Elon Musk, now a key figure in government efficiency reforms, has issued a mandate requiring all U.S. federal employees to submit a report detailing their accomplishments from the previous week. This directive follows former President Donald Trump’s call for a more aggressive approach to managing the federal workforce.
In a post on X, Musk stated, “All federal employees will shortly receive an email requesting to understand what they got done last week. Failure to respond will be taken as a resignation.” The post quickly gained traction, raising concerns among federal employees and government agencies.
A copy of the email obtained by AFP revealed that the request was sent by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) under the subject line, “What did you do last week?” Federal employees were asked to provide approximately five bullet points summarizing their work from the previous week, with a submission deadline set for 11:59 PM on Monday. However, the email did not explicitly state that non-compliance would result in termination. As of Saturday evening, the OPM had not responded to media inquiries for further clarification.
Reactions from Government Employees and Unions
The directive has sparked widespread backlash, with many federal employees expressing frustration over what they see as an unnecessary bureaucratic burden. Some agencies reportedly advised their employees to refrain from responding until receiving further instructions.
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the largest federal employee union, strongly condemned the mandate. AFGE National President Kelley criticized both Musk and the Trump administration for what he described as a disregard for the contributions of federal workers.
“It is cruel and disrespectful to hundreds of thousands of veterans who are wearing their second uniform in the civil service to be forced to justify their job duties to this out-of-touch, privileged, unelected billionaire who has never performed one single hour of honest public service in his life,” Kelley stated. The union vowed to challenge any unlawful terminations resulting from non-compliance with the reporting directive.
Trump Urges a Tougher Approach
Donald Trump, who appointed Musk to lead the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), took to his Truth Social platform to express his approval of Musk’s actions. However, he also called for even more aggressive measures to reform the federal workforce.
“Musk is doing a great job, but I would like to see him get more aggressive. Remember, we have a country to save,” Trump wrote on Saturday. His statement reinforced his long-standing agenda of cutting government spending and reducing the size of the federal workforce, which he claims is plagued by inefficiency and waste.
Trump’s appointment of Musk to the DOGE advisory body aligns with his broader goal of slashing public expenditures and addressing alleged corruption within federal agencies. The former president has often criticized what he perceives as an over-bloated government structure and has made government efficiency a key talking point in his political agenda.
Further Cuts Announced in the Defense Department
In a related move to reduce government spending, the U.S. Department of Defense announced on Friday that it would cut its civilian workforce by at least five percent starting next week. This decision is part of broader efforts to streamline government operations and eliminate what officials describe as redundant roles within the federal system.
While the impact of these cuts remains uncertain, critics argue that such reductions could compromise the effectiveness of crucial federal services, including national security, healthcare, and public administration. Government employees and unions continue to push back against these aggressive measures, warning that they could have long-term consequences for both the workforce and the public.
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With a passion for news writing and a deep interest in Journalism, Bowrna wants to write articles that create an impact. Not only writing, she also has a passion for voiceovers and also aspires to become a Radio Jockey in the future. When not writing, she likes to listen to songs and dance to her heart's content. She is proficient in English, Tamil and Hindi.
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