Musk to Federal Workers: Prove Your Worth or Resign Immediately

Elon Musk, leading the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), ordered U.S. federal employees to list their weekly accomplishments or face resignation. The directive, confirmed by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), aims to cut government spending through workforce reductions. The American Federation of Government Employees condemned the move as “cruel and disrespectful,” vowing to fight any unlawful dismissals. FBI Director Kash Patel advised FBI employees to ignore the request, asserting the agency’s internal review processes.

Trump defended the policy at CPAC, arguing it would create a leaner, more efficient government. Thousands of federal employees, including those at the IRS and Pentagon, have already been dismissed under Musk’s leadership. Critics warn of legal challenges and instability, while supporters praise the effort to streamline bureaucracy. Trump continues to endorse Musk’s approach, urging even more aggressive downsizing.

Musk to Federal Workers: Prove Your Worth or Resign Immediately

On Saturday afternoon, U.S. federal employees received an email instructing them to list their accomplishments from the past week or risk resignation. The directive follows a social media post by billionaire Elon Musk, a close ally of former President Donald Trump, who stated that employees would soon receive an email asking them to outline their recent work and warned that noncompliance would be considered a resignation.

Musk, who leads the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), has been spearheading efforts to reduce government spending through budget cuts and workforce reductions. The email, sent under the subject line “What did you do last week?” and marked as coming from HR, asked employees to provide five bullet points summarizing their work without including classified information.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the federal agency overseeing human resources, confirmed the email’s authenticity and emphasized that agencies would decide on any further actions. However, it did not explicitly state whether failure to respond would be considered a resignation.

The American Federation of Government Employees, the largest union representing federal workers, strongly criticized the directive, calling it “cruel and disrespectful.” Union president Everett Kelley vowed to challenge any unlawful dismissals.

Meanwhile, Musk stated on X that a “large number of responses” had already been received, suggesting that those who replied should be considered for promotions. However, newly appointed FBI Director Kash Patel instructed FBI employees to refrain from responding, asserting that the agency would handle internal reviews according to its own procedures.

Trump, speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), defended the move as part of an effort to make the government leaner and more efficient. He emphasized the need to retain top performers while eliminating ineffective employees, particularly those working remotely.

Under Musk’s leadership, the Doge initiative has already led to significant federal workforce reductions, with thousands of employees at agencies like the IRS, Pentagon, and FAA being dismissed in recent weeks. The email directive mirrors Musk’s past management approach at X (formerly Twitter), where he issued similar ultimatums demanding commitment to an “extremely hardcore” work ethic.

Critics argue that this move is an attempt to undermine the stability of federal institutions by forcing abrupt policy changes with little oversight. Some legal experts have raised concerns that mass firings without due process could lead to a wave of wrongful termination lawsuits. Political analysts suggest that these aggressive measures align with Trump’s broader strategy to dismantle what he has previously called the “deep state,” referring to career government employees he believes are resistant to his policies.

Supporters of the initiative argue that the federal workforce is bloated and inefficient, claiming that Musk’s business-style leadership will make government operations more productive. Conservative lawmakers have praised the move, with some calling for even stricter measures to enforce accountability within government agencies.

Trump has consistently praised Musk’s government downsizing efforts, recently stating on Truth Social that the billionaire was doing a “great job” and should take even stronger action. With Musk’s growing influence in federal operations, it remains to be seen how these policies will reshape the structure and efficiency of the U.S. government in the long term.