In a recent initiative led by President Donald Trump and Elon Musk aimed at the federal workforce, employees received emails on Saturday afternoon requesting they outline their accomplishments from the previous week. Musk warned that “failure to respond will be considered an indication of resignation.”
The communication from the new HR department of the Office of Personnel Management instructed: “Please respond to this email with approximately five bullet points detailing what you achieved last week and cc your supervisor.”
This email was sent shortly after Musk made a social media post indicating that jobs would be at risk for those who did not comply.
“In line with President @realDonaldTrump’s directive, all federal employees will soon receive an email requiring an account of their weekly tasks,” Musk stated on X, just hours after Trump urged him to adopt a more “aggressive” approach.
Nevertheless, the email itself does not explicitly declare that failing to respond equates to resignation. It specifies a deadline for submissions set for Monday at 11:59 p.m. ET.
Is this legal? According to Michael Fallings, a federal employment law specialist, Musk cannot legally compel federal employees to resign, as such an action would be classified as involuntary termination. Affected employees have the right to file a claim to contest the action.
Fallings characterized the request as “unreasonable and unnecessary,” particularly given the timing and arbitrary deadline.
Employees are advised to consult with their managers and, if relevant, with their union representatives prior to responding, Fallings suggested.
Agency responses: Some agencies have cautioned staff members against replying to the email at this time, particularly within agencies where employee tasks may involve sensitive information.
FBI Director Kash Patel advised bureau staff on Saturday to refrain from an immediate response. Employees at the National Security Agency were similarly informed to delay their replies until further instructions from the Department of Defense were given, as reported by a source.
Union backlash: The leader of a prominent union representing federal employees criticized Musk’s ultimatum, stating to UJ that it illustrates the Trump administration’s “complete disregard for federal workers and the essential services they deliver to the American public.”
Kelley indicated that his union intends to pursue legal action.
Doreen Greenwald, President of the National Treasury Employees Union, described the email as “entirely unAmerican.”
For further details on Musk’s recent initiative, click here.
