NEW YORK — In a surprising move, hundreds of thousands of federal employees have been given less than 48 hours to detail their accomplishments from the previous week. This unprecedented request is instigated by billionaire Elon Musk, who is known for his role in cutting federal government expenditures.
Musk, who holds the position of cost-cutting chief under former President Donald Trump, made this announcement through his social media platform on Saturday. He stated, “Following President @realDonaldTrump’s directive, all federal employees will soon receive an email asking for their accomplishments from last week.” He added that non-response would be interpreted as resignation.
Soon after, many federal workers—including judges, court personnel, and officials in federal prisons—received a simple email instructing them to summarize their last week’s achievements in approximately five bullet points and to also copy their managers. The deadline for their response was set for Monday at 11:59 PM, but the initial email did not include Musk’s warning about the consequences of inaction.
This unusual directive has thrown multiple agencies into disarray, creating uncertainty among workers at the National Weather Service, State Department, and federal court system. Senior officials scrambled to confirm the authenticity of the message and, in several instances, advised their teams against responding.
Since the start of Trump’s administration, thousands of federal employees have been removed from their positions—either through dismissals or buyout offers. The White House and Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency have prompted agency leaders to prepare for “significant reductions in force” while also freezing trillions of dollars in federal grants.
While the exact number of firings or layoffs remains unclear, reports indicate that hundreds of thousands of employees, many of whom are located outside of Washington, D.C., have been impacted. This includes thousands from the Departments of Veterans Affairs, Defense, Health and Human Services, the Internal Revenue Service, and the National Parks Service.
Labor union representatives swiftly criticized the ultimatum, with AFGE President Everett Kelley denouncing the directive as a blatant display of contempt for the federal workforce and the essential services they deliver. “It is disrespectful to the hundreds of thousands of veterans serving in civil service roles to be compelled to justify their job duties to a privileged billionaire who has never contributed to the public sector,” Kelley stated. He affirmed that AFGE would challenge any unlawful dismissals involving their members or federal workers nationwide.
On the previous Friday, Musk had celebrated his new position at a conservative gathering by brandishing a giant chainsaw, dubbing it “the chainsaw for bureaucracy,” while claiming, “Waste is an omnipresent issue in the federal government.”
McLaurine Pinover, a spokesperson from the Office of Personnel Management, verified Musk’s directive, clarifying that individual agencies would decide on subsequent actions regarding the requests. Guidance on what should happen if an employee is on leave or vacation remains unresolved, pending agency decisions.
Officials from federal courts later advised personnel not to respond to the email, indicating it was not an official request from the Judiciary or the Administrative Office. “We are aware that some judges and staff received an email asking for five accomplishments from last week. Please note that this message did not come from our offices, and we recommend that no action be taken,” officials communicated.
Earlier this month, U.S. District Judge Randolph Daniel Moss mentioned that he received a similar email from Musk’s team by accident and opted to disregard it.
Leadership at the National Weather Service also confirmed the confusion among employees, stating, “Recently, many of us may have received an email titled ‘What did you do last week?’ Until we can confirm the authenticity of this message received around 4:46 PM ET, please refrain from responding.” They expressed gratitude to employees for their commitment to public safety and national security during this tumultuous period.
