NEW YORK — In a surprising move, several hundred thousand federal employees have been given a mere 48 hours to account for their recent work, creating a state of uncertainty across significant government agencies. This development aligns with billionaire Elon Musk’s ongoing efforts to downsize federal operations, with him serving as President Donald Trump’s chief advisor on cost reductions.
On Saturday, Musk, who owns the social media platform X, announced this unusual demand through his account. He stated, “In accordance with President @realDonaldTrump’s directions, all federal employees will soon receive an email asking them to summarize their achievements from the past week.” Musk added a pressure tactic, suggesting that non-responses could be interpreted as resignations.
Following this announcement, federal workers—including judges, court personnel, and officials from federal prisons—received terse emails asking them to reply with approximately five bullet points detailing their accomplishments from the previous week, ensuring to copy their managers. The deadline for these submissions was set for Monday at 11:59 p.m., but notably, the alarming warning about resignations was omitted from this correspondence.
In response, various agencies quickly clarified that workers were not mandated to comply with Musk’s request. The State Department communicated that it would handle responses on behalf of its employees, insisting that they are obliged to report only within the established departmental channels, as per the message from Tibor Nagy, the acting undersecretary for management.
This latest directive from Musk’s office has injected a new level of disturbance within various agencies, including the National Weather Service and federal court systems. Officials scrambled to establish the legitimacy of the emails while, in some instances, advising employees not to reply.
Since the beginning of Trump’s administration, the federal workforce has seen significant reductions, with thousands let go or incentivized to leave as part of a broader restructuring effort. Reports indicate that hundreds of thousands are feeling the impact of the cuts, including many who are not based in Washington, D.C. Job losses have notably affected agencies including the Departments of Veterans Affairs, Defense, Health and Human Services, and the Internal Revenue Service.
Labor union officials have condemned the directive, threatening to pursue legal action against it. AFGE President Everett Kelley criticized the order, expressing it as an example of Trump and Musk’s “complete disregard for the contributions of federal workers.” He described it as a disrespectful demand placed on those who serve the public good, stating, “It is startling to expect civil servants to justify their job responsibilities to someone who has never engaged in honest public service.” Kelley promised that the union would dispute any unlawful dismissals of its members and federal employees across the nation.
During a recent event for conservatives, Musk celebrated his new position, drawing attention with a large chainsaw, which he called “the chainsaw for bureaucracy,” highlighting what he sees as pervasive waste within the federal system.
A representative from the Office of Personnel Management confirmed the authenticity of Musk’s directive, mentioning that different agencies would decide their next courses of action.
In a late Saturday communication to workers, officials from the federal court system cautioned recipients against engaging with the request. They clarified that the email did not originate from their institutions, advising against any action.
Instances of similar confusion were also acknowledged by leadership at the National Weather Service. They informed their staff not to respond to an email asking for works completed the previous week until its legitimacy could be confirmed, thanking them for their ongoing dedication to public safety.
This situation continues to evolve, leaving many wondering how federal agencies will navigate this unexpected demand for accountability and the implications it may have on their operational dynamics.
