Elon Musk's Ultimatum: Federal Workers Must Justify Their Work or Face Resignation

In a recent directive from the Trump administration, US federal workers received an email instructing them to list their weekly accomplishments or risk resignation. This initiative, communicated by Elon Musk via the social media platform X, aims to enhance accountability within the federal workforce. The official email, sent by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), urged employees to summarize their weekly contributions in five bullet points by Monday, citing a commitment to a more efficient federal workforce. Union leaders criticized the approach, describing it as cruel and disrespectful, and threatened legal challenges against any unlawful terminations resulting from non-compliance.

The email sparked controversy, especially as it came just as President Trump addressed the Conservative Political Action Conference, emphasizing the need to eliminate what he deemed “unnecessary” bureaucrats. While many federal agencies received the email, differing responses emerged; the FBI director advised his team to pause and reassess their responses, while the State Department indicated it would handle the communication on behalf of its staff.

Musk publicly claimed that a significant number of federal employees were failing to perform their duties. His actions, reminiscent of his controversial management strategies at Twitter (now X), reflect a broader agenda to reduce the federal workforce. Notably, the memo threatens to classify non-responses as resignations, a tactic Trump supports for streamlining government efficiency. As the government grapples with these sweeping changes, union representatives warn of a potential backlash, advocating for the rights and dignity of federal employees.