Washington D.C. – In a surprising turn of events, Elon Musk, the billionaire head of the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has issued a bold threat to federal workers on Saturday. In a post on the social media platform X, Musk announced that he would fire any employee who fails to explain the work they accomplished during the previous week.
This threat came just hours after President Donald Trump posted on his own social media network, Truth Social, urging DOGE to take more aggressive actions in downsizing and reshaping the federal workforce.
Musk’s message was clear – all federal employees will soon receive an email requesting them to explain what they accomplished at work last week. Failure to respond to this request will be seen as a resignation. The email, which was seen by Reuters, was sent to several federal agencies including the Securities and Exchange Commission, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The email, sent from a human resources address, requires employees to respond with five bullet points summarizing their achievements and copy their managers by 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time on Monday.
It is unclear what legal authority Musk has to terminate federal workers for failing to respond to his request. However, this move has already caused concerns among employees and their representatives. The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the union representing federal workers, has promised to challenge any unlawful terminations.
“Once again, Elon Musk and the Trump administration have shown their utter disdain for federal employees and the critical services they provide to the American people,” said AFGE National President Everett Kelley.
This latest move by the Trump administration is part of their ongoing efforts to reduce government spending by shrinking the federal workforce. Led by Musk and his team at DOGE, this process has been met with controversy and criticism for its haphazard approach. Several mistakes have been made, and vital employees, such as those working on nuclear safety, defense, and power generation, have been terminated and quickly rehired by their agencies.
The first wave of job cuts has targeted employees who are easier to fire, such as those who have been on the job for less than two years or have recently started new roles within an agency. However, these indiscriminate firings have begun to anger people across the country, who are concerned about a potential loss of essential services and the impact of federal job losses on local economies.
Despite President Trump repeatedly referring to Musk as the functional leader of DOGE, the White House recently stated in a court filing that Musk has no authority over DOGE and is not an employee of the program. This has caused confusion and speculation about the true extent of Musk’s involvement in DOGE.
While the Trump administration continues to push for a leaner federal workforce, it is crucial to remember the value and importance of federal employees and the critical services they provide to the American people. The actions taken by DOGE must be closely monitored and evaluated to ensure that they are carried out with fairness and consideration for all involved.
In the meantime, federal workers must prepare to answer Musk’s request for a summary of their achievements. It is a reminder that their hard work and dedication are recognized and appreciated, and they play a vital role in the functioning of our government.
As for Musk and the Trump administration, their approach to downsizing and reshaping the federal workforce may face challenges and resistance. But one thing is for sure – they are determined to leave their mark on the government, and only time will tell the outcome of their efforts.
