Federal employees have until midnight tonight to justify their work from the past week—or risk losing their jobs. The directive, issued by billionaire Elon Musk in an email, is part of a sweeping effort to dramatically reduce the size of the federal workforce.

The order has sent shockwaves through key government agencies, with many employees scrambling to meet the deadline. Some departments, including the State Department and Department of Homeland Security, have advised their workers not to comply, citing legal and privacy concerns.

Unions representing federal employees have already filed lawsuits against Musk and the Trump administration, calling the directive one of the most significant threats to federal employment in U.S. history. Many argue the move violates long-standing civil service protections designed to prevent arbitrary firings.

As uncertainty grows, this latest demand has only deepened tensions within the federal workforce.

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