The federal workforce in the United States is currently experiencing significant upheaval as the government navigates how to address demands inspired by Elon Musk. The U.S. government’s human resources agency, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), initially informed agency leaders on Monday that their employees were not required to comply with a directive demanding workers to report their recent accomplishments under threat of termination. However, OPM later circulated another memo suggesting that similar requests might arise in the future, and noncompliance could lead to disciplinary actions.
Acting director Charles Ezell advised agencies to consider incorporating the expectation for employees to submit accomplishments into the agency’s Weekly Activity Report. Ezell emphasized that agencies should evaluate possible responses to employees who do not adhere to these requests.
Over the weekend, an email from OPM with the subject line “what did you do last week?” prompted employees to reply with approximately five bullet points detailing their achievements. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt reported that over 1 million employees responded, representing less than half of the estimated 2.4 million federal workers.
The impetus for this request reportedly came from Musk, who employs similar management practices within his enterprises, indicating an effort by the administration to function cohesively. However, federal workers found themselves in a dilemma over whether to comply, with one anonymous employee expressing uncertainty after not receiving optional guidance as initially anticipated.
Musk expressed continued insistence on X, his social media platform, ridiculing those in the administration who opposed the request. He deemed the email demand trivial, implying minimal effort was required to fulfill it, yet criticized those who failed due to influence from their managers. Furthermore, he commented on the rising unemployment in Washington, framing it as a positive development in reducing governmental size.
Musk, a key advisor to President Donald Trump, hinted at being restricted from implementing more substantial reductions in government expenditure, stating his intent to pursue any feasible options despite imposed limitations. The Department of Government Efficiency, an initiative conceptualized by Musk, remains under unclear leadership, though Amy Gleason was later identified as the administrator.
This development has sparked criticism extending from Democrats to cautious Republicans concerned about potential political repercussions in their districts. Public opinion appears divided, with some Americans viewing Musk’s involvement in government as a detrimental influence, according to recent polls.
Republican Representative Lisa McClain underscored that the party is following the public’s desire for change, a sentiment echoed by Alina Habba, a former member of Trump’s legal team now advising the White House. Habba stressed the need for federal employees to align with the president’s objectives, warning of further expectations to explain their duties.
Moreover, the situation has led to a legal confrontation involving the White House administration and a lawsuit from The Associated Press, which accuses three officials, including Leavitt, of penalizing the news organization over editorial choices. This marks another dimension of the ongoing tensions surrounding the administration’s interaction with federal employees and the media.
