Federal Workers Given 48 Hours to Justify Their Job
Consistent with President Donald Trump’s instructions, all federal employees will soon receive an email requesting to understand what they accomplished last week. Failure to respond will be taken as a resignation. This ultimatum was announced by Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, who has been tasked with slashing waste in the federal government.
The email, sent to federal employees, asks them to reply with approximately five bullets detailing their accomplishments from the past week. The deadline for response is Monday at 11:59 pm. The directive has been met with resistance from various union leaders and employees, who claim it is an effort to intimidate and demoralize the workforce.
"Consistent with President @realDonaldTrump’s instructions, all federal employees will shortly receive an email requesting to understand what they accomplished last week," Musk posted on his social media network. "Failure to respond will be taken as a resignation."
The move is part of the Trump administration’s efforts to reduce the federal workforce, with thousands of employees already being forced out of their jobs or offered buyouts. The cuts are being implemented across various government agencies, including the Departments of Veterans Affairs, Defense, Health and Human Services, and the Internal Revenue Service, among others.
AFGE President Everett Kelley has condemned the move, saying it is an example of the Trump administration’s "utter disdain for federal employees and the critical services they provide to the American people." Kelley added that the union will challenge any unlawful terminations of its members and federal employees across the country.
Musk’s directive has also sparked concerns about the impact on employees who are currently on leave or vacation. According to McLaurine Pinover, a spokesperson at the Office of Personnel Management, individual agencies will determine how to proceed in such cases.
The Trump administration has also faced criticism over its handling of the cost-cutting program, with the Department of Veterans Affairs facing a lawsuit over mass layoffs. Jonathan Kamens, a former cybersecurity chief at the Department of Veterans Affairs, warned that the site is particularly vulnerable without his role being filled.
In other developments, nearly 40% of contracts canceled by Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are expected to produce no savings, according to data published on DOGE’s "Wall of Receipts." The data shows that more than one-third of contract cancellations are expected to yield no savings.
FAQs:
Q: What is the deadline for responding to the email?
A: The deadline is Monday at 11:59 pm.
Q: What is the purpose of the email?
A: The email is a request for federal employees to justify their job by providing a list of their accomplishments from the past week.
Q: What happens if an employee is on leave or vacation?
A: Individual agencies will determine how to proceed in such cases.
Q: What is the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)?
A: DOGE is a program aimed at cutting waste in the federal government, led by Elon Musk.
Q: What is the purpose of the "Wall of Receipts" data?
A: The data is meant to provide transparency into the cost-cutting efforts of DOGE, showing the impact of contract cancellations on government agencies.
