Musk leaves CNN host bemused with garbled new threat to fire every single federal worker

Adam Nichols

Feb. 22, 2025, 8:50 p.m.

Elon Musk issued a confusing order to all federal workers Saturday — and told them failure to comply will result in their immediate firing.

The message sent on his social media network X came amid weeks of massive culls that have seen thousands of government staffers lose their jobs — and Musk proudly waving around a chainsaw at the Conservative Political Action Conference as he apparently relished the cuts that the Department of Government Efficiency, which he heads, has overseen.

"Consistent with President @realDonaldTrump’s instructions, all federal employees will shortly receive an email requesting to understand what they got done last week," Musk's post read.

"Failure to respond will be taken as a resignation."

CNN host Fredricka Whitfield was left bemused.

"I don't know if you understand that. I don't yet," she said.

"We'll have to get a little more clarity on what that means."

The network's national correspondent Rafael Romo tried to explain

"Every employee has been asked to justify their employment," he said.

"How is not exactly clear."

See the tweet and watch the CNN video below or at this link.

Consistent with President @realDonaldTrump’s instructions, all federal employees will shortly receive an email requesting to understand what they got done last week.

Failure to respond will be taken as a resignation.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 22, 2025