Federal employees throughout the United States received an email on a Saturday afternoon requesting them to detail their activities from the previous week. Elon Musk stated that failure to comply with this request would result in termination. The emails were distributed shortly after Musk, who oversees the Department of Government Efficiency, issued a directive highlighting this ultimatum. This move follows the termination of over 20,000 government employees in recent weeks.
Musk informed on X, a platform he owns, that consistent with directives from President Donald Trump, all federal staff would soon receive communication seeking details of their accomplishments over the past week. The message concludes by indicating that failure to respond would be considered a resignation.
The Office of Personnel Management dispatched the emails, instructing workers to submit “approx. 5 bullets of what you accomplished last week and cc your manager,” with a deadline set for Monday at 11:59 p.m. ET. The instruction emphasized the exclusion of classified information in responses. A statement from OPM described these communications as part of the Trump Administration’s aim for an efficient and accountable federal workforce, with agencies determining subsequent actions.
The legal validity of this threat remains unclear, as many federal employees are shielded by civil service protections against termination without just cause. In response to these emails, Everett Kelley, the National President of the American Federation of Government Employees, which represents over 800,000 civil servants, announced intentions to contest any unlawful dismissals of federal employees.
Kelley criticized Musk and the Trump Administration, stating that their actions demonstrate disdain for federal employees and the essential services they provide. He expressed concern for veterans serving in civil service roles, arguing that the requirement to justify their duties to someone like Musk, whom Kelley describes as detached and unelected, is both cruel and disrespectful.
These emails coincide with ongoing efforts by Musk and the Trump administration to continue removing government employees and senior officials from federal agencies. This management strategy is reminiscent of Musk’s previous methods at organizations like Twitter and Tesla, where he has required regular reports from employees regarding productivity and attendance.
