Special Poll
Top aides in the Trump administration are scrambling to manage internal tensions following Elon Musk’s controversial demand that federal employees list their accomplishments or risk losing their jobs, according to three government officials familiar with the situation.
Just days earlier, White House officials believed coordination between senior staff and Musk had been improving. Early concerns had surfaced about the aggressive approach taken by Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), but Chief of Staff Susie Wiles had reportedly urged Musk to communicate directly with her team before making major decisions. Sources say Musk initially agreed to keep Wiles informed and to seek approval from cabinet secretaries before using the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to contact federal employees.
That plan unraveled quickly after Trump publicly encouraged Musk to be “more aggressive” with DOGE in a post on Truth Social. Shortly afterward, the OPM sent an email to all 2.3 million civil-service workers, requiring them to document their work achievements. Musk then declared on his social media platform X that failure to respond would be considered a resignation, sending shockwaves through Washington.
The move caught not only federal employees off guard but also some within the Trump administration. Three officials confirmed that Trump and Wiles had not directly signed off on the email. However, Musk later told cabinet members that he had run the idea past Trump, who approved it, leading him to proceed with the directive.
When asked about the controversy, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt denied that officials were surprised by the email. She stated that Trump had approved the initiative and that both DOGE and OPM had informed the White House in advance. Leavitt dismissed media coverage of the issue, arguing that journalists were focusing too much on Trump and Musk rather than investigating inefficiencies in the federal government.
The productivity directive has revealed growing tensions between Musk and senior White House staff, marking one of the most significant clashes since he began implementing cuts and restructuring federal programs. His influence within the administration has raised concerns about his level of authority, as he operates with an unusual degree of autonomy.
After investing heavily in Trump’s re-election campaign, Musk played a key role in the transition, often attending meetings uninvited and pushing for his preferred cabinet nominees. Since Trump took office on January 20, Musk has led a rapid effort to downsize the federal government. However, little is known about DOGE’s internal structure, who is employed within it, or how it functions within federal agencies. In a legal filing on February 17, the White House stated that Musk is neither DOGE’s administrator nor an employee of the department, instead describing him as a senior adviser to the president.
Despite that distinction, Trump has repeatedly credited Musk as the key force behind DOGE’s operations. Within the White House, frustration appears to be mounting as Musk and his small, highly insular team many of whom are software engineers from his companies continue to wield significant influence over government restructuring efforts.