Elon Musk’s email demands to federal employees cause chaos, Jimmy Kimmel takes aim, and politicians weigh in on the controversy.
Late-night television thrives on absurdity, and Jimmy Kimmel found the perfect target in Elon Musk’s latest stunt—an email ultimatum sent to federal employees demanding they justify their jobs or face termination. The move, which has sparked confusion and debate, became a highlight of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, with the host skewering both Musk and the bizarre state of government operations.
Elon Musk’s Attempt at Restructuring the Government
Musk, now leading the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), issued a sweeping directive to federal employees via email. The message required workers to submit a list of five accomplishments from the past week, warning that failure to comply would be treated as a resignation. While Musk is no stranger to radical management styles at Tesla and X (formerly Twitter), this latest demand raises serious questions—mainly, does he even have the authority to do this?
The email caused immediate confusion across multiple government agencies. Some departments advised their employees to ignore it entirely, while others struggled to determine whether the directive held any weight. According to reports, federal workers found themselves caught in a bureaucratic limbo, unsure of how to respond.
The lack of clarity only fueled speculation over Musk’s real role in government restructuring. With his frequent critiques of inefficiency and bureaucracy, Musk’s involvement with the DOGE seemed like a natural fit—at least in theory. However, his attempt at issuing mass layoffs via email has only reinforced concerns that his leadership style might not translate well outside the corporate world.
Jimmy Kimmel Calls Out the Absurdity
As expected, Jimmy Kimmel wasted no time in tearing apart the situation during his latest monologue. The comedian pointed out the sheer ridiculousness of a billionaire tech mogul, who holds no official federal position, attempting to enforce mass firings of government workers. Kimmel sarcastically noted that former President Donald Trump initially praised the move, calling it a “genius idea,” only to later walk back his support by claiming compliance was “somewhat voluntary.” The contradiction didn’t go unnoticed.
“I think it may be time to give the planet to the apes because we’re finished,” Kimmel joked, referencing the chaos that ensued from Musk’s ultimatum. He also took direct aim at Musk’s apparent overreach, adding, “Who knew you could fire people from a place you don’t even work at?”
The talk show host further mocked the fact that government employees, many of whom had been in their positions for decades, were suddenly being asked to provide weekly performance reviews as if they were Twitter engineers fearing Musk’s infamous midnight emails.
Marjorie Taylor Greene Adds Fuel to the Fire
Just as the situation couldn’t get any stranger, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene inserted herself into the controversy. Greene claimed that many federal jobs are “not real” because they do not generate government revenue. She argued that employees in these roles “don’t deserve” their paychecks, echoing sentiments often associated with aggressive government downsizing.
Her remarks ignited backlash from federal employees and politicians who pointed out that many essential public services, including national security, healthcare, and infrastructure, rely on government workers whose contributions cannot be measured in direct revenue.
Meanwhile, Musk has remained silent on the growing controversy, leaving thousands of federal workers in a state of uncertainty. Whether his email carries any real consequences remains to be seen, but one thing is clear—he’s given late-night hosts plenty of material to work with.
