In a striking move that is making waves across the federal workforce, employees received an email on Saturday urging them to list their accomplishments from the prior week or risk resignation. This ultimatum is part of a broader initiative led by billionaire and Trump ally Elon Musk aimed at reducing government spending through aggressive funding cuts and workforce downsizing.
The email was triggered by Musk's tweet, which indicated that federal workers would "shortly receive an email requesting to understand what they got done last week." He added that failure to respond would be construed as a resignation, amplifying the urgency felt by employees.
The email, arriving shortly after Trump's address at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), bore the subject line "What did you do last week?" from a supposed HR sender. It requested a summary of their last week’s accomplishments in five bullet points—without divulging any classified information—by Monday at midnight. The authenticity of the emails was later confirmed by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), which stated they were part of the administration's commitment to an accountable federal workforce.
In response to the email initiative, the American Federation of Government Employees, which represents a broad swath of federal workers, expressed indignation, labeling the communication as "cruel and disrespectful." Union President Everett Kelley characterized the action as a repeated demonstration of disdain toward federal employees and the essential services they provide, pledging to contest any unlawful terminations that may result.
Earlier that day, Trump had underscored the necessity for office attendance, arguing that the performance of federal workers was subpar. Although the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) does not hold official government status, Musk's influence has resulted in significant changes throughout the federal structure under the White House’s backing.
In recent weeks, thousands of employees across various federal agencies including the IRS, Pentagon, and Federal Aviation Administration have been dismissed. This email initiative mirrors Musk's controversial methods after acquiring Twitter in 2022, where he issued similar demands of extreme dedication from his staff.
Trump has openly praised Musk's efforts to slim down the federal workforce, suggesting that Musk should pursue even more aggressive cost-cutting measures. This current episode raises the stakes in an already tumultuous environment, leaving many workers anxious about their job security.
