WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressional Democrats are crazy by asking Elon Musk's email to federal workers to name five things they've accomplished in a week.
“It's against the law and we're a country of law, so we have to follow the law, so that's just controversial,” said D-Mass Rep. Seth Moulton.. ”
At the direction of masks, the Human Resources Administration (OPM) sent an email entitled “What did you do last week?” To federal government employees. The message asked workers to submit five achievements in the past week or face the possibility of termination.
The lawmaker spoke to Fox News Digital about Doge. (Fox News Digital)
In response, leaders from several federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, advised employees that email compliance was not necessary.
For many, the email represents what they believe the new administration ignores federal workers' laws and values.
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Tesla and SpaceX Elon Musk CEOs will speak at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) held at the Gaylord National Resort Hotel and Convention Center in Oxon Hill, Maryland on February 20, 2025. (Photo: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
This week, the Federal Federation of Workers and several other groups launched a lawsuit against OPM, claiming that workers who do not comply with email requests cannot be fired.
Fox News Digital spoke with Democrats and Republicans in the House and Senate to ask why emails are so controversial.
“Who is Elon Musk sending such things? ”
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“People who have not been vetted or come before Congress are trying to intimidate people to do things that people don't want to do. That's illegal. It's probably illegal,” he continued. “That's why workers are being pushed back.”
Rep. Becca Balint of D-vermont said in her view, “It's clear that Elon Musk doesn't know what he's doing.”
After being elected as Vermont's first woman and the first openly gay person to represent Vermont in Congress, Barlint will give a victory speech on election night on November 8, 2022 in Burlington, Vermont. (ap/lisa rathke)
“He doesn't know, he's incompetent,” Barint said. “He sometimes sends emails that are contradictory to each other within 24 hours. He sends information that is contradictory to those who Trump has appointed Cabinet Secretaries. So I think this mysticism around him is actually shown to be an illusion in reality that he is a kind of genius.”
Musk called the email a “pulse check” to see if the expected government officials were fraudulently collecting wages without actually working. President Donald Trump supports the message, saying it's “great” and not having to respond to an email saying “You've been fired.”
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Washington Democratic Rep. Pramila Jayapal said the outcome of Musk and Doji firing those who don't reply to emails is important.
“For Americans in this country, it's a huge uproar that people can pull people out not answer emails and constitute a fire,” she told Fox News Digital. “If people can't control air traffic in the air, that puts Americans at risk. If veterans don't actually have staff to benefit them, federal workers will be fired in our national parks, and Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security means the average American won't receive a check.”
“This is not a software company you can blow up and no one will notice,” she continued. “This is the federal government that offers significant benefits to Americans everywhere.”
Jayapal said the outcome of firing Musk and Doji for those who don't reply to emails is important. (Getty Images)
D-ore. Sen. Jeff Markley of the company, offering slightly different takes, said emails are an example of “culture cancellation,” and Musk's goal is to “be replaced by loyal minions, expert federal employees who do not serve people.”
“His email will replace cancellation culture, government experts with loyalty that is not interested in cancelling culture, providing excellent service and maintaining the vision of democracy of 'our people',” he said.
Meanwhile, the Republicans stood firm behind Doge, saying Musk's email was a completely reasonable request.
R-Texas Rep. Brandon Gill told Fox News Digital. “We have the most established bureaucracy in everything in world history. If you actually fight back against waste, fraud and abuse, you have to do something a little different.”
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Rep. Chip Roy will speak at a press conference at the U.S. Capitol on January 29, 2024 in Washington, D.C. (Getty Images)
“He told the federal government employee, 'What did you do today? What did you achieve this week?” he continued. “I'm excited that he's doing it. I think every employee who didn't respond to him for the first time should be fired, but they're elegant and giving him a second chance.”
“The conclusion is that everyone who works for the government should respond,” R-Texas MP Chip Roy said.
““I understand why it's destructive when things aren't the way things were done,” he added.
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Donald Trump, left, Elon Musk, right (Getty Images)
Roy said he believes Musk “does an amazing job at Doge” and that the average American understands the email “Because you have to certainly have to answer what they're doing in their real work.”
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“The president has the ability and determination to decide whether people are supporting their work and doing what they are supposed to do. “It's like sending a shock to the system because they're forced to go down the government branch and force people to do what they should do.”
Fox News Digital reached out to a White House Doge spokesman for comment but did not respond to a reporting time.
