Top aides to U.S. President Donald Trump are grappling with growing tensions following Elon Musk’s ultimatum demanding federal workers list their accomplishments or face job loss, according to three government officials.
Before the weekend, White House staff believed they had improved coordination with Musk, who leads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Chief of staff Susie Wiles had previously asked Musk to keep her informed on DOGE’s plans, and he had agreed to notify her daily and seek approval from cabinet secretaries for major actions.
However, the arrangement quickly unraveled after Trump urged Musk to be “more aggressive” with DOGE on Truth Social. Shortly after, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) emailed 2.3 million federal employees, asking them to list their recent work achievements — with Musk warning on his platform, X, that failing to respond would be seen as resignation.
The White House was caught off guard by the email, though press secretary Karoline Leavitt denied this, insisting Trump had approved Musk’s plan and dismissed media coverage as biased.
Frustrations within the administration are growing, with some agencies advising staff to ignore the email and cabinet members voicing concerns about DOGE’s sweeping cuts. Trump’s support for Musk remains firm, telling reporters that while the email was “somewhat voluntary,” non-compliance could mean termination.
Despite lawsuits challenging DOGE’s authority and Musk’s role, Trump has shown no signs of distancing himself from the billionaire. Meanwhile, cabinet heads and Republican lawmakers are wary but unwilling to push back without Trump’s lead.
With the White House now preparing for more layoffs, the controversy over Musk’s influence and DOGE’s actions seems far from over.
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