U.S. News
Elon Musk’s 120-Hour Workweek Claim Raises Eyebrows: Is It Even Legal?
By Jake Beardslee · April 7, 2025
Musk’s Marathon Workweeks: DOGE Staff Logging 120 Hours to Slash Federal Spending
Elon Musk, ever the headline-maker, has claimed that employees in his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are clocking in astonishing 120-hour workweeks in a bid to cut U.S. federal spending. While Musk’s boast reflects his well-documented workaholic ethos, experts are raising red flags about the human cost of such extreme labor. Gage Skidmore / Wikimedia
Is It Even Legal? U.S. Labor Laws Allow 120-Hour Weeks—with Overtime Pay
Musk proudly declared his team’s efforts, stating they are pulling “120 hour” weeks, but questions have arisen about whether this practice is even legal in the United States. Technically, it is—at least under federal labor laws.According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) doesn’t cap weekly working hours for employees aged 16 or older. The only requirement is that employees receive overtime pay for hours worked beyond the standard 40 in a week. This puts no legal barrier in place for Musk’s team—just physical and psychological ones. @elonmusk / X
Global Standards Say No: Most Countries Cap Workweeks at 48 Hours
Globally, labor standards are often stricter. The International Labour Organization (ILO) recommends a 48-hour workweek limit, with eight-hour days. However, the U.S. has not ratified this treaty, meaning there is no binding cap on work hours. fauxels / Pexels
Running on Empty: Experts Warn of Sleep Deprivation and Fatigue
Health experts, however, are sounding alarms. Working 120 hours a week—leaving only 48 hours for rest, meals, and personal needs—amounts to less than seven hours of sleep per night even if you spend all your free time sleeping. “Reductions in attention make a sleep-deprived person more prone to mistakes,” warn Rob Newsom and Dr. Abhinav Singh of the Sleep Foundation. RDNE Stock project / Pexels
Beyond Burnout: Overwork Linked to Injury, Illness, and Poor Decision-Making
The consequences of chronic overwork go far beyond fatigue. The Lancet points to heightened risks of illness, workplace injuries, and reduced performance. Stress-induced behaviors, like poor diet and lack of exercise, often follow long hours. Kaboompics.com / Pexels
High Stakes, High Risk: Long Hours Increase Odds of Costly Mistakes
In a February op-ed for MSNBC, Stanford researcher Alison T. Wynn emphasized the risks of overwork, writing, “Research clearly shows that working long hours doesn’t make you a better employee. In fact, it can lead employees to struggle or even make catastrophic mistakes.” She further noted, "This is concerning no matter what job you’re doing, but it may be of special concern for the Musk team handling sensitive data systems that touch the lives and livelihoods of millions of Americans." Gage Skidmore / Wikimedia