In a recent email sent on Saturday afternoon, federal workers were instructed to summarize their weekly accomplishments or resign from their positions, a directive that has sparked criticism and concern among employees. The message was part of a broader initiative championed by billionaire Elon Musk, a close associate of former President Trump, aimed at reducing government spending through aggressive workforce cuts.
The email, which bore the subject line "What did you do last week?" instructed employees to outline their achievements in five bullet points, avoiding any disclosure of classified information, and submit it to their managers by midnight on Monday. Confirmed as authentic by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the email signals a stark shift in federal employment dynamics under the Trump administration.
Critics, including the American Federation of Government Employees—the largest union representing federal workers—have lambasted the communication as "cruel and disrespectful." Union president Everett Kelley expressed deep concern over the disregard shown by Musk and the administration for the essential work performed by federal employees.
Earlier at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), Trump publicly questioned the adequacy of federal employees' work, emphasizing a preference for in-office attendance. Following these statements, the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge)—an informal initiative backed by Musk—has pushed for widespread changes in federal operations, leading to numerous terminations at various agencies, including the IRS and the Pentagon.
Musk's management approach, characterized by high demands on employees, reflects a similar strategy he implemented at Twitter, where staff faced ultimatums to either commit to a high-pressure work environment or resign. Trump has praised Musk's cost-cutting initiatives and encouraged him to adopt even more aggressive strategies for workforce reductions.
As tensions rise, federal workers are left grappling with the implications of this new directive and what it means for the future of their roles within the government.
The email, which bore the subject line "What did you do last week?" instructed employees to outline their achievements in five bullet points, avoiding any disclosure of classified information, and submit it to their managers by midnight on Monday. Confirmed as authentic by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the email signals a stark shift in federal employment dynamics under the Trump administration.
Critics, including the American Federation of Government Employees—the largest union representing federal workers—have lambasted the communication as "cruel and disrespectful." Union president Everett Kelley expressed deep concern over the disregard shown by Musk and the administration for the essential work performed by federal employees.
Earlier at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), Trump publicly questioned the adequacy of federal employees' work, emphasizing a preference for in-office attendance. Following these statements, the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge)—an informal initiative backed by Musk—has pushed for widespread changes in federal operations, leading to numerous terminations at various agencies, including the IRS and the Pentagon.
Musk's management approach, characterized by high demands on employees, reflects a similar strategy he implemented at Twitter, where staff faced ultimatums to either commit to a high-pressure work environment or resign. Trump has praised Musk's cost-cutting initiatives and encouraged him to adopt even more aggressive strategies for workforce reductions.
As tensions rise, federal workers are left grappling with the implications of this new directive and what it means for the future of their roles within the government.
