
Despite the pushback, Republicans have stood behind Musk’s efforts to crack down on remote work and streamline government operations. Senator John Curtis emphasized the need for accountability and empathy in implementing these changes, advocating for a balance between efficiency and compassion.
DOGE’s initiatives have already yielded significant savings, with approximately $55 billion in cuts achieved through various measures such as fraud detection, contract cancellations, and workforce reductions. The agency has also focused on dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, with cuts made to initiatives in Serbia, Ireland, and Colombia.
The impact of these changes has been felt across federal agencies, with 1,600 workers at the US Agency for International Development (USAID) being fired and many others placed on leave. The job cuts have left thousands of federal employees uncertain about their future, with some facing the prospect of selling their homes due to the lack of severance packages.
In light of these developments, Chemonics, a company working with USAID, has been forced to furlough 750 employees, highlighting the ripple effects of the government’s cost-cutting measures. As the restructuring continues, it remains to be seen how federal agencies and employees will adapt to the new working environment shaped by Musk’s aggressive approach to government efficiency.