Federal Employees Told to Justify Week’s Work or Risk Resignation, Musk Warns

In an unprecedented move, federal employees across the United States have received an email demanding that they justify their work from the previous week or face the possibility of being considered as having resigned.

The email, which arrived on Saturday, 22nd February, was sent by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and sparked immediate backlash, particularly among federal workers and union leaders.

The email, titled “What did you do last week?” instructed federal employees to provide a summary of their recent accomplishments in five bullet points, excluding classified information, links, or attachments.

It also included a deadline of Monday at 11:59 PM ET for responses.

While the email did not explicitly state that non-compliance would result in resignation, Elon Musk, appointed by President Trump to lead the Department of Government Efficiency, posted on social media that “failure to respond will be taken as a resignation.”

This move has raised concerns among many workers, including those at national security agencies like the FBI and NSA, who were advised not to immediately respond to the email.

FBI Director Kash Patel sent an internal message urging staff to hold off on replying until further instructions were issued.

The NSA also instructed employees to await guidance from the Department of Defense before taking action.

The email blast is part of a broader effort by President Trump and Musk to reshape the federal workforce, an initiative that has included the termination of probationary employees and a push for greater accountability.

Musk’s involvement has stirred controversy, with some calling his ultimatum disrespectful to public servants.

Union leaders were quick to criticize the email, with Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, calling it “cruel and disrespectful” to workers.

Doreen Greenwald, president of the National Treasury Employees Union, described the email as “completely un-American.”

Several federal workers have expressed anxiety about responding, particularly those who fear the consequences of not replying on time. “

It’s insulting,” said one worker, “and just another tactic to eliminate employees.” Others are left uncertain about whether to comply or question the legitimacy of the request.

Despite the controversy, an OPM spokesperson defended the move, emphasizing the goal of creating an “efficient and accountable federal workforce,” though the exact legality of Musk’s ultimatum remains unclear.

President Trump, in a separate comment, praised Musk’s approach, calling him a “patriot” and suggesting that Musk could be more aggressive in his efforts to reform the government.