Musk Challenges Federal Workers to Justify Their Roles or Face Resignation

In a bold move, Elon Musk has instructed U.S. federal workers to report their weekly achievements, or risk being considered resigned, as part of the Trump administration's efforts to reduce government employment. The announcement has sparked criticism from public employee unions, while some agency heads have issued guidance against responding directly.

Elon Musk, leading the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), has stirred controversy by asking U.S. federal employees to submit a list of their accomplishments from the past week or resign from their roles. The email, which landed in employees' inboxes on Saturday afternoon, follows similar sentiments expressed by former President Donald Trump regarding federal workforce reduction efforts.

Musk's request, conveyed via the platform X, has been characterized as part of an ongoing initiative to tighten governmental budgets through funding cuts. He claims, “Failure to respond will be taken as a resignation,” adding that many government workers may be doing so little that they aren't even responding to their emails.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) confirmed the authenticity of the message, stating that it aims to ensure an accountable federal workplace. The email requested that employees summarize their weekly contributions in five bullet points without disclosing classified details by the end of Monday.

Criticism has quickly followed the email's release. The American Federation of Government Employees criticized the move as "cruel and disrespectful," asserting that it undermines the essential services federal employees provide to citizens. Union president Everett Kelley condemned Musk’s actions, implying a lack of understanding of public service.

Despite ongoing backlash, Musk asserted on X that a significant number of government workers had already responded positively, and claimed those responding could be considered for promotions. He further suggested that fraud exists in the government workforce, alleging that fake identities or deceased individuals might be falsely collecting paychecks.

Amidst this chaotic atmosphere, some federal agencies like the FBI and the State Department have instructed their employees to refrain from responding directly to the OPM inquiry, emphasizing that internal procedures govern employee evaluations.

This surprising and controversial strategy mirrors Musk's handling of employees at his social media platform X, where he previously issued ultimatums that forced staff to demonstrate extreme dedication or exit the organization.

Speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference, Trump endorsed the push for federal workforce cuts, reinforcing that unnecessary bureaucratic roles should be eliminated to make the government more efficient. He expressed satisfaction with Musk's aggressive reforms, advocating for a continued crackdown on perceived inefficiencies in federal employment practices.