The Trump administration has issued a directive requiring federal employees to submit detailed summaries of their weekly work accomplishments by Monday night or risk losing their jobs. The emails, sent on Saturday evening, follow a social media post by Elon Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), stating that failure to comply would be considered a resignation, according to Reuters.
“All federal employees will shortly receive an email requesting to understand what they got done last week,” Musk wrote on X. “Failure to respond will be taken as a resignation.”
The emails, sent from the Office of Personnel Management, were distributed to agencies including the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Employees were instructed to submit five bullet points detailing their work and to copy their managers.
The move aligns with President Donald Trump’s recent statements on his Truth Social platform urging DOGE to intensify efforts to streamline the federal workforce. However, questions remain about the legal authority behind the directive and its implications for workers handling classified information.
Union Vows Legal Action
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the largest union representing federal workers, has condemned the directive and vowed to fight any unlawful dismissals.
“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,” said AFGE National President Everett Kelley.
The administration’s aggressive push to cut government spending has led to widespread layoffs, sometimes resulting in unexpected rehiring of essential personnel in defense, nuclear safety, and power generation. Initial job cuts targeted probationary employees and those in recently reassigned roles, but indiscriminate firings have begun affecting positions not funded by taxpayers, drawing public concern.
Agencies Question Directive’s Validity
Some federal agencies have advised employees against responding until further verification. Internal emails seen by Reuters from NOAA and the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys urged staff to delay compliance while management assesses the legitimacy of the request.
Meanwhile, legal challenges could complicate the administration’s plans. A court has placed a temporary order halting mass firings at certain agencies, including the CFPB, which has already instructed its employees to halt work since early February.
Although Musk is widely seen as the driving force behind DOGE, the White House clarified in a recent court filing that he has no formal authority within the department. With legal scrutiny mounting, the administration’s efforts to restructure the federal workforce remain fraught with controversy.
(With Reuters inputs)