In a bold move, President Trump and Elon Musk are shaking up the federal workforce. Last Saturday, federal workers received emails asking them to summarize their work from the previous week. In a striking message, Musk warned that “failure to respond will be taken as a resignation.”
The email instructed employees to list about five accomplishments and to include their manager in the reply. Workers were cautioned not to share any classified information or attachments. Strangely, the email lacked a signature, which raised eyebrows.
The subject line of the emails was straightforward: “What did you do last week?” Many employees received these messages marked as urgent. This push came right after Musk hinted on social media about potential job risks for those who don’t comply with this request.
Musk mentioned that this email is part of Trump’s call for more rigorous accountability within the federal workforce. Although the email did set a deadline—Monday at 11:59 p.m. ET—it didn’t explicitly state that non-response equates to resignation.
These emails have caused anxiety among federal employees, who are also dealing with various orders from the Trump administration. This includes the recent dismissal of thousands of probationary employees and new return-to-office mandates.
One union leader reported receiving continuous messages from concerned members after the email was sent. Many are confused about the meaning and implications of the email and are advising their members to hold off on responding until they receive further instructions.
Complications arise for those on vacation or sick leave; they worry about possible repercussions for not replying on time. Employees involved in classified work also shared concerns, as they cannot disclose sensitive details in such a format.
Many workers feel compelled to reply, fearing consequences based on Musk’s comments. Some have expressed feelings of being insulted, particularly since their work is already monitored and assessed regularly.
The head of a major union criticized Musk’s ultimatum, calling it a sign of the administration’s lack of respect for federal employees and the services they provide. He highlighted the unfairness of asking civil servants to justify their work to someone who hasn’t served the public. Legal action may be taken against any unjust terminations that arise from this situation.
Following Musk’s social media string of statements, Trump praised him as a “patriot” during remarks at the Conservative Political Action Conference and expressed excitement over Musk’s aggressive tactics in transforming federal operations.
As this unfolds, many federal workers are left questioning the legality and fairness of these actions. With workers worried and union leaders advocating for clarity, the impact of this strategy remains to be seen.
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