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Elon Musk issues bold warning to US federal employees; ‘Will face dismissal if…’

Elon Musk has proposed a bold new concept that will result in firing of federal employees in the US who fail to come to office for five days a week for work.

Published on: Nov 23, 2024, 19:09:16 IST
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Elon Musk has proposed a bold new concept that will result in firing of federal employees in the United States who fail to come to office for five days a week for work.

Musk, the 53-year-old CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, contributed an estimated £200 million to Trump's campaign. (via REUTERS)
Musk, the 53-year-old CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, contributed an estimated £200 million to Trump's campaign. (via REUTERS)

The proposal, spearheaded by the richest man in the world and former presidential contender Vivek Ramaswamy, is a part of a bigger scheme to save $2 trillion from the federal budget.

According to the two, federal personnel who uphold “the Covid-era privilege of staying home” shouldn't be paid by American taxpayers.

President-elect Donald Trump selected Musk and Ramaswamy to head the recently established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which is expected to have reorganised government agencies and cut spending.

Also Read: Javier Milei, Argentina President who 'chainsawed' his Federal Bureaucracy, issues major advice to Elon Musk

Here's what Musk and Ramaswamy have to say

While Musk, the 53-year-old CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, contributed an estimated £200 million to Trump's campaign, Ramaswamy joined Trump after he decided to withdraw from the race for president.

In a Wall Street Journal article, the duo vowed “mass headcount reductions across the federal bureaucracy.” They mainly targeted civil workers who are reluctant to return to office.

“If federal employees don't want to show up, American taxpayers shouldn't pay them,” the pair proclaimed, marking a significant shift from the remote-work options provided during the pandemic.

Civil service regulations permit “reductions in force that don't target specific employees,” the two said, outlining their power to enact broad reforms.

“The statute further empowers the president to prescribe rules governing the competitive service,” Musk and Ramaswamy wrote in their article.

They contended that Trump may take a number of actions, such as “large-scale firings” and shifting federal departments out of Washington.

According to the, the two advantages of the initiative are “a decisive electoral mandate and a 6-3 conservative majority on the Supreme Court”.

They further claimed the new department will focus on more than $500 billion in federal spending annually that is either mismanaged or not authorised by Congress.

  • Shweta Kukreti
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Shweta Kukreti

    Shweta Kukreti has over 8 years of experience in covering Indian and world politics. She joined the Hindustan Times in 2024 and is primarily assigned to the US desk. She currently works as Deputy Chief Content Producer and reports on a wide range of topics, including US politics, immigration issues (especially H-1B visa) and major global events. Shweta strongly emphasizes team operations, which encompasses monitoring news, delegating tasks, editing, developing comprehensive coverage strategies, and crafting engaging, and data-informed narratives. She received the Digi Star Award at the Hindustan Times within a year of joining for her broad coverage of US politics. In 2025, she earned both a promotion and a redesignation, a significant achievement recognising her contributions and the strong value she brings to the team. She has previously worked with the Indian Express, HTDS, ANI and Republic World. Seniors in all the media organisations recognised her work. Regarding education, she earned a BA (Hons.) in Political Science and a master's degree from Delhi University, and she pursued a PG Diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Institution of Mass Communication (IIMC). She also holds a diploma in Women's Empowerment and Development from IGNOU University and a French certification course from Alliance Française de Delhi. If not working, you can find her exploring the hills and engaging in adventurous activities in Rishikesh and Himachal Pradesh. She loves to play badminton, volleyball, and chess, and spend time with her friends and family. She also enjoys spiritual activities.Read More

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