Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has instructed nearly 950,000 civilian Pentagon employees to respond to a directive from Elon Musk, reinforcing a controversial ultimatum set by President Donald Trump.
In a video posted on Musk’s social media platform, X, Hegseth explained that employees must reply to an email detailing five tasks they accomplished last week and CC their immediate supervisors.
Hegseth’s announcement follows Musk’s initial email, which was described as a simple "pulse check" to confirm whether employees were actively engaged in their roles. Initially, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) had stated that responding was voluntary, but Trump contradicted this, warning that those who failed to reply could be fired—or "semi-fired."
During Trump’s first cabinet meeting last week, Musk was given the first speaking slot while most cabinet members remained silent. Trump justified the email check by questioning whether non-responders had left their jobs or were simply inactive, stating:
“Maybe they’re going to be gone, maybe they’re not around, maybe they have other jobs, maybe they moved and they’re not where they’re supposed to be. A lot of things could have happened.”
Hegseth clarified that Pentagon employees would soon receive detailed instructions on how to comply, emphasizing the simplicity of the task:
“The directive to civilian employees will be clear: reply to the email, CC your supervisor, provide—without any classified or sensitive information—basic topics of what you did last week.”
While Hegseth framed the move as routine, his statement hinted at broader implications, stating that responses would help "streamline our workforce" while ensuring the military remains “the strongest, most viable fighting force in the world.”
Much appreciated @SecDef Hegseth!
🫡 🇺🇸
pic.twitter.com/Ll3ctnoLlx— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 2, 2025
The email directive comes amid widespread layoffs across federal agencies, with Musk reportedly pushing for deeper workforce reductions. Agencies have already begun eliminating thousands of positions, with one internal memo last week outlining an even larger Reduction in Force (RIF).
At the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the latest round of mass layoffs left employees in tears on the sidewalk after they were given just 15 minutes to clear their desks.
There is growing speculation that Musk’s AI engineers—whom Trump has praised as "geniuses"—may use artificial intelligence to analyze employee responses instead of manually reviewing millions of emails.
Meanwhile, an internal HR email sent Friday instructed federal employees to prepare a similar weekly response going forward.
The latest cuts hit the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), an agency responsible for tracking climate patterns and deadline storms increasingly impacting the U.S. coast.
The situation has sparked political backlash, with Texas Rep. Keith Self facing angry constituents at a recent town hall meeting.
Meanwhile, Musk—who was mocked on Saturday Night Live as Trump’s "boss"—reposted Hegseth’s video, thanking him with a saluting emoji and an American flag: “Much appreciated @SecDef Hegseth! 🇺🇸”
Much appreciated @SecDef Hegseth!
🫡 🇺🇸
pic.twitter.com/Ll3ctnoLlx— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 2, 2025
With massive federal layoffs already underway and the administration signaling further workforce cuts, the real impact of Musk’s "pulse check" remains to be seen.
Will non-responders really be fired? Will AI determine the future of federal employment?
As federal employees scramble to comply, the Pentagon’s next moves will likely set a precedent for how the government workforce is reshaped under Trump and Musk’s leadership.
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These additional resources from Lawyer Monthly provide deeper insights into the legal aspects surrounding the Pentagon's recent workforce directives.
