Musk’s Federal Workforce Shake-Up: Justify Your Job or Resign?
Elon Musk has sparked a major controversy with his latest move, demanding that federal employees justify their jobs—or risk being considered as having resigned. This unprecedented action, backed by President Donald Trump, has sent shockwaves through the federal workforce, leaving many employees uncertain about their future.
On Saturday, thousands of federal employees received an unexpected email from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). The subject line? “What did you do last week?” The email asked recipients to provide a five-bullet summary of their accomplishments, CC their managers, and ensure they responded by Monday at 11:59 PM ET. No attachments, no links, and definitely no classified information were to be included. But what really caused panic was a social media post by Musk himself, warning that "failure to respond will be taken as a resignation."
This announcement immediately triggered confusion and resistance across multiple federal agencies. National security departments, including the FBI and the National Security Agency (NSA), advised employees to hold off on responding until further guidance was provided. The FBI’s director, Kash Patel, reassured his staff that any review process would be conducted according to internal FBI procedures. Meanwhile, other agencies such as FEMA, the IRS, and the Department of Energy scrambled for clarification, with some management teams urging employees to wait before complying.
Also Read:- Roosters vs Knights – NRL Pre-Season Thriller Unfolds in Gosford
- Lakers Dominate Nuggets as Luka Dončić Shines in Breakout Game
Federal employee unions swiftly condemned the move. Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, slammed the demand as “cruel and disrespectful,” calling it yet another attempt to dismantle the civil service. He vowed to challenge any unlawful terminations in court. Other union leaders labeled the demand “un-American” and accused Musk and the Trump administration of deliberately instilling fear among workers.
Musk, who has been tasked with reshaping government operations through his Department of Government Efficiency (ironically nicknamed "DOGE"), has taken a hardline stance on reducing the federal workforce. This latest demand follows a series of measures aimed at cutting down government employees, including mass firings and policy overhauls. His tactics bear a striking resemblance to his restructuring of Twitter (now X) in 2022, when he forced employees to commit to an “extremely hardcore” work ethic or leave.
Trump has publicly praised Musk’s efforts, even urging him to be “more aggressive” in his approach. Speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), Trump reiterated his commitment to removing what he called “unnecessary, incompetent, and corrupt bureaucrats” from the federal government.
Legally, Musk’s ultimatum raises serious questions. Federal employment law expert Michael Fallings pointed out that Musk does not have the authority to force resignations. Any attempt to terminate employees for failing to reply could be legally challenged as an involuntary termination.
For now, employees are left in limbo—unsure whether to comply or resist. Some fear retaliation, while others consider submitting a response filled with generic statements about their oath to the Constitution. One thing is clear: this is just the beginning of a sweeping battle over the future of the U.S. federal workforce.
Read More:
0 Comments