I Do as the President Says

“I Do as the President Says”: Musk’s Edgy Pulse Check on Federal Employees

In a moment dripping with Muskian wit at President Trump’s live Cabinet meeting today, Elon Musk, not shy of controversy, explained the blunt reasoning behind his recent email “pulse check” to the federal workforce.

“Do you have a pulse? Do you have a pulse and two neurons?” Musk asked rhetorically, laying out what he described as a surprisingly “low bar” for federal employees: merely responding to an email.

“We’re simply trying to figure out if these people exist,” Musk quipped. “We suspect some on the payroll might literally be fictional or deceased.”

With a roughly 50% response rate from the estimated two million federal workers, Musk’s humorous tone underscored a stark reality: non-responsive employees might soon find themselves without a paycheck. “It’s not a high bar, guys,” Musk reminded, emphasizing taxpayer expectations. “Can they at least write an email?”

Asked directly if non-responsive employees faced termination, Musk sidestepped exact numbers but offered clarity on expectations: “If the job isn’t essential or isn’t being done well, then yes, those roles shouldn’t be funded by taxpayers.”

Musk’s directive emerged from a direct request by President Trump, who personally instructed him to be “more aggressive” in handling the sprawling bureaucracy.

“Yes, sir, Mr. President,” Musk recalled his response, smiling. “I do as the President says.”

But not all agencies seem to have taken the message seriously, with some instructing their staff the email was “voluntary.” Musk dismissed this, signaling another round of emails incoming, aimed at achieving full compliance.

“It’s not complicated,” Musk said, “just reply—even if it’s to say your work is too sensitive to discuss. Common sense.”

The tech titan’s blunt approach highlights an edgy yet serious debate: How many jobs in Washington are truly necessary? Musk insists the goal isn’t arbitrary firings but accountability. His humorous yet sharp-edged commentary might be exactly what taxpayers want to hear—someone finally asking, “Are these people even real?”

The message from Musk and Trump is clear: if federal workers can’t prove they’re alive and actively contributing, their government jobs might soon be extinct.

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