U.S. Government Workers Receive Email to Justify Their Work or Resign
On Saturday afternoon, U.S. government employees received an email instructing them to list their achievements from the past week or face resignation. This initiative is part of the Trump administration’s efforts to reduce the size of the federal workforce.
Musk’s Email Ultimatum
The email came after Elon Musk, a billionaire advisor to Trump, posted on X (formerly Twitter) that government employees would “soon receive an email asking them to explain what they got done last week.” He added, “Failure to respond will be considered resignation.”
Musk, who leads the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), is spearheading efforts to reduce government spending through budget cuts and employee layoffs.
Details of the Email
The subject of the email was “What did you do last week?” and it was sent shortly after Trump spoke at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). The email, sent from HR, asked employees to summarize their achievements in five bullet points by Monday midnight. Employees were reminded not to disclose any classified information. Also: Donald Trump receives an unconditional discharge in the hush-money case.
OPM Confirms the Email’s Authenticity
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the federal government’s human resources agency, confirmed the email’s authenticity. In a statement, OPM explained, “As part of the Trump administration’s commitment to an efficient and accountable workforce, OPM is asking employees to provide a brief summary of what they did last week by the end of Monday, copying their manager.”
OPM added that agencies would decide on next steps based on the responses.
Union Criticizes the Email
The American Federation of Government Employees, which represents federal workers, criticized the email, calling it “cruel and disrespectful.” The union vowed to challenge any unlawful firings. Union President Everett Kelley said Musk and the Trump administration were showing disrespect for federal employees and the vital services they provide.
Musk Praises Responses and Encourages Promotions
On Sunday, Musk shared on X that a large number of responses had already been received. He said, “These are the people who should be considered for promotion.”
FBI Director Issues a Pause on Responses
FBI Director Kash Patel instructed FBI employees to “pause any responses” to the OPM email. Patel emphasized that the FBI, not OPM, was responsible for reviews and would handle them according to its internal procedures.
Trump’s Support for Workforce Cuts
At CPAC, Trump praised the federal workforce cuts, claiming that some employees had been working remotely too often. He stated that the administration was removing “unnecessary, incompetent, and corrupt bureaucrats” and striving to make the government more efficient by keeping the best workers and letting go of the worst. More: Who is Marc Fogel, the American teacher released by Russia.
Musk’s Influence on Federal Workforce Reductions
Musk’s leadership of the Department of Government Efficiency has already led to significant cuts in agencies like the IRS, Pentagon, and FAA. His approach mirrors the strict demands he made at Twitter (now X), where employees were required to commit to a “hardcore” work culture or resign.
Trump has repeatedly supported Musk’s efforts, even encouraging him to “get more aggressive” in reducing the size of the federal government.
Advisories from Agencies and Unions
Some federal workers chose not to respond to the email, following advice from their agencies. The National Treasury Employees Union also recommended that employees pause their responses until further instructions are given.
