In a recent post on the social media site X, Elon Musk, the billionaire head of the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), issued a threat to federal workers. He stated that any employee who fails to explain their work accomplishments from the previous week will be fired. This comes just hours after President Donald Trump urged DOGE to take more aggressive measures in downsizing and reshaping the federal workforce.
Musk’s post on X read, “All federal employees will shortly receive an email requesting to understand what they got done last week. Failure to respond will be taken as a resignation.” This statement caused an uproar among federal employees and raised questions about the legal basis for such terminations.
Following Musk’s post, emails were sent to employees at various federal agencies, including the Securities and Exchange Commission, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with the subject line, “What did you do last week?” The email, seen by Reuters, requested employees to reply with five bullet points summarizing their work accomplishments and copy their managers on the response. They were given a deadline of 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Monday to comply.
It is unclear what authority Musk has to terminate federal workers if they fail to respond to his request. This has caused confusion and concern among employees, especially at agencies like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, where most staff have been ordered not to perform any tasks since early this month.
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the union representing federal employees, has stated that they will challenge any “unlawful terminations.” AFGE National President Everett Kelley said, “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.”
The Trump administration’s efforts to reduce government spending by downsizing the federal workforce have been led by Musk and his young aides at DOGE. However, this fast-paced and controversial process has resulted in haphazard firings and numerous mistakes. This has forced several agencies to quickly rehire vital employees, such as those working on nuclear safety, defense, and power generation.
The first wave of job cuts has targeted employees who are easier to fire, such as those on the job for less than two years or those who have recently started new roles within an agency. This indiscriminate approach has caused DOGE to terminate workers whose jobs are not funded by taxpayers. This has sparked anger and concern among people across the country, who are worried about a potential loss of services and the impact of federal job losses on local economies.
President Trump has repeatedly praised Musk as the functional leader of DOGE, which is not a Cabinet-level department. However, the White House recently stated in a court filing that Musk has no authority over DOGE and is not an employee of the program.
In conclusion, the recent threat by Elon Musk to fire federal workers who fail to explain their work accomplishments has caused chaos and concern among employees. The legal basis for such terminations is unclear, and the American Federation of Government Employees has vowed to challenge any unlawful actions. The Trump administration’s efforts to downsize and reshape the federal workforce have been met with criticism and controversies, raising questions about the future of the federal government’s efficiency and effectiveness.
