FACT CHECK: Has Elon Musk Mandated Drug Testing For Federal Employees?

A viral post shared on Threads claims Tesla CEO and Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) lead Elon Musk has purportedly mandated drug testing for federal employees.

Verdict: False

The claim is not referenced on Musk’s verified X account, @elonmusk, and there is no other evidence supporting the claim.

Fact Check:

Musk will look for American gold reserves at Fort Knox, President Donald Trump said recently, according to CBS News. Fort Knox, an Army post, is located 35 miles south of Louisville, Kentucky, the outlet reported.

The Threads post, which has received 1,000 likes as of writing, claims Musk has purportedly mandated drug testing for federal employees.

“Elon Musk just dropped a bombshell: anyone with a federal paycheck has 30 days to pass a drug test or get fired. No more tax dollars funding substance abuse. Crazy how this wasn’t mandatory years ago. What’s your take – overdue policy or overreach?” the post, which does not provide a source to support its claim, reads.

The claim is false. Check Your Fact did not find any reference to the claim using an advanced search of Musk’s verified X account, @elonmusk. Likewise, the claim does not appear on DOGE’s website or its verified X account. Trump has not publicly commented on the claim, either.

In addition, Check Your Fact did not find any credible news reports to support the claim. Actually, the opposite is true. Both PolitiFact and USA Today recently debunked the claim.

According to USA Today, the claim may have circulated online in response to a Feb. 1 X post from Joshua Steinman, who suggested that DOGE consider a “federal workforce-wide, mandatory, immediate drug test.” Steinman served as a member of the White House’s National Security Council staff from 2017 to 2021, according to his biography via the Montgomery Summit. (RELATED: Did DOGE Forward The Names Of 163 Members Of Congress To The IRS For ‘Immediate Audit?’)

Check Your Fact has contacted Musk for comment.