The Trump administration has instructed federal employees to submit a report detailing their weekly achievements by Monday night or risk termination, a move seen as part of efforts to restructure the U.S. government workforce.
This directive was communicated through emails sent on Saturday evening to workers at various federal agencies, including the Securities and Exchange Commission, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The emails followed a social media post by Elon Musk, head of the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), on platform X. Musk made it clear that failure to respond would be treated as a resignation.
“All federal employees will shortly receive an email asking what they accomplished last week,” Musk wrote. “Failure to respond will be taken as a resignation.”
The email, reportedly sent from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), instructed employees to submit five bullet points summarizing their achievements from the previous week. The deadline was set for Monday at 11:59 p.m. EST, and employees were required to copy their managers on the response.
Legal Ambiguity and Concerns
It remains uncertain on what legal basis Musk can enforce terminations, particularly for employees handling sensitive government matters.
Interestingly, employees of the federal judiciary—an independent branch of government—also received the directive, despite not falling under executive branch authority. The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts has not issued a statement regarding the order.
Similarly, employees at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) were also affected. However, many staff members had already been ordered to cease work earlier this month due to ongoing legal proceedings. A court order currently prevents mass dismissals of CFPB employees.
Union Protests and Administrative Confusion
Federal employee unions have expressed outrage over the directive. The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) has pledged to contest any unlawful dismissals.
“Once again, Elon Musk and the Trump administration have shown utter disregard for federal employees and the vital services they provide to the American people,” AFGE President Everett Kelley said in a statement.
The restructuring, led by Musk and his team of young aides, has already led to random layoffs, raising concerns about disruptions to critical government functions, including nuclear safety and national defense.
The administration has mainly targeted probationary employees or those who recently took on new roles. However, some employees not funded by taxpayers have also been dismissed, sparking further controversy.
Several federal agencies have advised their employees not to respond to the email until further verification is provided. Both the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys and NOAA have issued internal memos stating that the directive is “irregular” and needs validation.
Meanwhile, federal employees are growing increasingly frustrated and uncertain about their job security.
“After more than two decades of federal service, with stellar performance reviews and nearly 18 awards, is someone at OPM going to read my five bullet points and decide if I’m productive enough?” a senior government employee told Reuters.
