Trump warns that up to 1 million federal workers could be fired for ignoring Elon Musk’s directive, sparking chaos and controversy in Washington. 🚨🔥

A firestorm has erupted in Washington as President Donald Trump declared that up to one million federal workers who failed to respond to an email from Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) could soon be out of a job.

The controversial directive, which demanded all 2.3 million federal employees submit a list of their weekly accomplishments, has sparked chaos, with agencies scrambling to determine how to proceed.

Trump, speaking during his first Cabinet meeting, did not mince words. “Right now we’re trying to find out who those people are that haven’t responded,” he said, suggesting that their silence could mean anything from negligence to no longer being employed.

“Maybe they’re going to be gone. Maybe they have other jobs. Maybe they moved. A lot of things could have happened.” But one thing was clear—those who ignored the mandate are “on the bubble,” a sports reference he used as a euphemism for being on the verge of termination.

The email, which was sent out late Saturday night, came from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and required employees to submit a response by Monday at 11:59 p.m. detailing their work in five bullet points.

Musk himself took to X (formerly Twitter) to warn that failure to comply would be considered a resignation—a move that has left many federal workers in a state of confusion and panic.

Adding to the chaos, several department heads advised their employees NOT to respond to Musk’s email, citing concerns about protocol, confidentiality, and security risks. This pushback, however, has not swayed the administration.

Trump stood by Musk’s initiative, emphasizing that the goal was not to indiscriminately fire people but to cut unnecessary jobs and force accountability. “We’re being very surgical,” Trump insisted.

“We’re looking at what jobs are actually needed. We don’t want to fire people who are doing essential work and doing it well. But if their job isn’t necessary, or they’re not performing, they should not be on the public payroll.”

The president pointed to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin, who reportedly told the administration that he could cut 65% of his workforce without impacting essential services.

Trump also noted that Secretary of State Marco Rubio was handling his department’s response differently, given the sensitive nature of classified diplomatic work. “We understand that,” Trump said, “so we’re giving certain departments more control over how they proceed.”

The unprecedented scale of potential layoffs is sending shockwaves through Washington. Many in the federal workforce are already on edge, fearing that the administration’s aggressive approach could result in mass firings without proper review.

Critics argue that the mandate was rolled out without proper communication and that many workers were left unaware or unclear on how to respond.

Musk, who attended the Cabinet meeting alongside Trump, doubled down on his position, defending the policy as a necessary step toward efficiency.

“We wish to keep everyone who is doing a job that is essential and doing that job well,” Musk said. “But if the job is not essential or they’re not doing the job well, they obviously should not be on the public payroll.”

Despite Musk’s assurances, the backlash has been immediate and intense. Some lawmakers have called for investigations into the legality of the directive, arguing that it may violate federal employment protections.

Others have criticized the administration for creating an environment of fear and instability within the government workforce.

Adding to the controversy, many workers claim they never received the email, while others say technical glitches prevented them from responding before the deadline.

Reports indicate that agencies were flooded with internal inquiries from confused employees unsure of whether they needed to comply—especially after department heads issued conflicting instructions.

For now, the administration appears unwavering in its stance. The coming weeks will determine whether Musk’s initiative is an effective tool for government reform or a chaotic overreach that leads to mass firings and legal battles.

One thing is certain: Washington is bracing for one of the most dramatic shake-ups in federal employment history. 🚨