Recently, federal employees received an unusual email from Elon Musk. He asked them to detail their work from the previous week. He even stated that if they didn’t respond, it could be seen as a resignation.
The email instructed employees to send around five bullet points about what they accomplished. They were also told to copy their manager on the email.
This request came shortly after Musk made a post on social media about the same topic. He claimed that this effort followed instructions from President Donald Trump to be more proactive with federal workers.
However, the email did not explicitly say that failing to reply would mean resigning. It only mentioned a deadline of Monday at 11:59 p.m. ET for submissions.
So, is this even legal? According to Michael Fallings, a federal employment law expert, Musk cannot force federal employees to resign. If he tried, it could lead to wrongful termination claims.
Fallings described the email request as unreasonable, especially since it was sent over the weekend and imposed a tight deadline. He advised employees to consult with their managers or union representatives before replying.
Some agencies have also responded cautiously. For instance, the FBI advised its employees not to respond immediately, and the National Security Agency suggested that their staff wait for further instructions.
Unions representing federal workers have expressed strong disapproval of Musk’s approach. They argue it shows a lack of respect for federal employees and their important work. They are also considering legal action in response to this situation.
Doreen Greenwald, president of the National Treasury Employees Union, went so far as to call the email “unAmerican.”
