Brian Barrett: To clarify, the initial email did not explicitly state that employees would be terminated for failing to respond. Instead, it simply requested a bulleted list of five tasks completed in the previous week. Separately, Elon Musk tweeted on X, indicating that those who did not reply would be required to resign.
Katie Drummond: It appears that all 2.3 million federal employees should be regularly checking X, or they might miss critical updates regarding their job security from the government.
Brian Barrett: I spoke to a federal employee who had actually muted Elon Musk on X and didn’t see the tweet until late Monday. This illustrates the chaos that ensued. Moreover, the broader context reveals that leadership within various agencies appeared blindsided by this sudden development. It was essentially a shocking announcement dropped on the federal workforce over the weekend. Consequently, there was an urgent scramble across agencies on how to react. At NOAA, for instance, the feeling was to hold off on any responses, thinking it might be a phishing attempt. They were waiting to confirm things. Then, once they decided—
Katie Drummond: It certainly came off as spam.
Brian Barrett: Absolutely. Other agencies had a similar approach, generally advising everyone to hold tight until Monday for clear instructions. As things unfolded, some employees started responding to the email, some chose not to, and others hadn’t even seen it. Various departments began to take definitive stances, including, reportedly, the FBI, where Kash Patel, a staunch Trump loyalist in one of such roles, allegedly instructed, “No, do not respond to this.” The State Department also firmly stated, “Absolutely not. You are not participating.” Meanwhile, NIH delivered somewhat contradictory directions: yes, but no, but also yes. Some agencies released no directives whatsoever. In certain instances, even federal judges received this email.
What transpired was a chaotic incident that highlights how arbitrary, unpredictable, and frankly ludicrous many of DOGE’s actions are—ludicrous in that they lack forethought, yet they carry serious consequences. Ultimately, OPM later clarified, “Forget it. You won’t be fired. No need to worry.” Subsequently, Elon Musk tweeted that employees would have another opportunity, but that next time, there would indeed be firings. This, again, was merely a tweet.
Katie Drummond: I believe the president himself commented on Monday afternoon, suggesting that if they didn’t respond, they could be sort of semi-fired or fully fired. This again highlights the ambiguity of the situation. While it’s necessary to be serious for a moment, this is an absurd email and an absurd situation. However, when I put myself in the position of a federal employee currently navigating this turmoil, it’s important to recognize that this is their livelihood, their way to support their families, and how they earn their wages.
