Trump Backs Musk's Demand for Federal Employee Accountability Amidst Legal Challenges

President Trump supports Elon Musk's directive requiring federal employees to detail weekly accomplishments or face termination, despite agency resistance and legal challenges. A lawsuit filed in California seeks to halt mass layoffs linked to the directive, which asks employees to list five completed tasks. Agencies like the FBI and Pentagon advised employees that compliance was optional. Trump claimed Musk's efforts uncovered "hundreds of billions of dollars in fraud," suggesting paychecks went to nonexistent employees. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) informed agency leaders that responses were not mandatory, causing confusion. Musk threatened firings for non-compliance, while attorneys filed a lawsuit alleging illegal mass firings. The Office of Special Counsel also questioned the legality of probationary worker firings. Some officials, including FBI Director Kash Patel, advised against responding due to privacy concerns. Justice Department employees received varied instructions, while the Department of Health and Human Services urged vague responses. The Education Department directed compliance. Thousands of employees have already left the federal workforce during Trump's second term.