$(document).ready(function(){
$("button").on('click', function() {
    console.log("im in here now!");
     $.get("../lib/usbGenerateReport.php", function(data){
        $( "#statusOutput" ).val(data);
        console.log("im in here now!");
    });
});
});

<?php //getoutput.php

$user = 'user';
$password = 'pass';
$path = '/my/path';
$gateway = '10.139.X.X';

if ($_SERVER['REQUEST_METHOD'] == 'GET'){
    echo "get request received!";
    $report = file_get_contents("ftp://$user:$password@$gateway/$path");
    echo $report;
}
?>