Federal workers across the U.S. government received an unexpected email on Saturday afternoon, prompting them to account for their activities over the past week. The email, tied to an ultimatum by Elon Musk, warned that failure to respond could result in termination.
The emails arrived shortly after Musk, who is currently leading the Department of Government Efficiency, announced the ultimatum. Under his leadership, the department has already executed the mass firing of at least 20,000 government workers over the past month. According to Musk's post on X, the social media platform he owns, the request is consistent with President Donald Trump's directives for an efficient federal workforce.
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) confirmed that the emails were sent to all federal employees. The message asked workers to provide approximately five bullet points summarizing their accomplishments from the past week and to cc their manager. The deadline given was Monday at 11:59 p.m. ET, with a warning that failure to respond may be considered a resignation. However, the email emphasized that no classified information should be included.
The OPM stated that the emails align with the Trump Administration's commitment to a more accountable federal workforce. However, questions remain about the legal implications of Musk's ultimatum. Many federal employees are protected by civil service laws, which may shield them from being fired without just cause.
Suzanne Summerlin, a labor attorney and expert in federal labor relations, expressed skepticism about the legality of terminating employees for not responding to the email. She noted that a labor arbitrator would likely deem such terminations as disproportionate. However, employees might still face disciplinary actions, such as reprimands or suspensions, which could be considered appropriate by an arbitrator.
The emails have left many federal workers confused about the implications of the request. Within the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), officials confirmed that the OPM email is a valid request. Meanwhile, a division within the Defense Department advised staff to hold off on replying until further internal guidance is provided, citing the sensitive nature of their activities.
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), representing over 800,000 civil servants, has vowed to challenge any unlawful firings resulting from this directive. AFGE National President Everett Kelley criticized Musk and the Trump Administration's approach, labeling it as disrespectful to federal employees and the services they provide to the American public.
Kelley specifically pointed out the indifference shown towards veterans serving in civil service roles, emphasizing that it is unfair for them to justify their duties to someone like Musk, whom he described as an "out-of-touch, privileged, unelected billionaire."
This directive comes as Musk and the new Trump administration continue to decisively remove government workers and leaders from federal agencies. Musk's management style, which includes regular demands for productivity reports, mirrors strategies he previously implemented at his companies, Twitter—now rebranded as X—and Tesla.
As the situation unfolds, the federal workforce remains uncertain about the future, with many concerned about the potential repercussions of Musk's aggressive managerial tactics.
