U.S. government workers face mounting uncertainty as Elon Musk, appointed by President Donald Trump to slash the federal budget, demands civil-service employees justify their jobs by Monday night.
Musk’s directive has split federal agencies — the DEA and FCC urged compliance, while others like Defense, Homeland Security, and Education told staff to ignore the order. The Health Department wavered, first advising cooperation, then backtracking.
Musk warned non-compliant workers they risked termination, adding that those refusing to return to offices would be placed on administrative leave. His downsizing campaign has already cut 20,000 jobs and offered buyouts to 75,000 more, causing chaos across the 2.3 million-strong civil service.
The Trump administration fired 1,600 USAID employees and suspended most others, paralyzing global relief efforts. The cuts have left many workers scrambling — Charles Farinella, a former IRS agent, fears he may have to sell his home, unsure if his health insurance still covers him.
The ripple effect has hit private companies working with the government. Chemonics, a USAID contractor, furloughed 750 employees — 63% of its staff — due to funding freezes.
Musk, who recently wielded a chainsaw at a political event, aims to cut $1 trillion from the $6.7 trillion federal budget. While Trump promised to shield health and retirement benefits, Musk hinted at tackling fraud in those programs to boost payments to citizens.
Democrats accuse Musk of bypassing Congress’s spending authority but have struggled to intervene. Meanwhile, some Republicans back his efforts, though a few have faced voter backlash over his aggressive actions.
The shake-up leaves thousands of federal workers uncertain about their futures as the Trump-Musk alliance pushes forward with sweeping budget cuts.
Also read: Trump Administration Halts U.S. Role in Key U.N. Climate Assessments
